smartskin101

Happy holidays, everyone!  I apologize for the long delay to the second segment to “winter proofing” your skin.  Between having a vicious virus take over my laptop (thank you Jimi for saving it), vacation and the holidays, it has been a bit difficult to deliver the goods! But with the temperature taking a nose dive, I’m just in time to tell you how to keep your body’s skin from becoming the Sahara!

There are several elements working against your skin during the winter time.  The snapping, cold wind can be brutal, so be sure to cover up as much as you can.  The local coffee barista asked me last night if I was a cat burglar, explaining I looked like a bundled up ninja covered from head to toe.  However silly I may have looked, protecting my face and hands will prevent cracked, chapped, scaly, dry skin – so break out the hats, scarves and gloves!  We are also apt to take hot showers in the winter time, trying to find warmth, especially if your bathroom feels like the tundra as mine does.  Hot water, unfortunately, will dry out your skin no matter the season, not to mention it will also dry your hair.  As hard as it may be, try to take showers that are lukewarm (or as close as you can bear to that).  And lastly, the heat coming from your radiators and vents are also drying out your skin.  Keeping the thermostat low will help prevent dry skin, and it will also help that gas bill stay down – and who doesn’t like them apples.  I admit that I prefer to keep toasty, and will blast the heat.  If you’re like me, purchasing a humidifier will definitely help.  And if you have a lot of plants, you’re in luck, as they act as natural humidifiers!

As for products, there are many things you can use.  Here are a few of my suggestions:

Bathing
Use a gentle and moisturizing body wash.  Natural body washes tend to be the least drying and will be particularly kind to any skin that is already suffering from the cold season.

• Shikai: Moisturizing Shower Gel Coconut (This is my go-to cleanser for when my skin gets out of control, dry and itchy! You can purchase it at Whole Foods.)
• Alba Botanica: Coconut Milk Cream Body Wash (This is non-foaming, so it may be hard for many people to adjust to – but if you can get past that, it’s well worth the purchase.)
• Dove: Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash

Exfoliating
When showering, scrub off dead skin cells.  Sloughing off those dead skin cells will keep your skin from appearing ashy and will aid moisturizers in penetrating deeper into the skin.  I prefer to use a textured cloth for gentle, daily exfoliation, but you can also incorporate scrubs, body brushing, etc.  (Check out Sugar Just Got a Little Bit Sweeter for more information.)

• Exfoliating Skin Towel (This is what I use.)
• Body Brush
• Body Scrub
• Exfoliating Body Butter

Moisturizing
A great way to moisturize your skin is with oil.  Try this before you exit the shower for supreme hydrating benefits.  I also strongly recommend moisturizers with glycolic acid in them.  This naturally occurring acid will help to remove dead skin over time.  If you prefer a more traditional form of a moisturizer, find products which have ingredients that are easily absorbed into the skin, such as natural oils.

• Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Body Creme (A must for my ashy legs!)
• Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Hand Crème (The next best thing to a prescription product.)
• Body Oil

And last, but not least – drink plenty of water!  The last segment to this series will be out soon, so keep your eyes peeled!  Have a happy new year!