Winter has arrived and it tends to be one of the most drying seasons of the year. With the cold weather and climate changes, our skin and hair become susceptible to the dryer conditions and may need more love and attention than normal. There are multiple ways to care, protect and treat skin and hair; all it takes are some small steps to combat dryness and maintain a natural moisture balance throughout the winter season!
Combating the Cold Weather
Drink Water
One of the best and most common ways to help prevent dry skin is by drinking water! You have probably heard this numerous times, but how many of you actually take the time and effort to drink a good amount of water? The suggested amount of water to drink per day is eight 8-ounce glasses, which isn’t a huge amount. Drinking lots of water will help keep your skin hydrated and healthy.
Try to Limit Alcohol Use
During the holiday season, a lot of us like to have a drink or two while celebrating the holiday season with family and friends. Unfortunately, alcohol can affect our skin and hair the same way it does the rest of our body, by dehydrating it. When our skin becomes dehydrated, it appears dry and dull, and can even crack or be itchy; the same applies to your hair. If dehydrated, your hair will become dry and brittle and more prone to split ends. Having a few drinks is perfectly fine but it is important to make sure you are also drinking a lot of water to counteract the effects of the alcohol on your skin. By drinking lots of water while you have a cocktail or two, you will be adding moisture back to your skin and hair, resulting in keeping it bright, hydrated and healthy.
Now that you’ve taken care of your body from within, you need a moisturizing routine that will help ensure your skin and hair's health.
Winter Beauty Regimen and Treatment Tips
Treatment for Hair
Our hair tends to suffer a lot throughout the winter months. During these months, we turn up the heat in our homes, offices and cars, not knowing the effects that it has on our hair. The heat that keeps us warms also takes the moisture out of our hair, making it dry and brittle. Our hair is also exposed to environmental stresses such as cold winter temperatures, wind and snow. The best way to combat dryness is to moisturize and condition your hair on a regular basis with a deep conditioner or natural moisturizing oil.
100% Argan Oil is a great all natural way to treat your hair. Not only does it help nourish and moisturize your hair, but it also has multiple benefits, such as stimulating hair growth when massaged onto roots, helping repair split ends, and acting as a hair protectant against heating tools.
TIP: To add some extra shine to your hair during the winter months, use a moisturizing based shampoo and conditioner. After washing your hair, follow up with Argan Hair Shine and Argan Hair Serum, which will help to maximize your hair’s retention of moisture and shine.
Treatment for Face
Our face is the part of our body that gets most exposed to the elements during the winter months. Cold damp air and winds can result in dry, itchy, painful skin. It is important that we treat our face with the utmost care and attention so that the damage that winter causes can be minimized. Daily moisturizing in the morning and at night with a cream, lotion or 100% oil will help keep your skin supple and moist. If your face feels dry during the day or you have just spent an extended amount of time outside, moisturize midday. Any additional moisture you add back to you skin will help your face stay healthy and glowing.
Don't forget to pay attention to your nose, too! Winter colds can cause the skin around your nostrils to crack, turn red and become painful. You can condition your nose by applying extra lotion or petroleum jelly to this area in the morning, at night, and before going outside. The added moisture will help protect and heal any damage you experience from illness or cold temperatures.
Treatment for Skin/Body
Like your face, the skin on your body suffers during the cold winter months; it can become dry, itchy and painful. There are several things you can do to help keep your skin healthy. First, limit your time in the shower and do not use hot water, as hot water is drying and can strip your skin of moisture. Secondly, try patting yourself dry with your towel instead of rubbing dry to help minimize skin irritation.
After showering, when your skin is still moist, try applying a thick body cream or moisturizing oil. By using a rich cream on your skin like our Cocoa Butter Super Rich Formula Cream, you will help treat dry skin, and also help protect your skin from the adverse effects of climatic and environmental changes. Keep applying a cream throughout the day, and especially overnight when your skin has an ample amount of time to soak up the moisture.
Treatment for Feet, Hands and Nails
Even though we are wearing boots and gloves throughout the winter season, our hands and feet still need love and care! You should get into the habit of taking care of your hands and feet at all times of the year - especially during the winter months to help prepare them for the following spring season.
Heavy socks, winter boots and cold temperatures can cause your feet to become dry and crack. To keep your feet healthy, you must moisturize on a daily basis. The application of a moisturizing product like our Cracked Heal Cream will help heal dry or flaky feet. This is ideal to use after a warm shower or for overnight use. You can maximize the benefits of this product by wearing socks after you have applied a generous amount of cream to your feet. The socks will help lock in the moisture and will help make your feet feel soft and smooth. You can also exfoliate any excess skin with a foot file or pumice stone.
TIP: After a long day at the office, try soaking your feet in warm water mixed with a 100% natural oil. This type of foot bath will help soften and rejuvenate tired feet!
Your hands, along with your face, are also exposed to cold weather, damp air and winds all winter long. This can cause the skin on your hands and fingers to become dry, cracked or even burn. It is important to moisturize your hands several times throughout the day with a moisturizing cream or an all natural oil. When you are outside, try to wear gloves as well. The gloves will help protect your hands from the elements and will also lock in the moisture from your cream or oil.
TIP: Use Jojoba Oil on the cuticles of your nails and toes. It will help aid in treating cracked nails, dryness and promote growth! And make sure to follow up with a great hand lotion too.
Treatment for Lips
Don’t forget about your lips! The cold winter air can have some negative effects on your lips, such as drying them out and making them chapped. Lip balms are great for helping to lock in your lip’s moisture balance. You should be using a nourishing lip balm daily, as well as applying it to your lips before you go to bed. You could try using our Aloe Vera Lip Balm to help heal and treat dry, cracked lips.
TIP: A smooth and moisturized lip creates the perfect canvas for a lipstick! Plus, it will help your color last longer without drying out your lips.
We all want to keep our skin and hair nourished during the colder months and hopefully these pointers will help you combat the effects of winter on your skin and hair. By applying these tips into your beauty regimen, you will be able to help aid in preventing damage from winter dryness, as well as maintain your skin and hair’s moisture balance and health.
Tell us how you use Cococare products to help combat the effects of winter on your skin and hair by leaving a comment below!