Winter have officially arrived! As our heaters go up inside and the air is arid, dry and cold outside our skin tends to remain unhappy. We tend to be drier, scalier and even itchier during this season. Here are some helpful tips to ensure your skin is always soft, smooth and has that summer glow!

1. Moisturize Moisturize Moisturize

I can’t stress this enough. Keep multiple bottles of lotion everywhere you go, your hands are the first sign of aging, so moisturize! Keep it in your car, purse, office etc. This goes for your lips as well. Your lips are always chapped during this time make sure you have a moisturizing lip balm close by and avoid licking, and cracking.

2. Avoid hot showers

It’s natural for us to want to shower with hot water in the winter since we are always freezing. The problem is you dry out even quicker. Instead, use luke warm water and use thicker creams right afterwards sealing in the deal!

3. Drink plenty of water

If I haven’t stressed this enough, I haven’t done my job! Ensure adequate hydration throughout the year. In the winter this is also important because every single cell needs loving and a little H20 is the best way to do his.

4. Think thick

Use thicker creams instead of thin light lotions. Avoid any alcohol based ingredients as this will only dry you out further. Use nourishing ingredients like shae butter, coco butter. Aquaphore and Eucerin are great but Vaseline is also a good cheap alternative. The thicker the cream, the better it is for your skin, your skin drinks it up and locks in that moisture. My personal favorite is actually coconut oil. I use is every day during the winter months and it’s been keeping my skin soft, smooth and scaly free!

5. Don’t scratch

We are creatures of nature and nature has us wanting to scratch our skin off during the winter, perpetuating the cycle. Avoid this as much as possible so you don’t get a secondary skin infection or scarring on top of dry skin. Wear Long pants and shirt to sleep to help you avoid doing this.

6. Follow up with your Primary Care Physician

If all else fails and your skin is dry, and worsening and nothing seems to work, you could have something called eczema, atopic dermatitis or something else going on . Your doctor can help prescribe you some topical medication that can help alleviate your symptoms and improve your overall condition. In the meantime, stay hydrated, moisturized and warm! Happy Holidays!