Winter Skin Care Tips

Image via WikipediaIt's that season once again when leaves fall and the air is chillier than usual. A drop in temperature can be hurtful to your skin's hydration. When autumn comes and later winter, keep your skin moisturized and protected from the changes in the weather.

Here are some winter skin care tips that even your snowmobile parts crazy hubby can make use of:

* Apply a simple hydrotherapy technique using hot and cold showers. Start with a hot shower, and then before getting out switch to a cold shower for about fifteen seconds. After that turn up the heat a bit, and then down again. Repeat the alternate switching of hot and cold showers for about two minutes. This stimulates the blood flow throughout the body. It revitalizes the skin and invigorates the muscles.

* Moisturize! Block the sun! Use a highly protective day cream with zinc oxide and has at least SPF 15 (ideally SPF 30) to protect your skin from the harsh elements of cold weather. Creamier, water-in-oil emulsions are best choices. Snow is highly reflective and can intensify the sun's rays.

Or you can use this natural skin care recipe: mix equal parts of olive, mustard oil and sesame oil, then massage it all over the body, and rinse after an hour. Make sure any winter moisturizer you use is oil-based. Water-based ones will freeze on your skin.

* Don't forget your lips, hands, feet and hair. Use lip moisturizers or lip balms to prevent them from drying up and chapping in the cold. Your hands and feet also need your loving attention from the low temperature. Keep them hydrated by applying moisturizer. Also refrain from washing your hair too often because this will strip your scalp with the oils it needs.

* Exfoliate at least twice a week. This will get rid of dead skin and help your skin absorb moisture better. However, be warned not to over exfoliate since this also strips away oils from skin.

* Drink lots of fluids! Drink water a lot to replenish your body's water needs during winter. Drink a glass of hot water with lemon or calamansi. It's a Chinese herbal remedy to energize your body and detoxify your entire system, including the liver and gall bladder. This means your blood will be cleansed of toxins responsible for bad skin.

* Sleep like there's no tomorrow! Why do you think animals hibernate? Sleep is our way of regenerating cells and renewing energy production. Try to sleep more for seven to nine hours a day during winter.

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