In these dry months of the year, your skin can begin to look dry, and thus your makeup can begin to look patchy. Here are some beauty tips on how to take care of yourself in the winter!
It may be tempting to crank your thermostat to high temperatures, but I bet you didn’t know that this can actually be harmful towards your skin. Dermatologists recommend keeping your heat in the 60-70 degrees range. Over heating your house can actually lead to drier skin! Fix this problem by using a humidifier to give your skin more moisture. The same goes for washing your face with very hot water or taking long showers with high temperature water. The heat from the water can actually pull natural oils from your skin, thus creating a dry surface. As tempting as it is to come home and surround yourself with steaming water after being in the cold, keep these showers short and a little less hot – your skin will thank you!
You’ve all heard the importance of wearing sunscreen in the summer, but did you know that you should actually do this everyday even during cloudy winter days? UV rays are still capable of damaging your skin even in the coldest of cold days! Adding to this, moisturizing is a given. Consider adding a heavier moisturizer to your skincare routine that will better hydrate you. It is important to add back the moisture the dry winter air takes away! As important as it is to take care of your skin, don’t forget your poor lips! Make sure to use a good moisturizing chapstick (Aquaphor and Vaseline are great choices!) Keeping your lips moisturized makes your lip gloss and lipstick look so much better and gives you a seamless look.
Before you go to bed, apply moisturizer to your hands, but also elbows, shoulders, legs and knees. These places on your body are often forgotten when it comes to moisturizing, as we are so concerned with our faces, but make sure you are hydrating every inch of your body that needs it. Keep a small pouch consisting of the moisturizing essentials in your backpack or in your locker so you can reapply during the day!
What leads to this dryness on your face? Well, besides hot water and cold/dry weather, over-cleansing or exfoliating your face can dry out your skin and lead to ashyness and peeling. Try to listen to your skin: if it feels tight or dehydrated, splash your face with water instead of cleansing, or try a gentler face wash. Your skincare routine does not need to – and should not be – more than three or four steps long. Less is more – be gentle with your skin. This will help you feel a little less dehydrated and hopefully rejuvenate your skin!
I will leave you with one last tip. Drink lots of water! Just because it is not hot outside does not mean you don’t need to drink as much water. Your skin feeling dry can be a result of you literally dehydrating yourself! So, be gentle with your skin this winter and consider these tips to help keep your skin looking healthy this holiday season.
By Elizabeth Barrette ‘29, Sports and Beauty Editor
29ebarrette@montroseschool.org
