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Winter is a brutal time of year for your skin. The humidity drops and cold dry weather causes the water in your skin to evaporate very quickly. In the end, leaving you dry and itchy. But today, I’ve got 5 easy fixes to give your skin the best winter makeover! I’m even including my go-to body oil recipe… It’s the only thing keeping me from dealing with dry, flaky winter skin this year!
There’s a lot of information here, so I’m just going to cut to the chase, here are my 5 go-to tips to prevent the evil winter skin.
1- HYDRATE
The drier weather is causing your body to lose more water at a quicker pace. Making sure to drink enough water throughout the winter is key. I know we’ve all heard we should be drinking 8 glasses/day… I personally prefer the body weight method.
To figure out your water intake, multiply your weight by 2/3. The number you get is the number of ounces you should drink every day. For most people, this will actually suggest you drink more water! 8 glasses/day = 64 ounces of water. With the body weight method, this would be an appropriate amount for someone who weighs 96-lbs.
Personally, I haven’t weighed 96 pounds since middle school when I started training in the pre-professional ballet program (50 hours/week of ballet)… I need more water!
How to drink more water.
- Keep a 12-ounce water bottle by your bed. Drink the whole bottle before you go to bed and refill it. When you wake up in the morning, drink the whole bottle again before you start your day! Boom, 12 ounces.
- Carry a water bottle large water bottle with you throughout the day. I carry a 1.5L water bottle. By refiling it once in a day, I get 3L by finishing both bottles! (101 oz)
- Set a reminder… On your phone, on your computer, on your watch, whatever you’ve got!
- Hungry? Drink water first. Sometimes, what we are really hungry for, is water!
2- You are What You Eat!
No, you aren’t really going to turn into the foods you eat. But, if you’re eating foods that contain vitamins, minerals, and the like, you’re body will use them!
For maximum skin health, look for foods that contain vitamins A, C, D, E, as well as omega-3s and 6s. Some great resources include citrus, kale, salmon, sweet potatoes and sunflower seeds.
That sounds like a delicious salad to me! Kale with roasted sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, and grilled salmon, with a citrus vinaigrette… Writing that down, I’ll come back to that later!
3- Dry Brush
First let me say, “I. LOVE. DRY. BRUSHING!” Who knew that taking a dry bristle brush to your skin would be so good for you?
Did you know that dry brushing not only helps to exfoliate (obvi) but it can help stimulate the lymphatic system? The lymphatic system is what collects and transports waste (such as lactic acid) out of the body.
If you’re dealing with anxiety, like me, LISTEN UP!
Having excess lactic acid in your blood is one of the most significant biochemical factors in triggering anxiety/panic attacks. It’s even been tested! Injecting anxiety sufferers with lactate (lactic acid) can produce SEVERE PANIC ATTACKS. So why hasn’t your doctor mentioned ways to do this? Seems most physicians tend to ignore this information. (More on this later…)
Dry brushing as part of a regular beauty regimen has also been known to improve digestion and *may* help to decrease the appearance of cellulite. No. This isn’t the magic solution to getting rid of cellulite. All I’m saying is that when paired with exercise and moisturizer I’ve noticed a difference in the appearance of my thighs. I’ve even noticed my stretch marks start to fade! Though, whether this the dry brushing alone, or a combination of the beauty routine I’ve been using recently, I don’t know and I’m not complaining one bit!
How to Dry Brush:
- Set a timer for 3-5 minutes and start at your feet. Start with a dry brush and dry body!
- Using long sweeping strokes, toward your heart, brush your way up around and up your body. I tend to brush tops of feet to ankles, ankles to knees, and knees to hips before moving on to my arms. (Arm sequence: Hand to wrist, wrist to elbow, elbow to shoulder)
- Brush your stomach, chest, and butt in circular strokes, moving clockwise. If you have extra time, you can always go back to brush out a spot that may need extra help (I tend to have dry skin patches on my shins and elbows… and if the cellulite rumors are true, I always give my thighs a little extra attention too!
- When your timer goes off, hop in the shower.
4- Shower Power
Winter is cold and who doesn’t like to warm up in a long, hot shower?! Hate to be the bearer of bad news but that hot shower is not doing you dry skin any favors! (womp womp) Hot showers will actually cause your skin to dry out faster thanks to hot water’s ability to strip you of your body’s natural oils. (RUDE!) Save your skin, opt for a lukewarm shower instead. Oh, and keep the shower time short. It should be just long enough to get everything clean.
Wait! What kind of soap are you reaching for…? Make sure you’re scrubbing up with a moisturizing kind that is gentle on your skin. I personally love Dove foaming body wash, it adds moisture without stripping it away.
As you’re stepping out of the shower, pat your skin dry, don’t rub. You want to dry off just enough so there aren’t any water droplets on your skin. Then it’s time to moisturize!
5- Moisturize
During the winter you may need to change up your skincare routine just a touch…
There are two kinds of moisturizers– Water based and oil based. In the summer, it’s best to go with the water-based ones. With the humid summer air, water-based moisturizers don’t have to work as hard.
However, as previously mentioned, the dry winter air causes water to evaporate from your skin more quickly. So a water-based lotion won’t be helping as much as it could be. Look for an oil-based lotion to help retain the water in your skin. Also, you’re going to want to moisturize at least 2 times per day.
Personally, I created my own body oil. In the winter, I’ve been using it every day after my showers. It feels so luxurious.I get great satisfaction in watching it absorb into my skin knowing that I’m going to be set until I get home from work. And even greater satisfaction when I am not itchy or static-y throughout the day! Don’t worry, I’ve got the recipe for you below. And if you’re not interested in making your own body oil concoction, just try Bio-Oil instead
There you have it, the 5 ways I use to battle the infamous, dry winter skin. What did I forget? Do you have a tip for maintaining luxuriously supple skin throughout the harsh winter? Leave your tips in the comments below to help others who may need additional help!
Notes
*I recommend using lavender as the essential oil in this recipe. Known for it's ability to calm the mind with it's scent, it also contains the ability to soothe dry itchy skin.
**If you are pregnant or nursing, speak with your physician before using this body oil recipe. Lavender is an essential oil that many discourage during pregnancy. Chamomile oil would be a good substitute, but please check with your doctor first!
Ingredients
- 2-ounces Jojoba Oil
- 1-ounce Vitamin E Oil
- 30 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Instructions
- Mix all of the oils together in a dark colored bottle with tight fitting lid.
- To Use: Rub on body after getting out of the shower and lightly drying off. May be used up to 2 times per day.
