5 Necessary Steps to Nourish & Recover Dry Winter Skin

As winter quickly approaches (especially in Chicago), many of us are starting to notice some unwelcomed changes in our skin. It is not so soft and smooth anymore. Flaky and rough patches seems to be taking over. The glow is nowhere to be found.

During the winter, skin is facing different challenges and have different needs than during the summer, and your skincare routine should follow that change. All you need is a basic skincare regimen and a few simple lifestyle changes to bring that dewy glow back to your skin and keep it there all winter long…

BE GENTLE WHEN CLEANSING YOUR SKIN!

You’ve probably already heard that hot, long showers are dry skin’s number one enemy. This is because hot water and harsh foaming cleansers strip necessary oils from your skin. They weaken the skin’s protective barrier that keeps the skin well-moisturized. For naturally dry skin, this barrier is already insufficient or damaged! Try to find a gentle, creamy cleanser, limit your showers to under 10 minutes and use warm (or even lukewarm if you can), but never hot water.

EXFOLIATE, BUT ONLY AS NEEDED. 

Yes, even dry skin needs regular exfoliation, but that doesn’t mean you should use harsh scrubs. They would only irritate and damage your skin even further. Instead, opt for gentle, natural scrubs. Sugar scrubs can especially suit dry skin, since sugar is a natural humectant that helps hydrate the skin, plus it improves collagen production. 

MOISTURIZE. MOISTURIZE. MOISTURIZE!

Thick, heavy lotions and body butters are perfect for dry skin and winter weather. If you find some that is organic and doesn’t contain harsh chemicals and artificial fragrance, even better, it can help keep your skin soft, smooth, healthy and well-hydrated throughout the winter.

And here’s a little trick for you – always apply moisturizers right after washing, while your skin is still slightly damp. That way, you will lock the moisture into your skin before it gets a chance to evaporate. Plus, damp skin absorbs products better than dry skin.

WHAT YOU EAT MATTERS.  

A healthy, nutritious, well-balanced diet has a lot of impact on your whole body, including your skin. In fact, many people discovered that changing their eating habits is what help them the most to fix some skin issue.

If you have dry skin, you should make sure your daily meals include food rich in essential fatty acids, beta carotene, vitamin A, vitamins C and E and other antioxidants. This means – eat avocado, fatty fish, flaxseed, almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sweet potato, olive oil, asparagus, cucumbers and citrus fruit. And, of course – drink enough water.

USE A HUMIDIFIER. 

Central heating can dry the air in your home so much, it visibly starts to affect your skin. But a humidifier can fix this for you. Humidifiers increase the air’s moisture levels in your house, helping you to maintain your skin optimally hydrated.

Have dry skin? Flora’s Angels can definitely help with that! All of our body butters and scrubs are all natural and moisturizing. Contact us if you need help choosing the right products for your skin.