Anti Aging Skin Care » Skin Care Tips » Tips for Winter Skin Care

Tips for Winter Skin Care

Taking a daily hot shower
Taking a hot shower daily is important for the hygiene of your skin. You should do so in winter too. Keep these winter skincare tips in mind when stepping into the shower:

• Avoid harsh (typically colored, fragrant or antibacterial) soaps and stick with mild non-drying soaps.
• Put your moisturizing cream right away after bathing and toweling dry. This will seal in the moisture. Employ moisturizing creams and ointments that are more appropriate for the body than for the face.
• Do not forget your sun protection. The sun does not go away just because it is snowing or cloudy. Maintenance use of sunscreen with an SPF of 15 that protects against both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B is an important step in your daily winter skin care. The sun ages your skin, so prevent it. You may find that you prefer a more hydrating base to your sunscreen for wintertime. Extra hydration does not mean extra oily. Many formulations available are oil-free. Also, wear a sun protective hat.

Moisturizing

• Use a good moisturizer. Without doubt, this is the most important winter skin care tip.
• Choose an extremely protective day cream that contains zinc oxide, and provides SPF30 protection to form a barrier against the elements. Creamier, water-in-oil emulsions are best.
• Extremely irritated skin can crop up quite fast during winter. Keep some extra heavy duties moisturizing cream on hand to handle those problematic areas whenever necessary.

Taking Care of Your Lips

• Do not forget your lips. Chapped lips are often the most noticeable problem in winter. Do not just soften them up and forget about them, pamper them throughout the winter season.
• Lip balms are great for preventing lips from drying out. Use a good moisturizing lip balm, which offer a protective barrier, with vitamin E for good elasticity.
• However, waxes simply do not have the ability to rejuvenate or replenish lost moisture. Soften lips with an AHA nightly for a therapeutic remedy. Simply slathering on a heavy moisturizer, will not treat the underlying problem or get rid of unwanted peeling skin.
• Consult your dermatologist, as he may be able to describe an ointment to help resolve the issue or get you through your Accutane regimen. This should be used for a finite period. It is not something to use indefinitely.

Taking Care of your Hands & Fingers

• Dry hands and cracking fingers are a huge concern in winter. It is worse for people with lots of contact with water or chemicals in their home or workplace.
• Exposure to water actually dehydrates the skin as the air evaporates the bath water; it takes moisture from the skin along with it.
• Seal your hands after softly patting them dry with a towel immediately. The same applies for full body protection after bathing.
• This simple practice goes a long way in preventing winter itch, something that is more likely to occur as we get a little older each year.
• Hands and fingers take a beating because of their constant contact with the elements. We can use simple bland creams that help to act as a protection against the environment while restoring important moisture. Therapeutic options are available once you are in trouble.

Taking Care of your Finger Nails

• Keep your fingernails moist to prevent brittleness.
• One key winter skin care tip is to minimize water exposure as much as possible. Wear protective gloves when washing dishes.
• Applying a protective nail hardener will help toughen them up.
• Consuming calcium supplements according to package direction will ensure the presence of this important nutrient. If you are prone to kidney stones, check with your doctor before starting them

Exfoliate

• Exfoliate at least twice a week. This will remove dead cells and allow the skin to absorb extra moisture.
• The oil, which we all complain about in the summer, is no longer being produced because of cooler winter temperatures and central heating. Therefore the skin looses the water which should be retained in the lower dermis of the skin. This can lead to premature aging of the skin and fine lines, whilst your skin can appear puffy and grey.

Drink lots of Water
Drink lots of water to prevent dehydration. The Chinese recommend drinking a glass of hot water with lemon. This herbal remedy is a sure-fire method of energizing your body. It will de-tox your entire system, including the liver and gall bladder. This means that your body will be able to clean the blood faster to get rid of toxins responsible for bad skin.

Get Plenty of Sleep
Money cannot buy the benefits of a good night's rest. Your oxygen levels will drop if you do not get enough sleep, meaning that your cells will not be renewed as quickly. This is when degenerative skin aging sets in. Try to get seven, if not eight or nine hours of rest a night to achieve painless benefits. It is ideal.

Creams for environmental protection
Establish a barrier between you and the cold, dry winter weather. This is easily accomplished with the frequent use of a good, mild moisturizing cream.

Notice the word creams and not lotions. In the dry winter weather, the lotion is quickly absorbed into the skin and there is nothing left on the surface to protect the skin. Switch to a cream or ointment base during winter.