Combat the Effects of Winter on Your Skin and Hair

The winter months can be tough on your body. Harsh winds and cold temperatures can ravage your skin and hair.

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Chapped lips, frizzy hair, wind-burnt face, and dry chapped skin are all products of harsh, wintry conditions.

Combat the Effects of Winter

Combating Winter’s wrath on your skin and hair can be manageable with some simple self-care steps. Here are some ways you can help combat the effects of winter:

Chapped Lips

No matter how much you bundle up in the winter, your face and mouth are still exposed to the harsh wind and cold. Exposure to the elements can make your lips cracked and dry. Chapped lips aren’t just unattractive, though; they can be painful.

Combat chapped lips by moisturizing and protecting them. Lip balms are popular remedies for chapped lips, but be careful which lip balm you choose.

Some commercial lip balms can actually contain ingredients that can dry out your lips more in the long run.

Try to avoid lip balms with artificial colors or fragrances. Also avoid menthol or camphor, and alcohol.

These ingredients can cause more harm than good in the long run. Look for petroleum-based lip balms instead of wax based, as they will help retain moisture.

Dimethicone is an ingredient that will help the moisturizing effects of lips balm last longer and help prevent drying. Natural ingredients such as cocoa and Shea butters have excellent moisturizing properties.

Always keep lip balm with you and avoid licking your lips to keep from getting chapped lips in the first place.

Frizzy Hair

Winter weather is one of your hair’s worst enemies. Icy cold winds ravage and tangle your hair. Exposure to harsh winds and snow can cause your hair to be brittle and dry. Even the indoor heating has a terrible drying effect.

The most important key to combating winter’s harsh effects on your hair is protection. Use a moisturizing conditioner every time you wash your hair.

A good, thick conditioner coats your hair, adding and sealing in moisture. Your conditioner should have key ingredients such as essential oils, fatty acids, humectants and sunscreen.

Depending on your hair type, consider conditioning packs or hair treatments. You can buy these treatments in your local beauty supply store or look online for homemade recipes. Some ideas are a simple as coating your hair in olive oil or mayonnaise.

Protecting your hair extends beyond the shower, though. Keep hair conditioned properly with leave-in treatments. Avoid leaving the house with wet hair at all costs.

Consider washing your hair at night instead of the morning to ensure that your hair is completely dry before leaving the house.

Dry Skin

Dry skin on your face and hands are typically the most common problems during the winter.

Your face is hard to protect against harsh wind and cold without blocking your sight. Your hands can be protected with gloves while outdoors, but the effects of indoor heating are rough.

Protect your face by keeping it clean and moisturized. Avoid drying face washes that include alcohol and instead opt for face-specific moisturizing daily cleansers.

Consider using moisturizing face masks a couple of times a week. These can be either store-bought or homemade.

You can also opt for facial oil for dry skin, it can provide deep hydration and nourishment and contain highly essential fatty acids, such as argan, jojoba, and rosehip oil.

These oils can help to lock in moisture and improve the overall texture and appearance of the skin. When using facial oil, it’s important to start with a small amount and gently massage it into the skin, allowing it to fully absorb before applying any other products.

Be sure to choose an oil that is non-comedogenic and won’t clog pores, and always patch-test a new product before using it on your face.

Wear a facial moisturizer daily. Your moisturizer should include helpful ingredients like fatty acids and humectants. Sunscreen is an extremely important ingredient. As always, avoid any product that includes alcohol.

Your hands are one of the most-used parts of your body and are often the first to show signs of aging.

Even when you are wearing gloves, harsh wind and cold can seep through the fabric and draw out essential moisture. Protect your skin by using lotions and hand creams very often.

In your lotions and creams — not just for your hands but your entire body and face – avoid products that are petroleum or mineral oil based. These ingredients are not easily absorbed by your skin.

Look instead for essential oils, keratin, and coenzyme q10. These ingredients natural moisturize and lock in much-needed moisture.

For both your face and hands, keep your lotion or creams with you and reapply throughout the day to ensure protection and moisture retention.

Winter’s wrath can ravage your skin. Harsh winds, biting cold, and drying indoor heating can have a very detrimental effect on your body.