The weather is rapidly beginning to cool, which more often than not means we’re going to be experiencing the dry air that winter often brings. This can certainly do a number on your skin if you’re not prepared for the cold months to arrive. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to spend a small fortune on skin regiments that will drain your budget while forcing your skin to rely on products that are largely made with chemicals. There are actually many frugal and natural ways to keep your skin looking and feeling incredible during the winter months. These ten tips should help you find the perfect balance for your budget and needs, so don’t fret about feeling uncomfortable when winter does make its way to town.
1. Use Sunscreen
A lot of people don’t think to use sunscreen when the temperature drops. It is always advertised as a summer product and even features summer friendly smells. However, you should wear sunscreen all year long, especially if you’re going to be out in the sun for hours. Although the sun might not seem as harsh as it is in the summer, UV rays can still cause a lot of damage. In fact, you can even get sunburnt on an overcast day, so keep a bottle of sunscreen handy throughout the entire year. This alone will help keep your skin vibrant and healthy. It will also help cut back on damage that could cause major problems in the future.
2. Fast Showers
Without a doubt, the cold weather makes it very tempting to hop into a hot shower for a long period of time. However, this can be one of the worst things for your skin. Hot water actually dries out the skin considerably, which will add to the dryness problem you will already be working to defeat due to dry air. Rather than hiking up the water’s temperature, you should try to deal with a warm shower. It might not be as relaxing, but it will help you out considerably. Long showers are another major culprit. Instead, try to get in and out of the shower as fast as you can. If possible, you might turn on the water long enough to get wet, then soap up with the water off and turn it back on to rinse. Using this method is great for the environment and your skin, so you’ll be doing yourself a few favors. Not to mention, your water bill will also drop considerably.
3. Skip Showers
In our society, showering every day has become a bit of a social norm. So, it might seem weird to think about skipping more than a day a week. However, we are actually showering more than we should be, which is causing a lot of damage to our skin. This is especially true when it comes to the winter months when the skin is naturally drier than normal. It is actually much better for your skin if you only take two to three showers a week. Of course, if you’re not comfortable with this then showering every other day should do magic for your skin. You will see that the natural oils return, which allow your skin to look younger for longer and reduces the itchiness that winter brings. This method saves a lot of water too. You might make a point to clean areas that might be subject to more sweat and germs with a wash cloth outside of the shower though.
4. Hair
Your hair, namely the skin on your scalp, also needs some extra attention during the winter months. You may notice more itching and dandruff during this time of the year due to the dry air. Part of the problem is shampooing daily, which will dry out your scalp even in the summer months. It is important that the scalp has time to replenish oils, in order to maintain health. So, skip the daily shampoos whenever you can. If your hair still feels dry and brittle then you might consider using mayonnaise to deep condition it. This works wonders and will give your hair an irresistibly soft feel. Mayonnaise is also a lice remedy that you might want to keep handy as lice tend to hit schools more often during the winter months. If you notice your hair looks dull, then douse it in vinegar and let it sit a few minutes before showering. Static is also a problem that dryness brings. To combat this, simply rub your hair with a dryer sheet. The static will disappear and your hair will smell amazing.
5. Swap Cleansers
One major problem that we run into is not swapping shampoos, conditioners and soaps when the season changes. Cleansers designed to deal with oily skin in the summer, will only harm your body when it comes to the winter months. Instead, you should look for cleansers and conditioners that work to provide your body with more moisture. Usually, creamy cleansers are best for your skin as they add moisturizers to the mix. However, all skin is different, so you should play around with a few different options to see what works best for you. This will help you get more out of your cleanser, so your skin won’t feel as tight and uncomfortable during the cold winter months.
6. Use a Humidifier
As mentioned before, dry air is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to the winter months and how they affect the skin. One of the best ways to combat this issue is to leave a humidifier going in the home as often as you can. A humidifier will add moisture to the air, which will bring your skin even more health. It will also help your sinuses cope with all of the dryness they are enduring. Humidifiers can be used in combination with essential oils to bring even more health to the household. Of course, they also work wonders with vaporizer rub when someone in the home is sick. These devices don’t cost a lot either, so you might want to have a few for the home, especially if you have children. If you live in a tight space, then you might consider buying a small diffuser, which will still add moisture to the air, while taking up much less space.
7. Take Vitamins
Another great way to keep your skin looking and feeling great is to keep up with your vitamins. During the winter months, we aren’t getting as much Vitamin D as we should be. So, a multi-vitamin is already in order to keep up with your health. If you want to give your skin the extra boost it needs, you might look into taking a vitamin with Vitamin E. This is the best vitamin for skin, hair and nail health. Of course, keeping up with all of the vitamins and nutrients you need will keep your skin healthier than ever. You might also want to look into getting a lotion with collagen to help with skin repair. By doing this, you should notice that your body feels and looks better than ever.
8. Moisturize
One of the most important things that you should do all year long is moisturize. However, this is especially important during the winter when your skin is already feeling dry. You can moisturize whenever you feel the need to, but there are some points in time that are more efficient than others. For instance, you should always apply lotion when you get out of the shower. Your skin is still slightly moist and you’ve just exfoliated, which helps brings the moisture into the body. Choosing a moisturizer is important too. Unless you talk to a dermatologist often, you might have to try a few different options until you find a lotion that works best for you. Try to find one that has more natural ingredients than chemicals though as this will do your body a lot of favors.
9. Hydrate
Water is essential for life and most of us aren’t getting enough of it. You might feel more inspired to grab a glass of water if you know it will do your skin wonders though. Water will help hydrate the body, which will benefit the skin immensely. It has the power to get rid of dryness, while also ensuring you don’t break out due to your dry skin. Drinking water will also help you cut back on overeating and drinking beverages that aren’t going to do your body any favors. So, load up on water when you can. You might want to grab yourself a personal water bottle to help you keep track of the amount of water you are drinking on a daily basis.
10. DIY Treatments
There are an unbelievable amount of skin products on the market and many of them will cost you an arm and a leg. The unfortunate thing is, these products often don’t do anything more than homemade remedies can do. So, you might as well save some money and see what you can do with the materials you have in your own home. There are many DIY recipes online that will work wonders for your body. So, you might want to start by researching remedies for your specific issue. For instance, if you have dark bags under your eyes then a tea bag will help reduce the puffiness while dulling the darkness. You might also take a lot of pleasure in some of the sugar scrubs, which get rid of dead skin while adding moisture to the new skin. There are even recipes for homemade soap and lotion that can save you lots of money while allowing you to take control over what goes on your body.
Dealing with dry skin during the winter months can certainly be a pain. Luckily, these ten remedies can help you keep your skin looking and feeling amazing without forcing you to go out of your way to spend money. Now, all you have to do is play around with what works best for your body.
