Keeping Your Skin Healthy In The Winter

By Lychee Fan
[Beauty]
Is winter weather leaving your skin looking dull?  Lychee Fan offers a few tips on how to keep your skin healthy this season.
Harsh winds and cold, dry air.  The cold may not only be taking a toll on your mood, but also your skin.  Whether you’re suffering from dry, itchy winter skin or your skin is just looking drab during these winter months, dull skin doesn’t help with that blah feeling of the season.  Good thing the problem of dull skin can be as easy to fix as taking a few precautions and protecting your skin with the same care you take protecting it in the summer.

Remove Dead Skin Cells

Avoid showering with very hot water as this will strip your skin of moisture and dry it out.  When you get out of the shower, do not rigorously rub your face and body dry, but use your towel to pat down the droplets.  This will help to retain the natural moisture within the top layer of the skin.

You should exfoliate at least once a week in order to get rid of dead skin cells that will build up otherwise.  This buildup of dead skin cells is one of the main reasons your skin appears drab at any point during the year and is the cause for flaky, peeling skin.  It also makes your skin tone uneven and will clog your pores, often causing breakouts.  By removing these layers of dead skin and revealing the fresh skin underneath, you will notice that your skin has a natural glow.  However, be cautious not to use a rough exfoliant such as microdermabrasion treatments around acne or if you have sensitive skin as this may irritate the area.  In these cases, try a gentler exfoliant, preferably labelled for your skin type.

Protect Your Skin

You should assist in locking in your skin’s natural moisture by applying lotion to your body or if you prefer something richer, by applying body butter.  When it comes to your face, avoid using body lotion because it is too heavy for your delicate face and can make it oily.  Most people think that sunscreen is something that is only necessary during the summer, when in fact the sun’s rays are harmful all year long.  Sunscreen should be applied to at least the face and hands everyday to protect them.  It is beneficial to get a good facial moisturizer that includes an SPF level of at least 15, but if you don’t want to buy this, mix facial moisturizer with oil-free sunscreen in your hands.  You should also apply facial moisturizer and sunscreen to your neck, which is generally an ignored area for young women, but which becomes an area of concern later in age.
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