Winter has officially arrived in Oman. Though there are cooler temperatures to bask in, the sun still shines bright and harsh. Add to this the varying degrees of air conditioning and hot showers that you take to combat the chilliness. All these factors are destined to lead to several problems like tightness, dryness, and flaking of face skin, chapping of lips, and itchiness of body skin. These ailments do have us wondering whether it is possible to have glowing soft skin in winter at all.
Following a daily beauty routine during winter can actually prevent dryness, which is the cause of all the above skin problems. Here’s what you can do to fix it. Let’s start with the facial skin. Follow these simple steps to have a glowing face during these chilly days.
Cleanse
Use a gentle cleanser to wash your face. Use a face wash with low pH to remove dirt, dust, and pollutants from the exposed surface layer of your skin. A low pH cleanser will leave your feeling skin super soft balanced and hydrated.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is a gentle face wash containing ceramides which reinforce the barrier and help the skin lock in moisture, along with hyaluronic acid that attracts hydration to the skin’s surface.
Exfoliate
Dry winter air leaves your skin dehydrated causing an increase in the build-up of dead skin cells. Winter is therefore a good time to exfoliate your skin as it will help remove the dry dead skin cells that end up clogging pores leading to unnecessary blemishes. Exfoliate once or twice a week to keep your skin looking smooth and luminous.
The Body Shop Aloe Gentle Exfoliator Scrub is a very mild, creamy facial scrub to gently exfoliate without irritating the skin, leaving it feeling soft, smooth, and refined. Infused with aloe gel this scrub is dermatologically approved and clinically proven as suitable for sensitive skin.
Serum
Serum is actually a more concentrated lightweight moisturiser. Since it does not contain heavy lubricants and thickening agents typically found in face creams and lotions, the active ingredients are able to penetrate the skin much faster. Use your serum in combination with your face moisturiser, on its own, night, day, or both.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum contains Hyaluronic Acid, a hydrator found naturally in the skin that attracts moisture and locks it in, resulting in more supple, soft and smooth skin. This serum instantly absorbs to quench skin and deliver higher hydration levels for fully hydrated skin that glows day after day.
Sunscreen
The sun in Oman can be fierce even during winters and the strong UV light rays bring in increased risk of irreversible sun damage. Therefore, invest in a good sunscreen with the right SPF. A sunscreen should always be the last step in your skincare routine and the first in your makeup. Therefore buy a product that contains both UVA (long-wave rays) and UVB (short-ray waves), with SPF30 and above, to fully protect your skin against burn, pigmentation, and dark spots, as well as fight premature aging.
Eucerin Sun Protection Face Cream SPF 50 containing very high UVA and UVB, is an advanced facial sunscreen designed specifically to protect against sun-induced skin ageing and pigment spots and is suitable for dry skin.
Lastly, as our lips are prone to drying and sun damage, do not forget to moisturise your lips with hydrating lip balm preferably with an SPF to keep them soft.
Now that we have tackled the facial skin let’s check out what you can do additionally during winter to prevent dryness of the skin during winter.
Bathing
Bathing is an integral part of our daily routine and in winter we are especially tempted to have hot long showers. But the rule is to avoid long hot showers/baths as hot water tends to strip your body of essential moisturisers. Limit your daily shower to once day for not more than ten minutes using lukewarm water. It is important to use a moisturising body wash or soap which is mild to the skin. Do not use body brushes and harsh sponges in order to avoid damage to the skin.
Aveeno Daily Moisturising Body Wash is a creamy body wash with soothing oat and rich emollients that helps replenish the skin’s natural moisture and relieves dry skin. Gentle enough for daily use, it leaves skin clean, smooth, and soft to the touch.
Moisturise
The easiest way to make sure your skin stays soft, hydrated, and healthy is by incorporating a moisturising body lotion into your daily routine. Apply a good moisturising lotion immediately after patting dry your body especially on the hands where the skin is thin and on the heels of your feet so that you can lock in the hydration.
Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion is a Ceramide 3 enriched moisturising lotion that provides 48-hour moisture to the body. This fragrance, dye, and paraben free lotion is perfect for sensitive skin leaving it soft and supple to touch.
Cover up
When you are stepping out wear fabrics that will not irritate your skin, as fabrics tend to generate static and create friction on the skin. Another sun-protective measure during winter is to wear a hat or a cap that will act as a barrier between the sun and you skin along with a good sunscreen.
Hydrate
Last but not the least, and the most important is to Hydrate. A dry skin problem will not be solved by piling on creams and oils. After all, our skin is made up of 64% water and without enough water, the skin will lose its softness and appear dull. The fine lines, wrinkles, scars, and pores will appear exaggerated as the face essentially shrinks into its tightest position.
Water plumps the skin and encourages collagen production which ensures the elasticity and regeneration of skin. It also helps to flush toxins out of the body that can lead to acne and eventually to scarring. Therefore, drink the recommended minimum two litres of water a day. It is the single best thing you can do for your complexion.
Follow the above simple winter skincare tips to ensure that you have a soft skin that keep glowing in the chilly days ahead.