Winter Skin Avoided

It’s about that time of year again…the time of year that sucks all the moisture out of your skin!  For some of us, there is still a few more months until the cold weather hits hard, but the weather is already starting to cool down here in the Pacific Northwest.

I don’t have to tell you that during the winter months skin gets dry and itchy due to a lack of moisture, but there are some things we can do to help not add to dry, itchy skin.  During the winter months most of us use a thicker moisturizer on our skin to prevent pealing, but what about your body?  There are several common things to avoid if you don’t want your skin looking like the bottom a creek bed.

One of the worst things you can do is to take a hot shower.  Now to me not taking a hot shower is blasphemy, but I do have to tone down the heat in the winter.  One way I keep things toasty is to keep my bathroom door completely closed so the steam stays in the bathroom and I like to keep my towel close so I don’t have to get cold while reaching to grab it.  It’s also a good rule of thumb to keep your showers under 10 minutes.  This not only saves your skin, but it helps to not waste water and it gives a little relief to your water bill.

Now, I’m a sucker for fragranced shower gels, and there is no way dry skin will prevent me from using them, but I do give a little and only use them about three days a week during the winter.  The other four days I’ll replace my oh-so-good-smelling shower gels with moisture rich shower creams that are good for sensitive skin.  I really love Dove Sensitive Skin body wash and St. Ive’s Collagen Elastin body wash.  Both are great for added moisture and sensitive winter skin.

Another great way to keep skin soft and supple is to exfoliate…and this goes for year-around, but especially during the winter months.  Exfoliating keeps you rid of dead skin cells and it also helps to increase cell turn-over.  I really love sugar scrubs because they don’t scratch your skin and they leave you moisturized without feeling greasy.  Neutrogena has a great sugar scrub and my personal favorite is Bliss’s Sweet Orange + Spearmint scrub.  I’m not the best at keeping my legs nice and smooth during the winter (I like to think of it as another layer), but shaving your legs actually helps to exfoliate.  I’m sure your husband or boyfriend will appreciate the effort.

The last rule of thumb, and the most obvious, is to moisturize!!  I like to moisturize in the shower, right after I’ve toweled off.  It really helps to sink the lotion in and it leaves me feeling smooth all day.  I’m a sucker for firming moisturizers, whether they work or not (please be working!).  I’ve used Aveeno’s firming moisturizer in the past, but just started using Target’s generic firming moisturizer and I have to say that it works just as well and I like the scent better.  It’s also about $6 cheaper and twice the size.  So, go figure.  Whatever brand you choose or price range you choose from, any kind of moisturizer is better than no moisturizer.

So, there are my tricks to staying soft and smooth this winter.  If you don’t follow these rules just expect to feel like a piece of sandpaper.  I’m just teasing…or am I…