Cozying up by the fire, sipping hot chocolate and building snowmen are some of the idyllic winter wonders, but the harsh winds and dry air are anything but wonderful for your skin. For many, the transition from fall to winter can be seen and felt all over your face and hands. Fortunately, there are ways of tricking your skin into thinking the warmer months are upon us.
Read on to learn tips for taking care of your skin.
Plus, enter to WIN a $100 Spafinder gift card to book a treatment of your choice at your favorite spa!
The obvious answer to dry skin is applying a moisturizer, but as you may have come to understand, all moisturizers were not made equal and what works in one season may not work in another. Allure’s Stephanie Saltzman recently spoke with top dermatologists Dr. Doris Day and Dr. Joshua Zeichner about the best moisturizers to soothe winter skin. Dr. Day advised, “Make sure you're using a cream, not a lotion. If you've been using a cream at night, make it twice a day and use it both morning and night.”
If you’ve been religiously applying cream to no avail, Dr. Zeichner explains that this may have something to do with the time of day you’re applying moisturizer and the ingredients. He says, “Studies have shown that moisturizing immediately after bathing is significantly better than not applying moisturizer at all or applying it long after showering.” So have that cream handy for when you step out of that steamy shower.
A well-placed humidifier can do wonders for your skin as well as your sinuses. Dr. Macrene-Alexiades says a 50% humidity level is optimal. In a pinch if you don’t own a humidifier, you can always place a clean tray of water on top of your radiators to get a similar humidifying effect.
We all know that a hot shower or bath can relax sore and tense muscles, but it’s not doing much for your skin. Hot steamy water will only manage to dehydrate your already dry skin. Dr. Frank explains why lowering the temp may help to keep your body’s natural oils intact, saying, “Water is not hydrating to your skin. It can be the enemy if you have dry skin. It’s the natural oils that you want.”
And if you want to replenish or add to your skin’s natural oils, adding more fish and other foods high in omega-3’s will make a difference. Avoid things that dry the skin like caffeine and alcohol. Dr. Nicholas Perricone adds, “avoid sugary, starchy foods, which cause an inflammatory response in the body and exacerbate a host of skin problems from wrinkles to dry skin to acne, eczema, rosacea, etc.”
To treat your skin extra special, enter here to win a $100 Spafinder gift card to book a spa treatment of your choice your skin at your favorite spa!
Simply comment below to answer the question - How do you combat dry skin?
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*One lucky commenter or Tweeter will be chosen at random to receive the $100 Spafinder gift card. Giveaway is open through February 7th, 2016 to U.S. residents at least 18 years of age. Entrants must be a member of SheSpeaks. If you are not a member, click here to join. Winner will be notified by email.
Update: The winner is SheSpeaks community member hildred! Thanks to all for entering.
I use lots of moisturizer and humidifiers!
i use a moisturizer under my make-up then i use a night time moisturizer/serum
Moisturize daily :)
I have horrible dry skin in the winter and so does my oldest son. We moisturize daily! Sometimes more!
Try to take much shorter baths and moisturize afterwards.
rsvp @lorri1956
My skin gets so dry in the winter, so I started taking an Omega 3 supplement a few weeks ago and it has made a difference.
I love to use organic coconut oil in the wintery cold months. It is a wonderful moisturizer and a terrific base for my makeup to go on smoothly. Bonus, is that it has helped my eyebrows grow back in!
I use moisturizer all year but use more of Aquqphor in winter
I make sure to moisturize morning and night. Especially night
Lots and lots of lotion!! On my face I use hylauronic acid before applying my facial moisturizer.
My skin is super dry. I use olive oil and then put a moisturizer over it. I then moisturize several times a day! I also always use sunscreen even in the winter on my face, neck, and hands.
I feel like I am constantly using moisturizer, and that it doesn't really help!
Tons of moisturizer and always wearing gloves when I'm outside.
Icombat dry skin by drinking a lot of water to keep my skin hydrated. I also use a really good moisturizer.