Not everyone lives in a place frequented by snow each year. The cold winter months can cause havoc to your skin without you knowing. By the time you realize your skin is deteriorating fast, several weeks and months have passed and you need drastic measures to bring it back to life. The problem is that most people neglect their skin when it is cold and snowing because they rarely expose their skin when it is basically freezing outside. But the thing is that even if it is not exposed, it still needs your tender loving care without fail. If you don’t, you’ll find yourself sporting dry, flaky, and cracked skin that may bother you at times because it can also be painful and itchy.

Taking care of your skin does not just involve applying various skincare products. Taking good care of your health, drinking lots of water, and avoiding hot shower and bath can go a long way in caring for your skin during extremely cold weather. Or, avoid going out in the cold if your skin is still damp because it will be more prone to drying and cracking. Moisturizers are crucial in keeping your skin moisturized, so don’t forget to lather your skin with it as often as necessary especially soon after taking a shower. You can also use essential oils like coconut oil for your body and argan or rose oil for your face since it not only hydrates your skin but serves as a barrier against the cold.

 Just like we change our clothes every season, you may want to change your beauty routine, and that’s especially true during the winter.

“It’s really important to be cognizant of what you’re putting on your body because our skin is our largest organ,” said wellness expert Caryn Sullivan.

That’s why she turns to natural products like coconut oil during these dry winter months.

“I use coconut oil every day and most regularly I use it as a hand moisturizer,” Sullivan said. “You can use it as hair conditioner before you get in the shower.”

(Via: http://wtnh.com/2018/01/16/green-beauty-tips-to-keep-your-skin-glowing-all-winter/)

And because it is not entirely avoidable to end up with dry and flaky skin, don’t exacerbate your condition by exfoliating it. Exfoliating once a week will do to help with faster skin regeneration and allowing moisturizers to seep in deeper into skin without causing unintended injury to the skin. Use even gentler products during winter and you can switch to a different formula once the weather is warmer because that is what your skin is asking for.

This one might seem obvious, but moisturizing your skin is crucial for keeping it hydrated throughout the winter. 

“Application of a very thick moisturizer as soon as you get out of the bath or shower and then one more time per day will help keep your skin feeling nice and smooth,” Lamb said. “Sometimes layering an oil on your face and body prior to a cream-based moisturizer will help trap in the hydration.” 

“Before bathing, I always recommend body oils. I really like coconut oil, because that can hydrate your skin and protect your barrier before you’re getting into a warm bath,” Farber explained. “Aside from coconut oil, which is one that’s really nice for the body, essential oils are kind of the new thing that are really great. There’s argan oil, tea tree oil, rose oil, rose hip oil that are nice for the face and are a little bit easier on someone who can be a little more acne prone.” 

(Via: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/winter-skin-tips_us_5a53e784e4b003133ecb658c)

Heed all these tips because the cold winter months will only become more unbearable as the years go by because your age may be just a number but it can catch up with your body fast. If you have really sensitive skin, it helps if you see a dermatologist now and then so you can get prescribed products that address your skin condition. If it’s skin tags, consider this product. If you don’t have to go outdoors, you can still promote better skin health with the use of humidifiers to keep the air moist at all times. We may feel that winter takes forever to leave but it does every single year without fail and by then, you’ll have to readjust your skincare habits and adjust it to the changing season.