Dry skin treatments for winter months
January 13, 2015
Cold weather and dry skin go hand-in-hand. There are simple solutions, though, that cost very little and will do you a lot of good.
Drink. Drink. Drink.
Water is your friend. Moisturize from the inside out. It really makes a difference.
Adjust your routine to compensate for dehydrated, dry skin.
Cold air holds less moisture which translates into environmental dryness. Skin care should be seasonally adjusted to keep natural skin oils in balance. Use oil or milk based cleansers routinely, leaving scrubs and clays for weekly use rather than daily use. The drawing power of clays may be too intense during dry weather, and the microdermabrasion action of a scrub may irritate more fragile skin conditions. If not part of your routine, massage a few drops of Rosehip Serum or Carrot Repair Serum oils into your face and neck to provide an additional moisture barrier.
Soothe your dry skin with routine oil treatments.
Pamper your skin with facial oil. Less familiar than creams and lotions, effective botanical oils minimize fine lines and wrinkles leaving you with skin that is soft and smooth. The Abbey’s antioxidant-rich
Rice & Olives Cleansing and Facial Serum should be a winter staple. Used as a cleanser, it swishes away all makeup at the end of the day leaving not a note of dryness*, and its rich formula of organic and botanical oils is an anti-aging gift. Use routinely after cleansing and toning to keep dryness and its accompanying dullness at bay. Massage a few extra drops into your face and neck before adding additional treatments. Pat a few drops into your skin at any time, even over makeup. Your skin will glow. When you have an hour or two for yourself, massage a generous amount of
Rice & Olives into your cleansed face and neck. Let it absorb naturally. Continue to occasionally massage the oil into your skin. Add additional oil as needed. This is an excellent bedtime treatment as the recuperative hours of the night allow for maximum nourishment. *Always use a damp wash cloth or facial sponge to remove cleanser from your face. A splash of water is not sufficient to reach deep into your pores to remove makeup and daily toxins.
Avoid winter itch: Soothe dry skin with warm water and natural soaps.
Hot water is drying. Long, hot showers or baths will cause your skin to lose moisture faster than you can say, “Pass the Irish Spring.” Commercial soaps clean and freshen, but can also strip away natural oils, leaving your skin ashy and itchy.
Natural soaps retain moisturizing glycerin, oils, and butters for skin that is smooth and itch-free. While bathing, do not neglect the benefits of sloughing off those dry skin cells. Basic exfoliation does not require special products. Several simple techniques work equally well with no expense involved.
- Dry brush your skin before bathing and afterwards apply lotion or cream on moist skin.
- Use a loofah or coarse wash cloth during bathing to remove dead skin cells.
- Use an oil-based sugar scrub at the end of your wash. You can easily make your own version by mixing sugar in olive or avocado oil (add a few drops of an essential oil or fragrance oil if desired). After washing, give your legs, arms and hands a good rub down. Rinse away the sugar granules and let the oil remain. Pat dry to retain its moisture barrier.
The moisturizing properties of natural soaps also make them natural lotion bars. While skin is still wet, use the soap as a moisture bar, lightly skimming it over the skin. Do not rinse off and simply towel dry as usual.
Bring some color to your skin.
Winter days tend to shades of grey. Your mood is often equally subdued. Brighten your skin with touches of happy color. A swish of pink blush, lip color, or eye shadow will lift your spirit and brighten your outlook. And be sure you enjoy the compliments sure to follow.
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