How to keep your skin healthy this winter

image from Unsplash.

This article was written by Bongiwe Mati

The winter season has just begun, this to many of us means changing the food we eat to warm hearty meals, packing away our shorts and vests to  warmer clothes and coats and changing our skincare products to richer products that care and protect our skin from drying out.

As the weather gets cold, our skin becomes dryer, cracky and flaky.

The are ways to prevent all of this, but the solution requires dedication and commitment.

Below are five tips on how to keep your skin healthy and glowing this winter season.

Hydrate from within – It is very important to start your skin’s hydration process from within by making sure you drink enough water daily, as that has a way of showing on your skin before you even apply hydrating products, shares skincare experts Chris & Alley.

Exfoliate strategically – The cold winter season often makes me too lazy to follow my skincare routine, as I often just do the basic minimum. The above-mentioned information hub advises not to fall into this trap as exfoliating helps take off dead cells, making it easy for the moisturiser to penetrate the skin without blockage. During winter, the hub suggests to, “Opt for gentle exfoliation methods like chemical exfoliants (AHAs or BHAs) to prevent over-exfoliation and irritation that worsens dryness.”

Moisturise right after washing – moisturising after you’ve washed your skin is said to lock in the moisture as soaps and water tend to tend to dry our skin. “Any time you wash your face, hands, or body, you strip your skin of its natural oils. Since these oils help to lock in moisture, it’s vital to replace them. That’s why it’s important to use a moisturise any time you wash your skin, especially in winter,” says health advice related hub Healthline.

Apply sunscreen daily – A lot of times people make the mistake of thinking that sunscreen should be packed away in winter, and only taken out on sunny days when the sun reaches their skin directly. Healthline disagrees with this notion, as it states that harmful UV light can still be found in winter and that may cause problems to one’s “skin moisture barrier, which is vital for maintaining skin health and hydration.”

Use a humidifier – Humidifiers are said to prevent dryness by adding moisture to the air around the house. This is a good thing for both your skin and health. Chris & Alley note that home heating tools dry out the air in your home leaving the skin dehydrated.

This article first appeared on Bona.

Also see: On trend skincare ingredients to include in your beauty routine