Hey Friends!!
Sorry I am late in getting out this post. I wanted to have it done earlier but many things flew my way, such is life I guess…..
I am leaving for Montana tomorrow morning and cannot way to see family!! Hoping there isn’t too much snow on the drive home.
In the Inland Northwest we still have some time left for cold weather. Winter stays a while here. This can cause some unhappy, vitamin D deficient people!! Hope you are taking lots of the sun vitamin.
Winter also causes dehydrated, dry skin. The harsh weather is harsh on the skin!! No joke. Some people take special care during the summer months of properly covering the skin with SPF and clothing, while totally neglecting during the winter.
It’s important to keep your skin hydrated during the winter as well. Cold weather can be just as damaging as the sun to our skin. Believe it or not the cold can cause premature aging and wrinkles too.
When the skin is dehydrated, wrinkles are more prone to develop. Our skin needs lots of hydration during the winter. And as a runner, you definitely need to give your skin some TLC, because you are out in the elements a lot.
There are multiple ways to provide protection to our skin when temperatures drop. I have some tips for keeping skin hydrated and protected during the Winter Season.
Tips for Healthy, Vibrant Youthful, Radiating, Hydrated Skin (I love being descriptive 😉 ) :
- Use Moisturizer Liberally – It should seem obvious, but so many get it wrong. The first step to hydrating our skin is  lathering it up. I use argan oil, olive oil and coconut oil as my hydrating lotions. My husband uses jojoba oil. Olive oil I apply liberally to my chest and neck all year long (even more in the winter), and coconut oil is my body moisturizer. Argan oil is for my face. You may think oil would clog pores, but these oil’s don’t. In fact, argan oil helps to unclog pores fighting bacterial infections, while hydrating the skin. Olive oil and coconut oil help to reduce the signs of aging and wrinkles. It’s a win win!! Apply morning and night.
- Pucker up for Chapstick – This is especially important if you love wearing lipstick. Most lipsticks dry the skin on our lips. Coconut oil can even moisturize the lips. Use a Chapstick that is paraben free and made with organic products. Put some on before going outside, especially before runs.
- Drink Up – Yes hydrating during the winter is just as important as during the summer. You skin needs the hydration provided by water. You’ve heard the saying “The first sign of dehydration is chapped lips”. Don’t skimp on H2O. Water hydrates from the inside out.
- Eat those greens – Veggies are important for providing pH balance in our bodies and skin. They are alkaline forming foods, so they counteract all the acid forming foods we eat, sugar, meets, dairy etc. Fruits are equally as important. Both contain high of amounts of water content as well.
- Avoid Hand Sanitizers or hand soap without moisturizers – The constant wetting and drying and wetting and drying when we wash the hands only causes dryness. Use hand soap with moisturizers and always slather lotion on right after washing to hydrate the skin. They skin on hands is delicate and can show signs of aging.
- Make use of those Scarves, Gloves and Hats – Harsh winter climates cause parched skin. It sucks the moisture right out. Keep hands covered when running or walking to and from work with gloves. Wear scarves to protect the neck. It’s definitely important to cover skin when running outside or outside for extended periods of time.
- Exfoliate -Exfoliating the skin will help brighten the skin and remove dead skin cells. Doing it 2-3 times a week will make such a difference. It helps to keep skin supple and hydrated, by reviving dry, dull skin. Exfoliating evens skin tone and helps prevent breakouts. Exfoliation should be part of your routine already.
- Avoid sugar – This is something we should practice all year round (except for the occasional splurge of course). Excess sugar causes inflammation in the body. This excess inflammation works to break down collagen and elastin in the skin, causing saggy skin and wrinkles. Some studies show links of consuming to much sugar to acne as well.
Find some great products under my new Earth Friendly Beauty Page. I finally got it updated and done. It has some great resources for eco-friendly beauty and body products, that are great for you and the environment. You know how I am all about protecting our largest organ (that’s the skin if you didn’t know 😉 ).  Hopefully I will have the cleaning products tab completed soon!!
Until next time Be Whole, Be Fit and Be Gentle on the Skin
What are your tips for skin care during the winter?
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