When Winter comes to Petaluma, CA it brings with it: sweaters, scarves, boots, hot chocolate, and soothing fires, but it also plagues our skin with dry air leaving our skin itchy, dry, irritated, and red. Fortunately, we’ve learned how to care for our skin a lot better and we have advanced technology to help us combat the offensive nature of Winter.
- An obvious solution to dry skin is water! But not just inside, outside too. Even though hot chocolate is a Winter staple (and delicious) it means we’re drinking less water and more sugar; so, make sure to drink tons of extra water. You also need to moisturize (skip petroleum-based moisturizers which dry you out more), pick a natural, water-based one. You can also moisturize overnight, especially trouble areas like: hands, elbows, knees, and feet. And don’t forget to moisturize immediately after our next tip.
- Showers (and baths) are a culprit for dry skin year-round (not just Winter). When water washes over our skin it picks up and carries away the moisture in it as well, plus hot water makes this even worse! Also avoid exfoliating while in the shower (or anywhere else) if you already have dry skin; do it less frequently, even if your skin isn’t dry yet. In the same light as this tip, make sure to ditch wet clothes as soon as you can, they will increase your chances of getting sick as well as drying out; not only wet clothes, but irritating fabrics (like wool) too!
- You should also be conscious of the cleansers you use on your skin. ‘Fragrance-free’ products are what you’re looking for (not ‘unscented’ because those may still contain fragrances), skip the clay-based masks for hydrating masks (less frequently than normal), avoid alcohol-based or astringent toners, and a sneaky culprit is laundry detergent with tons of chemicals. You can also invest in a few humidifiers around your home to increase the humidity, while heaters typically emit hot, dry air; lower your thermostat a bit; and use a moisturizing sun-screen.
In short, the best things you can do are hydrate (inside and out), avoid drying agents (hot water, hot air, and astringent beauty products), and be gentle with you skin (avoiding harsh fabrics and chemicals). Don’t forget to visit a skin specialist; even if all these things appear to be working, an expert will be able to ensure you aren’t missing anything.