Winter is here, which means thick, woolly jumpers, hot chocolate and mulled wine by the fireplace. But, have you ever noticed how your skin responds to the colder temperatures? The cold air, low humidity and blistering winds can deplete your skin of the essential moisture that it needs to stay hydrated. But, fear not because we have created the ultimate guide on how you can get Winter glowing skin.
From thick, nourishing body creams and lotions to hydrating body washes. Read on to discover how you can get Winter glowing skin with our plant-based and cruelty-free bodycare to help keep your skin healthy and radiant all Winter long...Why do I have dry skin in Winter?
During the long, cold Winter months we experience changes in temperatures and humidity which can contribute to feelings of dry, dull skin. Moisture is essential for your skin's barrier to work properly. The skin barrier contains a combination of lipids and dying, dead skin cells. It forms a layer of protection that helps to prevent harmful toxins from entering the body through the skin. When the skin barrier is damaged, it can look dry and irritated.
Scientific studies have shown that there is less moisture in the skin throughout Winter than there is in the Summer, as well as less lipids (fats).
Throughout the months of Winter, many people turn up their heating which can reduce humidity levels and deplete the skin of moisture. Additionally, the cold weather outside, harsh bitter winds and rain can strip the skin of it's natural oils that it needs to stay moisturised.
Unfortunately, although comforting, taking long, hot baths or showers can also cause the skin to feel dry and dehydrated as well as using harsh, stripping soaps and cleansers.
Common symptoms of dry skin in Winter can include:
- Itching
- Flaking
- Rough, dry patches
- Redness
- Cracks
- Stinging/sensitive feeling
How to keep skin healthy and glowing in Winter?
If your skin is feeling dry, damaged or dull then this is a sign that you need to replace it with moisture. However, it is important to keep your bodycare routine simple and not overload your skin with products, particularly if it is feeling dry, sensitive or irritated.
Using a hydrating body cream or lotion is the best way to rehydrate your body's epidermis and prevent further water loss from the skin. Moisturisers containing emolients and humectants such as Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin can help to attract moisture to the skin.
According to dermatologists, to help keep the skin comfortable and nourished it is important to apply moisturiser as soon as possible after showering or bathing to help lock-in moisture and leave your skin feeling supple and soft.
Your dry skin routine for Winter
Dry skin in Winter doesn't have to happen. If you make some simple changes to your bodycare routine, ensuring that you're regularly keeping it hydrated with the correct products then your skin will stay looking soft, smooth and nourished all Winter long.
So, we have listed some expert tips on how to keep your skin feeling and looking moisturised and radiant with a head-to-toe, feel-good glow this Winter season.
1. Moisturise straight after cleansing
Whenever you wash your body, hands or face you're stripping your skin of the naturally occurring oils that it needs to stay healthy. These oils help lock-in moisture, therefore it is essential that you replace them as soon as possible.
Try keeping a tube or tub of moisturiser next to your shower/bath. Our Future Proof Body Butter is the best cream for glowing skin in Winter, as it is packed full of omega rich actives including Andiroba Oil and our Antioxidant Complex to help protect your skin from dryness during the harsh Winter months, leaving it feeling instantly stronger with a healthy-looking radiance.
2. Use overnight treatments
Overnight bodycare treatments are an excellent way to keep your skin moisturised and prevent dry skin. By applying them overnight, this ensures that your skin has enough time to absorb the product so that your skin can repair and replenish itself.
Hydrate your skin as your sleep with our Sleeping Smoothie Overnight Serum. Working like a dream, whilst you dream this is the best body lotion for glowing skin in Winter. It is infused with an AHA blend of Mandelic Acid, along with our Feel-Good Complex and deeply moisturising Shea Butter to help resurface your skin overnight, giving you noticeably brighter, glowing and more radiant skin as soon as you wake up.
3. Turn down the heat
Although soothing, a hot bath or shower at the end of a long, cold and dreary Winter's day can strip your skin's natural oils faster than lukewarm water, causing your skin to appear dry and potentially damaged. Instead, try keeping the temperature to around 98.6°F/37°C to help prevent your skin from drying out becoming irritated.
4. Go gentle with scrubs and exfoliants
Yes, exfoliating helps to remove dull, dry and dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, however over exfoliating cause damage your skin, potentially causing it to become drier.
Try to keep exfoliation to a minimum of 1-2 times per week. Choose from either our Solar Power Illuminating Scrub or Heavenly Body Purifying Scrub and apply to dry skin before showering or bathing, rubbing in gently using circular motions. Both infused with rich, nourishing oils and an uplifting fragrance, your skin will be left feeling soft, silky smooth and ready to absorb your favourite mio body moisturiser.
5. Hydrate your body from the inside
To maintain your head-to-toe, feel-good glow it's important that you hydrate your skin from the inside out. This means ensuring that you're drinking plenty of water throughout the day, as not drinking enough can affect the appearance of your skin, making it more prone to becoming dry.
In addition to this, focus on eating foods that are rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids as these can help protect your cells from environmental damage and encourage your body to make new, healthy skin cells.
Press pause on your busy life and read how to have an at-home spa day here.
