By ELOISE WALTON eloise.walton@algarveresident.com
Winter can be a very brutal season for your body, especially when the weather is low in humidity and very windy, leading to dehydrated, chapped or even cracked skin.
As well as changing one’s wardrobe, it is essential to re-evaluate and change your skin care routine each season, to ensure your face, hands, feet and body is well nourished and maintained.
When re-evaluating your winter skin care routine, be sure to look at all products including cosmetics, cleansers and shaving gels.
Opt for products with more natural ingredients, which will be gentler on the skin compared to artificial chemicals.
Natural oils like almond, avocado, and olive oil are good to combat dry skin. Avocado oil, in particular is considered an excellent moisturiser as it seeps deep into the skin, unlike many other oils, which only remain on the surface.
Remember to drink plenty of water throughout the winter season to hydrate your body from the inside out; even though you may not feel hot or thirsty like in summer, the body still requires plenty of fluids to flush out toxins.
Using a daily facial moisturiser is key to keeping your face soft and hydrated throughout the colder months. While in summer it is essential to have a cream with ingredients that protect against damaging sun rays, a good winter cream should include ingredients like shea butter and vitamin E, which helps the skin against damaging environmental elements.
Keep hands soft and supple this season and avoid brittle nails and cracked skin by using a good moisturiser after washing hands. Invest some time in carrying out a weekly manicure to keep cuticles and nails healthy and remember to wear gloves when out in the cold.
Similar to hands, feet also benefit from regular pedicures to remove dead skin and using a good moisturiser every evening before going to bed will help to ensure that they do not become dry.
To keep the rest of the body soft and hydrated, dry brush vigorously before having a shower. This will not only help remove dead skin cells and impurities from under the skin’s surface but will also stimulate lymph and blood circulation.
Once a week, use an exfoliating body wash and a moisturising all over body cream after every wash to keep skin hydrated.
