7 Natural Ways to Avoid Dry and Flaky Skin During the Winter Months
If you suffer from dry flaky skin in winter, you’ll know how important it is to up your winter skincare regime. Chapped skin can be painful and unsightly. Plus, it can make you feel like you’re constantly reapplying moisturizer.
“Colder weather can often be a shock to the skin and maintaining its protective barrier function can be more of a challenge,” explains Nivea skincare expert Sven Untiedt.
“As we constantly drift between hot and cold temperatures, skin loses essential water, resulting in skin that feels tight and dry. Consuming plenty of water is just as important in the winter as it is in summer,” says Untiedt. “Eight glasses of water a day is a good guide, but try eating foods with a high water content such as cucumber, watermelon, and tomatoes.”
To avoid dry skin in winter there are some changes you can make to naturally make your skin healthier during winter.
Say Goodbye to Unnecessary Chemicals
Certain fragrances and colors are skin irritants and have no actual benefits for the skin — they simply look and smell nice. Look out for more natural products with recognizable ingredients or swap your usual perfume for an essential oil.
Avoid Low Fat Diets
You need healthy fats for healthy cell function. This can be added into your diet through foods such as avocado, fish, nuts, and seeds and plant oils such as flax and hemp.
Try Light Exercise
Getting up and moving daily not only boosts circulation, getting your muscles moving will increase your levels of ‘happy’ hormones or endorphins and blood flow. This in turn will give your skin a lovely healthy glow.
Get an Early Night
Lack of sleep increases the visible appearance of aging, such as dark circles caused by sluggish circulation. Aim to get seven to eight hours of shut eye each night to look and feel well rested.
Reduce Sugar Intake
A high intake of sugar can cause an inflammatory reaction within the skin resulting in a whole host of skin conditions. This can range from acne and rosacea to premature aging and dry skin. Instead, try reaching for natural sweeteners such as manuka honey, monk fruit, and stevia.
Curb the Caffeine
Too much coffee or caffeinated drinks can put extra stress on the liver and digestive system, which impacts your body’s natural detoxification process.
Skincare Shouldn’t Stop at Your Face
Although we layer up in winter and it can be easy to forget the skin beyond our face exists, remember that your skin is the largest organ of your body. So we need to make sure we are giving it the care it deserves and are caring for all of it.
While simple lifestyle changes can help, adjusting your skincare routine is really important too. Cosmetic dermatologist Sam Bunting, MD, offers more winter skincare tips in the YouTube video below.
This article originally appeared on our sister site, Yours.
