We are currently in the middle of winter and my skin has changed! It’s dry, it’s flaking and the texture is a bit rough right now.
If you are going through the same changes, then in this post I’m going to discuss what’s causing these changes and how we can fix it.
The main cause of dry dull winter skin is the fact that there’s less moisture in the atmosphere, both outside and inside. Indoors, we have heaters and fires that keep us warm but they also suck moisture out of the air making matters worse.
Change Your Diet to prevent Dry, Dull Winter Skin
Our skin has a protective barrier that prevents moisture loss and also prevents irritants from entering your skin. It’s made up of cholesterol, fatty acids and ceramides. We can find all these nutrients in our diet. Start including foods high in fatty acids in your diet so that you may replenish these nutrients by consuming them. Your skin’s barrier becomes less efficient in winter because of the lack of moisture in the air. Including foods rich in these will help your barrier function better.
Drinking coffee and tea in cold weather warms us up but be careful not to drink too much a they contain caffeine and caffeine dehydrates the body. If the body is dehydrated, it will reserve water for the vital organs and the skin won’t get enough. So be sure to increase your water intake to prevent a dry, dull winter skin.
I know a cold toilet seat is not nice in winter but drinking enough water is essential to keep your skin hydrated!!
Dry Dull Winter Skin - Avoid Harsh Cleansers
Avoid soaps & cleansers that strip your skin of its natural oils and moisture. Make sure your cleanser/soap respects your skin's PH and doesn't contain any harmful ingredients.
Changing from a gel cleanser to a much creamier cleanser will also help a lot with dry, dull winter skin. I also suggest a cleansing body oil to wash with instead of your usual body wash.
Dry Dull Winter Skin - Exfoliate/Scrub
A build-up of dead skin cells gives you that dull look in winter. You can apply the richest creams on your skin but they won't penetrate if you have a build-up of dead skin cells.
Weekly exfoliation will ensure that serums & moisturisers penetrate properly and not just sit on the surface. It will also guarantee a natural glow and your skin won't look so dull anymore.
Dry Dull Winter Skin - Mask
A mask is essential after exfoliating, the mask would then hydrate, nourish and replenish to help alleviate dry dull winter skin. Avoid clay and charcoal masks if you have dry skin, these will take away essential oils from your skin and make matters worse
Dry Dull Winter Skin - Moisturise
You must moisturise your skin as this will hydrate your skin and lock in moisture. Using a richer moisturiser will help with the dry, dull winter skin.
In conclusion, to avoid dry, dull skin in winter, You have to incorporate foods high in healthy fats, drink lots of water, exfoliate regularly and use a richer moisturiser.
Did you learn something today? I sure hope you did! If you found any value in this post, please share it with anyone you think might benefit from it.
Question of the week!! How do you combat dry dull winter skin? Leave a comment at the bottom and join the conversation.