Winter is Coming
Winter is coming. At least it’s supposed to (nevermind the sweaty 90 degree weekend we just had). And before I send myself into a full fledged rant on climate change and global warming, let’s get back to the task at hand. Winterizing our skin.
I’m dusting off an oldie but goodie when it comes to preparing and protecting for those cold months ahead. Enjoy!
WINTERIZING OUR SKIN (November 24, 2018)
We winterize a lot of things— our cars, our homes, our wardrobes— and we do this so we are prepared for when the first gusts of arctic wind blow in with blizzardy coldness (BRRR). But when it comes to our skin, we do the exact opposite. Every year we know that the war against the elements is coming, but we hem and we haw and then BAM! Our skin is dry and crepey or worse, cracked and bleeding. In this moment, we realize we are in it and not so much winning it.
And with that said here are my thoughts:
1) Stay hydrated. Hydration is a key component of skin health, and it is so important to keep up your fluid intake throughout the winter months. I personally struggle with this so much in the winter. There’s just something about the cold that makes me not want to drink a big ole’ glass of water. I’ve read about ways to help with this, and they say drink hot herbal tea or hot lemon water and eat broth-based soups as a way of boosting hydrations levels.
I’m not sure who “They” are, but they suck. I’m a coffee girl so that’s a big NO to tea and hot lemon water is like sad tea. And as good as soups can be, someone get me a burger already because this little lady likes to actually chew a meal. All of this to say, the struggle is real and I hear you on this, but for the sake of your skin and the rest of your body, drink a big cup of suck it up and get those 8 eight-ounces daily.
2) Start transitioning your bath and body products and skin care products to your winter product lines about one month before the cold sets in. This means you will want to start switching out your lotions for balms, salves, creams, oils and butters like our Organic Body Butter**
As for your skin care line there are options. a) Switch out your foaming cleanser for a cream or oil-based cleanser (and then never use that foaming cleanser again as long as you live- more on this later). b) Add a hyaluronic acid serum to your regimen if you do not currently use one. c) Buy a moisturizer that is heavier than your current moisturizer or add some jojoba oil to your existing moisturizer. To add jojoba oil to your moisturizer take out desired amount of moisturizer and add two to three drops of oil into the palm of your hand. Mix together in your hand and then apply.
3) Transition slowly. Use these products once or twice a week depending on how fast the weather is changing and in the moment you know old man winter is at your door, start using your products daily. Some of you may be thinking, you missed out on this one, but no worries you can recover. Get busy getting hydrated, swap out your lotion for more seasonal products and boost your skin care regimen by integrating some or all of the options listed above. For the rest of us, the time is NOW. Don’t wait until it is too late, your skin will thank you for it.
**A quick note on butters, balms, creams and salves. There is something almost magical about the moisturizing properties of these products. It is not unheard of for people to experience improvements in the moisturization levels of their skin, transitioning from daily use to an every other day or every two day routine. So do yourself a favor and make an investment into a good quality product, like our Botanical Body Balm, because a little will go a long way and should last you a while. Also, because these products are heavy, it is important that you use these products only on your body. Avoid using them on your face and decollete (neckline) otherwise, you are setting yourself up for Breakout City on Blackhead Avenue.
That’s all I got. For now.
Thank you so much for stopping by and showing some love to the SSB community. We can’t wait to hear from you. Share your winter tips, tricks and hacks on maintaining your beautiful skin through those harsh winter months. Until next week: CREATE. INSPIRE. EMPOWER.