How to prepare your skin for winter

7 tips to prepare your skin for winter

Winter is coming. Cold, wind, temperature changes - the house is dry and hot from the radiators, but outside it is humid and frosty. Our skin suffers from all these extreme conditions, becoming dull, pale, dehydrated, and irritated. We've put together some useful tips for you on how to prepare your skin for winter so you can look your best, no matter the weather.
1. Change cream and cosmetics

In summer we can get by with a toner and a light moisturizing fluid. In winter, your skin requires more serious care. Face cream should be nourishing. No gels or lotions. The heavier structure of the cream, containing more fatty ingredients, will allow the skin to feel comfortable, not tight, dry, or flaky.

Apply the cream at least 30 minutes before going outside so that it has time to be properly absorbed and subsequently protect your face from the cold.

Cosmetics should also be winter-friendly. It is better to change the foundation to a richer one. In winter, choose “creamy” shadows; unlike “crumbly” ones, they will not additionally dry out your eyes. For lips - instead of gloss, use moisturizing lipsticks and do not forget about oily hygienic lipstick.

2. Wear gloves

Many people only remember about gloves when it’s seriously frosty outside. But remember that the skin of your hands is very delicate and thin; even from a little cold it quickly turns red, dries and cracks. Therefore, we recommend wearing gloves outside even in the fall.

3. Hand cream - always in your purse

Hands are often the first thing to show age, so don't forget to take care of the delicate skin on your hands. When leaving home, use nourishing cream. It would be good to apply the cream several times (5-6) during the day. You can - after each hand washing. And remember the rule of the great Coco Chanel - hand cream should always be in your purse.

4. Don't lie in the bath

In winter, you just want to lie in a hot bath and stand longer under a “boiling water” shower, but cosmetologists say that this is harmful.

“Hot water dries and dehydrates the skin,” explains cosmetologist-dermatologist Elena Karpina. - In addition, with “boiling water” and even with soap, we remove the upper protective layer of the skin, which makes it more vulnerable to various irritants. So my advice is to wash under warm water, not very hot, with a moisturizing or nourishing shower gel, not soap. And immediately after washing, apply moisturizer to your body.

5. Watch your diet

It is a well-known fact that skin is a mirror of the health of our body. It is no wonder that in winter the skin becomes dull and pale, becomes thinner and more irritable, because we get few vitamins from food. In addition, during the cold season, the body requires more fat, so forget about low-calorie diets, increase your consumption of vegetables, fish, and dairy products. A healthy diet will help your skin become radiant even during cold weather.

If you increase your consumption of citrus fruits, greens and seafood, your skin will not flake and dry out, and these products will also help slow down the aging process and the appearance of fine wrinkles.

In winter, when it’s cold, we don’t feel like drinking; we drink much less than in summer. But our skin still needs hydration, regardless of the time of year. Water helps get rid of toxins, increases skin elasticity and promotes its rejuvenation. It is recommended to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. But the amount of tea, coffee and sparkling water should be reduced.

Just because your skin isn't visible under sweaters and long pants in winter doesn't mean it doesn't need care. Dermatologists advise in the fall, before the onset of cold weather, to use scrubs 2-3 times a week to prepare the skin for winter. This will remove dead skin cells, cosmetic residues, improve blood circulation, texture and color of the skin.

And don’t forget about your feet - your heels also need a scrub so that the skin is soft, does not dry out or crack.

Start preparing for winter in advance so that when cold weather sets in, your skin will be protected and not “scared” of frost.

(source: “Komsomolskaya Pravda” dated November 17, 2014)

Hair

Recovery

First of all, in the fall, it is necessary to restore the health of your hair, which has become noticeably frayed during the summer holidays. “For this, it is best to use intensive rinses, and special attention should be paid to some of the ingredients that may be in their composition. For hair restoration, products with keratin are ideal - this is the main structural element of hair. This component restores the structure of the hair, making it stronger, more elastic and shiny. In addition, liquid keratin helps hair resist harsh environmental conditions,” says Dr. Nathalie Source, head of hair care development at Nivea.

Hydration

The second stage after intensive recovery should be intensive moisturizing of the hair. This is necessary so that the curls look well-groomed, are elastic, and do not split or break. Plus, well-moisturized hair does not electrify in the cold and does not frizz.

“For moisturizing and care, caring elements such as aloe vera or water lily extract and argan oil will be indispensable. These ingredients will nourish your hair with vitamins and help retain moisture,” continues Natalie Source.

On a note

In the fall, many of us also turn to such aggressive salon procedures as keratin straightening, shielding and lamination. Remember that if the hair cuticle is severely damaged, then such procedures should be done in an extremely gentle manner. If drugs that are designed to “darn” exclusively the top layer of hair penetrate into its shaft, then after a certain period the hair may break. So, in case of severe damage, it is best to consult a specialist before carrying out such procedures.

