Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

5 Simple Steps for Winter Skincare

This is a guest post from Dr Don Grant (MB, ChB, DRCOG, MRCGP, Dip.orth.med), clinical lead at The Independent Pharmacy, one of the UK’s leading independent online pharmacies. 

Keeping your skin happy and healthy during the winter can be a challenge.

Those crisp, frosty days and clear blue skies might be beautiful, but they can wreak havoc on your skin, leaving it feeling and looking dry, dull and sad.

Luckily, there are some simple ways you can look after your skin during the colder months. Read on for some of our top tips for winter skincare:

1. Moisturise a LOT 

One really simple thing that you can do to protect your skin this winter? Moisturise!

The dry air and cold temperatures during the winter — combined with the dry heat that your radiators are constantly pumping out — dry out our skin more than usual, leaving it itchy and flaky.

Investing in a rich moisturiser and using it regularly is the best way to tackle dry winter skin. Oil-based moisturisers are best for the winter as they will nourish your skin and form a protective layer against the dry atmosphere; carry one around in your bag when you’re out and about, and don’t be afraid to apply it liberally.

Hot water can also strip away the natural oils from your skin (more on that later), leaving you with dry, chapped skin after you’ve done the dishes.

To prevent your hands from drying out, keep a rich moisturiser by your sink to rehydrate after you’ve been using hot water and cleaning products that could damage your skin. 

The same goes for cleaning yourself. Use a body lotion on your whole body after you’ve had a bath or a shower to lock the moisture into your skin.

2. Modify your skin routine for the weather

In the summer, we tend to pay more attention to our skin, moisturising, exfoliating and bronzing in preparation for our beach days and bare legs. 

And in the winter, it’s all too easy to neglect our skin and hide it away under chunky knitwear and tights. 

The winter doesn’t mean you should forget about your skin — or keep up the same regime. Modify and perfect your winter skincare routine and your skin will definitely thank you.

For example, swapping out your regular cleansers or face wipes for more gentle, moisturising products will keep your complexion healthy and fresh because they won’t strip away any natural oils when your skin needs them the most.

Likewise, try to use mild soaps and cleansing products. Harsh, alcohol-based body washes will wash away these important natural oils, leaving your skin dry, irritated, and in poor condition.

If you suffer from skin conditions like eczema, you’ll probably notice that it gets worse during the winter months. There are all sorts of changes you can make to help prevent eczema, such as using a specialist moisturiser that contains eczema-tackling ingredients like steroids; there is plenty of helpful advice on how to get rid of eczema available on The Independent Pharmacy website. 

3. Protect yourself from the elements

The biting winds, cold temperatures, and lack of humidity during the winter months can leave your skin sad and dry. 

Protecting yourself from the elements is a really simple tip to add to your winter skincare routine. 

When you’re heading outside, make sure you put on warm, thick gloves. The skin on your hands is thinner and more prone to damage than the rest of your body, so it’s all too easy for your hands to become chapped and dry. 

Adding a chunky scarf to your outfit will protect your neck and some of your face — and finishing off with a woolly hat will shield the delicate skin on your ears from any harsh winds. 

Likewise, if it’s sunny, don’t forget to apply sunscreen! Just because the air is cold doesn’t mean that harmful UV rays can’t damage your skin. 

This is especially true if you’re heading off on any skiing holidays this winter. Burning is more likely and much worse when you’re on the mountain, according to this post from Mountain Warehouse. The thin atmosphere provides less protection from the sun’s rays, and the brilliant white snow reflects these rays back onto you too so you get hit from all angles (which basically means double the damage). If you don’t want to burn, then apply that SPF50 regularly.

4. Keep your showers short and sweet (and cooler too)

When the weather is cold and you’re struggling to warm up, stepping into a steaming shower or a hot bath is our go-to winter warmer.

But although this may feel good, it’s actually pretty detrimental to your skin; hot water can strip away natural oils from your skin, disrupting moisture levels and causing dryness. Without these healthy oils, your skin can be left feeling dry, flaky and itchy. 

Luckily, there are some pretty simple fixes for this. Firstly, even making your shower or bath just a bit shorter will make sure you don’t overdo it and come out red-skinned and itching. 

Secondly, turn the temperature or your shower down (or add some more cold water to your bath). You’d be surprised the difference that slightly cooler water makes; taking a warm shower or bath rather than a piping hot one will be much better for your skin and help you avoid irritation.

5. Drink plenty of water 

Using a good moisturiser isn’t the only way to keep your skin hydrated; drinking lots of water will help to hydrate your body from the inside too. 

The water you drink doesn’t go straight to your skin. Instead, it hydrates the body overall, which flushes out the toxins and keeps your skin healthy and glowing. It can even help with the appearance of wrinkles!

Of course, we’re all much better at hydrating in the summer — the warmer weather and feel of the sun is a reminder to keep our water bottles topped up. But in the winter, it’s all too easy for us to forget. After all, it’s so miserable outside that we don’t really associate dehydration with winter. 

However, the low humidity of winter air can dry out our bodies and strip the skin of moisture, so it’s important to drink plenty of water in the colder months. Aim for eight glasses of water a day, and remember that herbal or fruit teas can also help you hydrate when it’s cold (as well as making you feel all warm and cosy!). 

Skincare isn’t something you should reserve only for the summer. Follow these winter skincare tips to keep your skin happy and healthy this season.

The post 5 Simple Ways To Look After Your Skin This Winter – Guest Post appeared first on Emily Aagaard.