Tips and Tricks to Combat Dry Winter Skin

As the weather gets colder, our skin gets drier. During the winter, it can seem like a constant battle to protect our hands and lips from cracks caused by dry skin. It requires a lot of lotion to keep our legs smooth and not dry or flaky. Dry skin isn’t sexy, and it can hurt. The wintertime requires extra-heavy artillery to combat dry skin, so here are some tips and tricks to help you.

Drink Lots of Water

It’s so important to drink enough water to keep your body hydrated, and most of us don’t consume the recommended amount, which is an eight-ounce cup eight times per day. During the winter, you need to drink that much, and possibly more. Water keeps your skin hydrated, and hydration is the opposite of dryness. Drinking lots of water gives you healthy, glowing skin.

Get Your Healthy Fats

Healthy fats, or essential fatty acids, are required by your body to stay in tip-top shape. Not all fats are good, of course, and you should limit your intake of fats, no matter what kind. You should make sure, however, that you’re getting enough omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel are good sources of omega-3s. Oils also contain healthy fats, and the best choices are cold-pressed flax oil or hemp oil. Try drizzling them over your salad or vegetables, or using them instead of butter.

Use Natural Lotions

Moisturizer is, of course, essential for the wintertime, but the moisturizer you choose can make a big difference; some are much more effective than others. Natural moisturizers that use few or no chemicals, preservatives, and alcohol are preferable. It can be hard to find natural moisturizers in the stores, though, so you can create your own. Oil-based lotion is the best, and you can get its smoothing effects by just rubbing your skin with pure, cold-pressed oils, such as grape-seed or almond oil, among many others.

Treat Your Skin

Skin conditioning treatments can be bought in stores, but all you need to do is use one of the oils as suggested above at home. To treat your hands and feet, rub your skin with oil, and then put on mittens and socks. Wear them for at least 15 minutes per day, or even overnight if possible.

Moisturize the Right Way

How you lotion your skin can also make a big difference. The best time to apply moisturizer is after your shower, because warm, damp skin will absorb the lotion the best. Rub lotion into your skin in a circular motion. Tap your skin lightly to stimulate your skin cells. Do this at least once per day. Use a very small bit of oil for your face, because your face is more prone to build-up.
It is possible to have soft, smooth skin in the wintertime, so long as you make an effort to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. Best of all, you can follow these tips all year-round.