Thursday, January 8, 2009

Winter Skin Care Tips




Young or old, we all battle the effects of the winter season on our skin.


With the new lotion and face cream products being added to my store, and with myself happily seeing improvement in my own skin this season, I wanted to share a few winter skin care tips.

  • Remember to moisturize more in the winter. Switching from a water based moisturizer to one that is oil based is smart skin care during the colder months. Oil based products provide a protective layer on the skin, acting as a barrier to the harsh winds, snow, and cold of winter.

  • Do not forget the sun screen when working outdoors. Exposure to the sun can be skin damaging even during the winter months.

  • Drink enough water! If you cannot tolerate 10-12 glasses of water a day, supplement some of that liquid with decaffeinated drinks. Both caffeine and alcohol are diuretics, which accelerate dry skin.

  • Pay close attention to your hands. Hand skin tends to age faster than the rest of our bodies. Why? The skin on our hands is much thinner. Always remember to wear dry gloves, and moisturize the hands often.

  • Do not forget your feet. Dry socks are a must. You may need to slough off the dry skin areas of your feet with a pumice stone, or with a foot scrub, and then lavishly apply moisturizer to your feet as well. I find help with a pumice stone, heavy moisturizer, and then by wearing cotton socks in the evenings.

  • Heated winter air tends to be on the dry side. You may need to invest in a humidifier. If you are watching your pocketbook, boil a tiny bit of water on your stove once a day to keep the humidity levels higher in your home.

  • Dress in layers. Not only will this keep you much warmer (with lighter layers underneath), but it will also protect your skin from the elements.

  • Avoid very hot baths. I have problems with following this rule myself! I love a hot bubble bath. Hot baths make dry skin so much drier!

  • After bathing, slather on the moisturizer. It is best to moisturize while the skin is still fairly damp. This helps retain the natural moisture of your skin!

I have heard others say that our skin is the largest organ of our bodies. I find that statement interesting, and it compels me to try a little harder at taking care of myself.

Do you have any skin care tips to share? I love comments! :)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good stuff to know!

Mary Humphrey said...

Amy, thanks! You raise goats too, so you know how it is. I spend anywhere from one to three hours a day in the cold, depending upon the time of year, and depending whether the girls are in milk or not. Normally I have split skin on the fingers, rough spots on the legs and arms. This year I worked hard to take better care, and have used my own products like mad, and I see such an improvement. I am not saying this to sell products, I am simply happy about it! I did have someone call me last night. He told that his wife's skin is so much better this winter and asked me to bring some of my soap and lotion the next time I visit. He wants his mother to use it now too. Put a smile on my face!

Anonymous said...

Mary, You're welcome and yes I know how every winter it's chapped lips, face, dry hands, etc., my Mom used to make her own lotion not using goat milk but other natural things and it was nice and it is stuff that she could wear even and she also made some perfume too, she's allergic to many things and we used to make goat milk soap as well. We were trying to get my brother and sis-in-law to give their youngest daughter goat milk to drink since she has a milk allergy but they're finnicky but Nubians have wonderful;)

Hidden Brook Farm said...

Good tips, winter definately takes it's toil much quicker than it use too:)

Mary Humphrey said...

It sure does! :)