bookmark_borderHow to Hydrate your Skin in the Winter

Winter winds and cool temperatures can be harsh on your skin, making it dry and parched. It’s crucial to keep your skin moisturized always, but especially during this season. Here are a few easy ways to hydrate your skin in the winter.

In sounds simple enough, but make sure to drink enough water in the winter. Drinking water hydrates you from the inside out, and is crucial to keeping your skin moisturized and healthy. There are a few tricks to making sure you get your 8 recommended glasses a day. Start with an herbal tea in the morning if regular water is too plain or cold for you. Add all natural flavors to your water, like a squeeze of fresh lemon, to give make it tastier. Lastly, keep your water right next to where you are working or sleeping, so you’ll be reminded to drink up constantly throughout the day.

If the air is so dry that it’s affecting your skin, you may want to invest in a humidifier in your home- mainly your bedroom.

Slathering on moisturizer, serums and oils are great for winter skin. Layer the products so the moisturizer is on the bottom and a thicker serum is on top. This will trap in the moisture and make it penetrate into the skin quicker. Use products made especially for dry, damaged skin- they typically contain special ingredients that cannot be found in regular, daily skincare products.

 

bookmark_borderThe “Less Is More” Skincare Philosophy

The phrase “less is more” can be applied to a variety of lifestyle situations, including your skincare routine. If piling on a ton of different products or having a cluttered bathroom sink overflowing with skincare bottles sounds like your daily routine, it may be time to simplify.

The “less is more” skincare philosophy focuses on using just a few products religiously. The problem with layering on too many products (especially if you’re not truly knowledgeable on what they do) is that the active ingredients in each can actually cancel each other out or cause reactions such as inflammation or breakouts. Yuck!

Instead of trying and using each and every product out there, figure out what type of skin you have. Typically it falls into the following categories: oily, dry or combination. From there, think of the specific skincare problems you face, which could be things like dryness, clogged pores, or redness. Then choose a few products that work for each skin type and problem.

Ideally you’ll only use 1-5 products at one time, including a combination of the following:

  • moisturizer
  • exfoliating product
  • serum
  • medical-specific creams (for roseacea or bad acne, for example)
  • cleanser
  • toner
  • spot treatments (for occasional breakouts)

Once you’ve identified your top concerns, try out a few products until you find the ones that really work. From there, create a morning and nighttime routine and stick to it. Watch as your skin improves and your bathroom cabinet becomes less cluttered with products.