The Do’s and Dont’s of Winter Skin Care

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With winter, I like to think of all the good things like sipping hot chocolate and cozying up by the fire. Unfortunately, I also think about how much havoc the cold weather can do to my skin. The winter weather calls for special attention to the skin and many of us are either not upping our skin care routines or just making a lot of mistakes. We’re now dealing with dry, itchy skin and it’s uncomfortable and irritating.

To help minimize the damage winter weather can do, I’ve put together a do’s and don’ts list to help you keep your skin in the best condition possible.

1. Do care for your lips

Every winter my lips always get more chapped and dry. One way I care for my lips is with a lip scrub. You can buy a lip scrub or DIY your own with sugar and honey. I do this before bed and slather on a heavy, moisturizing lip balm to soothe my lips overnight. You should also use lip balm regularly to maintain smooth, soft lips and prevent chapping.  I like to wear it before applying my lipstick!

2. Don’t cover up dry skin with makeup

Exfoliation is a must before you apply any makeup to dry skin. If you skip this step, your makeup will give your skin a blotchy and flaky appearance. It will just make it more noticeable and nobody wants that. I like to use exfoliating products but if you need a quick fix, try using a washcloth and gently rub the dry area. Then use a moisturizer and primer so the area is smooth before applying your makeup.

3. Do remember to moisturize often

You should moisturize several times a day. Even if you’re in a rush because you’re late for work or tired after a long day, you can’t miss this step if you want to prevent moisture from leaving your skin. Moisturizing your face is just as important. The best face moisturizer for winter is one that is grease-less and not too creamy. It will really helps plump up super dry skin.

4. Don’t forget the sunscreen

One common mistake people make (and I too have made in the past), is forgetting to wear sunscreen in the winter. We tend to associate sunscreen and SPF with the warmer months because we think the sun is not as strong in the winter. While UVB rays, which cause the skin to tan, are not as strong in the winter, UVA rays are the same length year round and they’re the same rays that cause wrinkles and cancer. So, we’re actually exposing our skin without even realizing it. I learned this from my dermatologist a couple of years back so look for sunscreen with broad spectrum protection for year round use.

5. Do protect your hands

Your hands is usually first to get cold and dry so to maintain soft skin on the hands, apply hand cream regularly. I always keep one in my purse so I can use it whenever I feel a cold breeze coming on. Another way I like to protect my hands is by wearing mittens or gloves.

6. Don’t take hot showers

I know, I know it’s hard not too especially when it’s super cold but not taking hot showers can do wonders for your dry skin. I’ve slipped up a few times in the past and I always end up paying for it afterwards. You see, taking hot showers can actually irritate dry or sensitive skin. Instead take a warm bath or shower and wash with a gentle cleansing bar. This should help combat eczema or dry itchy skin.

7. Do apply body lotion in the shower

My mother taught me this trick when I was younger and it still works for me til this day. Moisturizing your body right after you shower will lock in hydration. What I like to do is towel off in the shower, then I would slather on my favorite ultra moisturizing body lotion (Click here to see a list of my top 10 body moisturizers to stick with this winter). This will help prevent moisture from drying out before you can lock it in. If your face tends to get super dry in the winter, you can also use this trick with your face as well. Just apply a moisturizer to your face in a steamy room.

8. Don’t skip exfoliation

I’ve always thought that winter skin is too dry to exfoliate but that couldn’t be furthest from the truth. I know now that exfoliating, even during the winter, will slough off dead skin cells from the weather and will regenerate healthy new cells leading to a more glowing complexion. It’s also a must before applying makeup. There’s been times where I’ve left the house with a face full of makeup without exfoliating and ended up with dryness and peeling a few hours later. Very embarrassing! I made sure not to make that mistake again.

One product I’m very fond of is Braun’s Face Spa Cleansing Brush. It removes makeup and impurities from the cheeks, T-zone and chin up to 6x better than manual cleansing. This really sloughs off dry skin cells and you can adjust the speed to your preference and skin sensitivity. You can also use Braun Face Spa for facial hair removal by just switching attachments. Two treatments with one device. Pretty sweet!

9. Do keep legs silky smooth and hair-free

Smooth legs will always be in style year round and one of the best ways I like to keep my legs looking soft and beautiful is with epilating. It’s a lot better than shaving because I can go about two weeks after epilating without a sign of stubble. Ever since I started to epilate a few months back, I swear by Braun Silk-epil 9 SkinSpa System. It’s a wet-dry epilator that comes with a body exfoliation brush for faster hair removal.

Before epilating, I like to start with the exfoliation brush to buff off the dead skin cells and smooth away the rough spots. The brush itself has over 10, 000 fine bristles that gently removes dead skin cells and stimulates the regeneration of the skin surface. It’s also cordless and has a speed personalization feature so you can pick the right speed for your personal needs: extra gentle or extra efficient.

Since it’s also a wet epilator, I like to epilate in the shower because it makes the process more comfortable and relaxing. The Silk-epil 9 has a 40% wider head than other Braun epilators so it covers more skin with each stroke for faster epilation. Another great feature is the smartlight on the device to help me see the hairs better. I can remove even the smallest hairs on my legs thus keeping my legs hair-free longer.

The path to radiant skin this winter

To really take your winter skincare routine to the next level, follow these 10 easy rules to younger, glowing skin and you’ll be way on your way to better skin. Be sure to also check out my go-to products for glowing winter skin.

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Do you have any winter skin care tips? Share your thoughts by commenting below!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Braun. All thoughts and opinions are my own.