10 Tips for You and Your Skin this Winter
One of the joys of winter is a long sunny, snowy walk, then back home for a big bowl of homemade veggie soup and a well-deserved rest in front of the fire. Heaven!
Not for your skin though.
That icy, fresh air followed by the warm blast from the fire or central heating (to say nothing of the hot, hot shower you started the day with), is dehydrating and confusing for your skin.
Normal and combination skin becomes dry, and dry skin becomes sore. Sensitive skin can become more reactive. Sinuses are in shock and so can lead to extra dry or splotchy skin under your eyes and none of us are getting enough vitamin D from the sun so the chances are we have some lovely black circles under our eyes too. A little less winter joy…
So, extra care is needed in a cold winter. Here are our favourite 5 tips for your skin, and 5 tips for you because if you are not happy and healthy, your skin won’t be either.
5 Tips to Take Care of Your Skin This Winter
- Moisturise
If you use a lotion then now is definitely the time to use a rich, creamy moisturiser like our Nourishing Moisturiser with Seaweed, Comfrey and Rose. Your skin needs more oils to protect it from the cold air. Our Nourishing Moisturiser contains organic Rosehip Oil, organic Almond Oil, organic Apricot Oil and Vitamin E which combine to bring deep hydration to your skin. This moisturiser also contains Rose Water and organic Rose Essential Oil which help to reduce redness. - Take Care Massaging Your Moisturiser In
It is not enough to just rush some moisturiser on (we’ve all been there on a busy morning!) It is worth taking some time to massage your moisturiser in, especially on dry parts. It is also helpful for reducing our expression lines and is super relaxing, so it is a lovely bit of self-care especially before going to bed at night. Click here to watch me take you through a simple 3 minute routine.
- Use a Night Oil
It is very soothing to add a night oil to your routine. There are lots of great products available (in fact Belle&Basil are working on developing a night oil right now), and the oil I most enjoy using is organic Rosehip Oil. I add it after the Nourishing Moisturiser 3 times a week. It gives my skin an extra level of protection and care.
- Use an Oil Cleanser
If you haven’t already tried an oil cleanser then this is a good time to give one a go. They are very effective at cleansing the face but with no loss of moisture.
- Homemade Face Mask
Try making your own completely natural face mask to add deep extra moisture to your skin. One of our favourites is honey and cinnamon. The honey moisturises your skin and the cinnamon improves circulation. You just need 2 tablespoons of honey and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder. Mix them and apply on your face. Leave for 15-20 minutes and remove by gently massaging warm water. Try once or twice a week for best results.
5 Tips to Take Care of You in Winter
- Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
If we need a nourishing moisturiser on the outside, we definitely need lots of good hydrating liquids on the inside. Try starting your day with a cup of hot water and the juice of half a lemon. Wakes up your liver and starts the hydration straight away. 15 minutes after your hot water, juice a whole head of celery. It is surprisingly delicious and one of the best juices for improving your energy levels, immune system and digestion. If celery is hard to take on its own, add an apple, or a cucumber or a carrot. All delicious - I love celery and apple, so much more effective at waking me up then a cup of coffee! Try replacing tea with green tea and coffee with dandelion coffee. We love a warm cuppa in the cold weather but black tea and coffee reduce hydration so watch how much you drink. Good also to be aware of alcohol consumption and salt levels if your skin is dry.
- Relax
Winter is a great time to meditate and learn relaxation techniques. If our mind is stressed then our skin often follows. Click here to learn more about the connection between our skin and meditation.
- Exercise
It can be much harder to get motivated to exercise during winter, our joints can be a bit stiffer and the cold air can be hard on our lungs. Yoga and Chi Kung are a wonderful ways to keep gently moving when its cold outside and they really help with the relaxing. Downdog is a good Yoga app and meditation teacher Burgs demonstrates Chi Kung in a fun, simple way - try his 3 minute stress buster.
- Get Your Vitamins
Make sure you get enough vitamins, especially vitamin D, B12 (extra important if you are a vegetarian or vegan) and iron. Get good quality individual supplements, ideally in liquid form as they are absorbed more easily and quickly. Better You DLux is a good brand for liquid vitamins.
- Get Outside
I know, I know. The cold air is what causes the dry skin problem, but our skin also needs the fresh air. So get out of the central heating and get away from all those screens which dominate our lives. If your skin is looking a bit pale there is nothing better than that lovely winter walk to get the roses back in your cheeks.
Email me with any other tips that you love for winter care and I’ll add them here.
Oh, and in case you are wondering - the photo is of Belle and myself out for a walk along the lovely River Foyle x