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WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND may be romantic but it is hell on your skin. The cold dry air turns your skin into sandpaper faster than you can say frostbite. So how do you keep skin soft and supple during these frosty winter days?
5 WAYS TO FIX DRY WINTER SKIN
1) Cover Up!
PROTECTION is your best line of defense (wow. that was redundant.) so cover what you can when you brave the cold, blustery weather. Gloves, boots, scarves – you get the idea.
2) About Face
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THE VAST MAJORITY of us have no desire to rock a ski mask every time we leave the house which means your facial moisturizer has to kick some serious ass. Look for products that contain hyaluronic acid or lactic acid, both of which beat back dry skin by sealing in moisture.
TWO OF MY FAVORITES are Philosophy Hope in a Jar and Sephora Collection Instant Moisturizer both of which are available in spf formulas as well (because yes, you need to wear sunblock in winter too. I’ve had melanoma. I know what I’m talking about).
AT NIGHT consider adding extra virgin olive oil after your usual moisturizer. It doesn’t clog pores and is pH perfection. A little goes a long way so use it sparingly. Yes it will be a little greasy but it absorbs while you sleep and you’ll wake with hydrated skin.
3) Hands & Feet
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TO KEEP YOUR TOOTSIES happy and soft exfoliation is the key. Before bed use a pumice stone and follow up with a lotion that contains urea, which will help slough off the rest of the dead skin and keep ‘em soft. Follow the lotion with a pair of soft cotton socks and wake with baby soft feet.
AS FOR HANDS, if they’re crazy-dry and you can put up with a little greasiness then go for a heavy duty product. It will help moisturize and serve as a barrier. Aquaphor is a great choice.
IF YOU’RE LIKE ME and can’t stand greasy, sticky hands you can still get excellent results from lighter products. The two I swear by are Nivea Skin Crème (which works great for the body too but it is lanolin based so vegans beware) and The Body Shop’s Hemp Hand Protector (they also make a body butter version which is completely amazeballs…but it also contains beeswax…sorry again vegans). They both transform your hands instantly. Not only will your hands be hydrated and soft but they actually look younger which is an added bonus, for sure.
4) Hydrate
DRINK that H2O, baby. Hydrate your skin from the inside out. So get your drink on and chug-a-lug darlin’s. A little extra water never killed anyone (flooding and drowning aside, of course).
5) Stop Being Nosy
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YOUR POOR LITTLE NOSE. Step outside and the cold makes it run like a victim in a horror movie. Step inside and the heater that’s cranked to the max turns it into the Sahara making your nasal passages painful, burning and even bloody. You can try using a humidifier or a non-medicated moisturizing nasal spray if you catch the dryness early but if you want a quick overnight fix then Vaseline is the way to go.
PLACE A LITTLE Vaseline on either end of a cotton swab and carefully apply* a thin coat to the inside of each nostril. Don’t goop it on. The goal is to moisturize, not suffocate. Just a little swipe does the trick. Your nostrils will feel noticeably better in the morning. Repeat as needed.
FOLLOW THESE 5 TIPS and your skin will be feeling and looking better in no time.
DO YOU HAVE any skin saving tips for winter? Favorite lotions or moisturizers? I’m always excited about new lotions and skincare and would love to hear your tips and tricks. Leave your words of wisdom in the comments or join the conversation on twitter or facebook.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
*seriously, carefully. Don’t go jamming q-tips up your nose. Use some common sense. You don’t want to give yourself an accidental frontal lobotomy, so keep it to the lower portion of the nostrils, boys and girls. Don’t go digging for gold up in your nasal canal. Keep it shallow.
**this post contains a couple of affiliate links.
