Skin care 

in winter

· It is time to get out the heavy-duty moisturizers. A highly protective day care cream with appropriate SPF is an essential barrier to protect your skin against the elements

· Creamy, water-in-oil emulsions are best as they hydrate your skin while also protecting it from loss of moisture in the cold winds.

· Chapped lips are most noticeable in winter. Use a moisturizing lip balm with vitamin E if you want to avoid looking like you have some dreadful, peeling skin disorder. Keep reapplying the balm with a chap stick throughout the day.

· Exfoliate! Dead Cells tend to pile up in winter and prevent the moisturizer from getting to the healthy skin. The oils in the skin are being produced at a lesser rate than in summer and due to this, skin tends to lose water that would otherwise have been retained in the lower dermis of the skin.

· Detoxify your system with plenty of water. If you find it difficult to gulp down room temperature water, heat your water and take it with a twist of lemon—a sort of watered-down version of lemon tea.

· Ensure you get your beauty sleep. 7 hours is decent if you cannot manage the full 8 or the luxurious 9 hours in winter nights.

· Sun protection is essential now. Natural sunscreens featuring moisturizing ingredients such as aloe vera, cocoa butter and herbal oils can further protect your skin.

· Moisturize as frequently as possible. Indoor and outdoor conditions are drier in winter and alternating a heavier emollient with a lighter emollient can have your skin feeling cared for while not having to deal with a greasy feeling.

· Alternate different products every few days so that your body is exposed to differing levels of support and does not settle into a fixed routine.

· It would be best to avoid clay-based masks in winter as they tend to dry skin further in winter.

· Natural soaps or herbal soaps with high fat content are good for the skin in winter as they care for dry skin.

· Tub baths should be avoided as they can cause drying of the skin and showers should be taken with tepid, not hot, water.

· Avoid vigorous and too frequent scrubbing with washcloths in winter as this can further damage and irritate dry skin.

· Apply a moisturizer onto towel-dried skin immediately after emerging from a shower as this locks more water into your skin.

· Rubber gloves will need to be worn while washing dishes or using harsh cleaning agents to avoid further chemical damage.

· Winter time also sees the outbreak of itchy skin or Eczema. Avoid the use of soap if this happens and try to use natural emollients such as olive oil or moisturizers with herbal oils such as tea-tree oil.