Cold weather rescue
The golden rule when the elements are at their worst is moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.
As temperatures fall so does fat production in your body. And while that may sound like a good thing after the season's excesses, it's bad news for your skin, which can find it harder to defend itself the against ravages cold weather can bring. Oil glands harden when temperatures drop below 8°C and are no longer able to produce sebum to lubricate the skin. The skin dries out and flaky, dry skin is prone to infections and pimples.
Coming in from the cold
Moving between hot and cold temperatures in winter only makes the problem worse. When you step into your house or office on a cold day, your cheeks turn red as you meet the warm air, and the rush of blood to the face leads to more moisture loss. And to top it all, the lack of sun makes us increasingly thin-skinned, as the stratum corneum – the outermost layer of the epidermis which provides UV protection in summer – becomes thinner. That makes the skin more sensitive to dust and free radicals in the air.
Only moisture can protect us!
We can protect our skin from the winter onslaught by using creams and lotions that build up a layer of moisture. Think about using rich moisturisers that stay on the skin longer – night creams are perfect. And keep a moisturiser to hand in the bathroom, the kitchen, the car and your handbag.
Winter spa wonderland
Using hot water in your bath or shower dries your skin and removes the essential natural moisturisers your skin needs to stay healthy. As an alternative, consider having shorter baths and showers with warm water. As a rule of thumb, the drier your skin, the cooler the water – at best around 32-35°C. Spend no more than 15 minutes in the bath, 5-10 minutes in the shower. Then don't forget the best thing about winter evenings: apply body lotion all over, wrap up in a warm robe and forget about the day.
Inner strength
However well you moisturise your skin, it's your lifestyle that plays a major role in the apperance of your skin. Drink plenty of water to help keep your skin looking smooth, and try to stick to a good diet that includes plenty of vegetables.