Recovery

The skin of the face, just like the hair, has suffered a lot of troubles over the summer - heat, UV rays, air conditioners. Sven Fey, head of the NIVEA Laboratory for the development of facial skin care products, advises dividing the preparation of the skin for winter into several stages. It is recommended, of course, to start with rehabilitation.

People whose facial skin is prone to pigmentation and acne or those who have been exposed to active sun for more than 6 weeks need active action. To combat excessive pigmentation (which many people experience in the fall, after returning from vacation), gentle peeling gels or cleansing masks are suitable. It is recommended to use them no more than 1-2 times a week.

People prone to the formation of inflammatory elements on the skin of the face often note that with active sun they feel better - the number and intensity of rashes decreases. However, this is a very short-term effect associated with the keratolytic (exfoliating) effect of intense sunlight, and, as a rule, at the end of September or October, rashes on the face appear very actively. To avoid such rashes, it is recommended to use cosmetic products with an exfoliating effect from the beginning of autumn, upon returning from the seas. These products contain lactic acid, vitamins A and E, chamomile extract, witch hazel, antioxidants and microelements. As with pigmentation, it is also recommended to use homemade peelings, scrubs and cleansing masks.

Hydration

First, you need to replace the light moisturizing creams that you used during the warm season with products with denser textures, because on the eve of winter, your skin needs more serious care. Consider this your first investment in your future health. Particular attention should be paid to skin with increased sensitivity, which reacts especially acutely to cold.

To cleanse, start using products with a complex of caring ingredients that will additionally moisturize and nourish the skin already at this stage. For example, pay attention to products with almond oil - a rich source of vitamin E. It softens and nourishes the skin, and also enhances its natural protective properties, thanks to the content of unsaturated oleic acid, identical to skin lipids.

In autumn and later, in winter, you should not forget about products with SPF protection, because the sun's rays never go away. For daily care in the city, creams with a factor of 5-15 are suitable. And for people with pigmentation features, SPF 30+ is recommended even in winter.

On a note

Don't forget that after applying the cream to your face, it is very important to let it completely absorb into the skin before going out into the cold. This usually happens within 10-20 minutes. This is especially important in cold weather, because otherwise, the water that is part of the moisturizer can cause frostbite to the skin if it freezes. In addition, if the winter temperature in your city drops below minus 10 or your skin is especially sensitive to wind and cold, you should definitely get a protective cream with a thick and rich texture.

Are you ready to face the cold yet? What about your skin? If not, we advise you to hurry up and get started right now. Our article with a list of beauty products for cold weather will help you.

1. Gentle Cleanser
2. Moisturizing cream
3. Anti-stress products
4. Cosmetic oil

Gentle Cleanser

Cleansing cream-gel for dry and sensitive facial skin with rose water “Basic Care”, Garnier works very carefully, but at the same time effectively. After washing, it does not tighten the skin; on the contrary, it makes it soft and smooth.

Moisturizing cream

Moisturizing anti-stress fluid for the face Skin Rescuer Stress-Minimizing Daily Hydrator, Kiehl’s Maintains the required level of skin moisture and prevents dehydration, simultaneously soothing and protecting from negative external factors. Contains squalane, chamomile, shea butter and hydrants.

Moisturizing facial lotion, CeraVe, in addition to hyaluronic acid and a combination of ceramides, it contains niacinamide, which soothes the skin. Suitable for normal to dry skin types.

Anti-stress products

Soothing and moisturizing overnight mask-serum Hydra Zen Masque Nuit, Lancôme with an airy texture contains flower extracts and has an appropriate aroma, soothes the skin, saturates with moisture and provides a relaxing effect.

Fabric mask “Moisturizing + Anti-stress”, Garnier Best applied before bed. In winter, a supply of such SOS products is especially necessary. After all, intensive skin hydration is the key to its beauty. Especially if the impregnation contains such calming components as lavender essential oil.

Cosmetic oil

A thin oily (but not greasy) layer is an additional protection for the skin from drying out. Bonus: healthy glow effect.

Luxury Nutrition Balancing Facial Oil, Extraordinary Oil for Normal to Combination Skin, L’Oréal Paris does everything you need for normal and mixed skin types: retains moisture, protects, restores balance. Does not leave a greasy film and significantly tightens pores. Details about the Luxury Nutrition line are here.

Liquid Glow Skin Best Oil, Biotherm can be used as a mask (apply to face for 10 minutes and remove excess with a tissue) or as a booster by adding a few drops to your day cream. Protects skin and adds radiance.