It is officially that time of year for sweater weather, comfort foods and snuggling under your favorite blanket while Netflix and chilling. The cooler temperatures also signal the need to make adjustments to your skincare routine to avoid the woes that cold weather can do to your skin. Here are six tips to keep your skin supple and moisturized during the fall/winter season.
1. Avoid Washing Your Face with Hot Water
While it may seem intuitive to wash your face with hot water when the weather cools, hot water strips your skin of its natural oils. Hot water also causes the skin to age faster. Additionally, washing your face with hot water can trigger skin issues such as acne for those with sensitive skin. Utilize a moisturizing cleanser and cool or tepid water to clean your face.
2. Exfoliate Once a Week
Exfoliating is the process of removing the oldest dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. These dead skin cells combined with the oils your skin naturally produce can lead to clogged pores. There are 3 types of exfoliators: mechanical tools such as exfoliating cloths or brushes, chemical exfoliators like Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Lactic or Glycolic Acid or granular substances such as bamboo or pumice which are present in a number of exfoliating scrubs on the market. Exfoliating should be apart of your skincare regimen all year round as it allows for better absorption of your skincare products and helps to reveal brighter skin. For a weekly routine, I am partial to exfoliating scrubs because it allows me to control the level of "scrub" I want on my skin and usually contains other ingredients beneficial to my skin. Try the Regal R'Belle BAM!BOO AHA Facial Scrub. It contains fruit acid and oils to help reveal a brighter complexion without drying your skin.
3. Invest in a Humidifier
Cold weather can be quite drying as it draws moisture away from the skin. The harsh conditions of winter such as bitter temps, wind, salt, and clothing rubbing against your skin can leave your face feeling dry, damaged, and itchy. During the colder months, we tend to rely on dry heat to warm our homes and vehicles, which is dehydrating for our skin. As a result, your skin can struggle to retain moisture. This could explain why you may experience or know someone who suffers nose bleeds in the winter, it's the dry air. Having a humidifier can help keep your skin hydrated by adding moisture to arid indoor air. Humidifiers can breed bacteria and mold so be sure to keep your it clean. In a pinch, boiling a pot of water will also help.
4. Drink More Water
I am a fan of water anytime of the year, but it is important to drink water to keep your skin hydrated. We tend to drink less water during the cooler months opting for more comforting beverages such as coffee, hot cocoa, tea and cider. Not a fan of water? Try coconut water, water with lemon or cucumber or even La Croix water just to name a few options. The fact remains nothing beats good ol fashioned H20. Being properly hydrated will always be the MVP in your skincare regimen. Don't wait til you're thirsty to drink water either. Try sipping water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
5. Use a Facial Moisturizer
If you're not using a facial moisturizer you definitely should. Moisturizing your skin helps your skin stay young and during the cooler months it will help to protect your skin against the very drying effects of cold weather. I recommend the Regal R'Belle Totally Gorgeous Daily Hydration Crème. It is a great moisturizer for anytime of the year that leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated without feeling heavy and provides anti-aging benefits! It is luxury in a jar, straight rich wife vibes!
6. Get Plenty of Sleep
It's called beauty sleep for a reason sis. Getting enough sleep is vital to your skincare routine because it allows your body to do all the wonderful things it needs to remain healthy and keep you looking your best. As you sleep, your skin produces collagen, which helps to reduce wrinkles. Collagen keeps the skin plump and helps to reduce fine lines and sagging. Fact: the older we get, the less collagen we produce so now is not the time to skimp on collagen producing bounty that sleep provides. Even if you claim to be able to function with minimal sleep, your skin may suffer in the long run. It's recommend you get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep, anything less can actually accelerate the aging process. With that being said, having a nightly regimen is beneficial. Your body is in a state of repair when you sleep, which can help your skincare products work more effectively.
Incorporating these simple tips should help combat skin dryness that may flare up this time of year. With the stresses of the holiday approaching, the one thing you won't have to worry about is your skin. Stay R'Bellious and Beautiful!
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