You may not know this, but your skin is your largest organ, yet so many people neglect to give it the care it needs. During the winter, your skin needs a little extra attention due to the drying effects that central heating systems have on us. Add to that the fact that most people drink less water during the years' coldest months, and you can see how your skin can get pretty dehydrated. To top it off, some people have the mindset that because they are covered up in sweaters, jeans, and coats, they don't need their skin to look the best, so why put in the extra effort? But your skin is the first barrier between the external environment and the rest of your body. It is your first defense system. Not to mention the fact that if your skin is suffering, your body will pull nutrients from your internal systems to care of your skin, so it's super important that you give your skin the care it needs!
Here I have included my top five tips for maintaining healthy, glowing skin during the Winter. However, these tips are by no means limited to just the coldest months of the year. I encourage you to incorporate these tips into your daily routine, but especially now, while it's cold.
Rosehip oil - this is the number one beauty product I can't live without! I'm obsessed!! I have been using rosehip oil everyday for about five years, and it has worked miracles for my skin! Not only can you use it as a natural way to remove eye makeup, but it is also incredibly moisturizing for your skin (something we all need in the Winter) and is a great source of vitamins A, C, and E, all of which play important roles in maintaining skin health. The vitamin C in rosehip oil helps promote collagen production, giving it tremendous anti-aging properties, as well as being great for pregnant women who don't want any stretch marks! Vitamins A and E are powerful antioxidants that help protect the skin from damage due to free radicals. Basically, rosehip oil is a superfood for the skin. I apply it to my skin every night after I wash my face and anytime I get on an airplane. If my skin is feeling super dry, I will also add a little bit of rosehip oil to my moisturizer in the morning. I can guarantee this is not the last time you will be hearing me talk about rosehip oil in my blogs! You can find rosehip oil at some grocery stores or order it online here.
Dry Body Brushing- I was a little doubtful when I first heard about the benefits of dry body brushing, but the science is there to back it up! After I tried it for a little while, I became a believer. Dry body brushing is great for exfoliating, enhancing blood flow to the skin, and promoting lymphatic circulation which helps cleanse the body of toxins. When body brushing, always start with your feet and work upwards in small, soft strokes always moving towards your heart. I like to do this just before hopping in the shower for the full benefits. You can buy dry body brushes at most health stores or online here.
Coconut oil- this is a great alternative to using lotion because it is completely natural and super moisturizing! Even for those of you who have organic lotion, coconut oil is still wonderful to use because it is even more hydrating than your regular lotions. During the winter, I will apply coconut all over my body about twice a month just to make sure that my skin is remaining hydrated during the cold weather.
Turn the shower water to cold- I must admit that I have a hard time with this one, but it works wonders for the skin! Hot water can actually be damaging to the blood vessel walls just beneath your skin, so even though it's tempting when it's cold outside, try to not take a super hot shower or bath. Cold water will even enhance blood circulation at the skin, providing it with lots of nutrients and helping it to heal. If don't think you can commit to taking an entirely cold shower (I certainly can't), then do what I do and turn the water cold for the last minute or so of your shower.
WATER, WATER, WATER- are you getting tired of me saying it yet? I don't care... DRINK WATER!!! Staying hydrated is incredibly important not only for good skin health, but also for your health in general. People always tend to drink less water in the Winter because they don't feel as thirsty, but that doesn't mean your body doesn't need it. Any water you drink will first be used for internal physiological processes, and THEN for your skin. So if you want to have healthy skin, make sure you are getting plenty of water throughout the day. You should aim to get approximately 2 liters a day!
Please comment below if you have any questions!!
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