How to prep your skin for the colder season

The change of seasons is stressful for the skin and the body. Cold temperatures and low humidity levels make the air dry and this in turn draws moisture away from the skin, creating microscopic openings and cracks in the skin that lead to itchy rashes and dryness. Moreover, the constant movement between heated indoors and the freezing outdoors can accentuate skin sensitivity. Even the most well cared for, balanced, dewy skin can be thrown off by this. When skin becomes dehydrated, it often leads to dullness and flaking, as well as itchy red and irritated skin.

So, it's important to adopt a skincare routine that allows you to prep your skin for the changing temperature and harsh winter conditions, in order to ensure your skin will stay fresh and hydrated all season long. Autumn is the perfect time to do so, before the chilly air sets in.

Here are a few simple but effective strategies to help keep your skin looking and feeling its best during the cold season.

1. Exfoliate

The key to smooth skin is regular exfoliation. After a summer filled with sunscreen and extra perspiration, it's important to remove the layers of buildup and dead skin, since these create a lacklustre skin, causing the skin to lose its firmness and elasticity.

Gloriously Good Body Scrubs provide excellent exfoliation due to the active ingredient, Dead Sea Salt, which is rich in minerals such as Magnesium, Calcium and Potassium, making the skin soft and supple. More than exfoliation, Gloriously Good Body Scrubs also nourish your skin due to the blend of Coconut, Sweet Almond, Jojoba, Grapeseed Oils, which acts as a body conditioner and builds your skin's moisture barrier. Moreover, thanks to their Vitamin E content, they have antioxidant properties, keeping your skin young and firm.

Make it a ritual to exfoliate twice a week as part of your shower or bath routine in order to maintain your skin gloriously silky even in the colder months. 

Gloriously Good Body Scrubs also enable you to unleash the power of aromatherapy in the shower or bath as they are naturally fragranced with a high concentration of essential oils, in order to bathe your senses in pure natural goodness, so that you feel luxuriously revitalised, restored and invigorated.

You can also try dry brushing as another form of exfoliation which has the potential to reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Exfoliating your skin regularly not only clears your skin but also aids in the skin's ability to absorb moisturisers, therefore boosting their benefits.

2. Moisturize

Even though Gloriously Good Body Scrubs deeply nourish your skin due to their natural oil content, we still recommend using a body cream or body butter after your bath or shower in order to lock-in moisture.

At its core, exfoliation eliminates dead skin cells, so you'll want to keep your newly revealed layer of smooth skin soft and supple by moisturising daily. This is critical to help combat dryness and protect your skin from chapping. For best results, we recommend using natural moisturisers, free from chemicals and harsh additives. Use a richer moisturizer that builds your skin's moisture barrier. Moisturisers that have more oil content and less water content provide a strong oily barrier to reduce water loss in the skin. Even though they feel heavier on the skin, rich creams protect against temperature and humidity extremes.

3. Stay hydrated and eat a wholesome diet

Drinking lots of water, which would be absorbed by your body and into your skin. 

What you eat also has a huge effect on the way your skin looks. Avoid greasy foods and cut back on simple sugars and carbohydrates, in order to avoid negative reactions to the skin. Look for foods containing calcium, vitamin D  and omega-3s. Some foods that can help your skin glow are:

- avocadoes which contain fats that help to lubricate the skin and protect it from damage, promoting clear, youthful skin due to their anti-aging properties.

- oatmeal which is high in antioxidants, along with vitamins and minerals that improve skin health. 

- sweet potatoes which help to lock in moisture, due to their vitamin E content, giving your skin a healthy glow.

- carrots which contain the carotenoids beta carotene and lycopene which help to shield your skin against UV damage.

- grapefruit which contains carotenoid, which will make your skin smooth, particularly the red-pinkish ones which are loaded with carotenoids. Or, if you don't like grapefruits, you can instead use topically the Grapefruit, Mandarin, Rosemary & Vetiver Gloriously Good body scrub.

- brocolli contains vitamin C, which synthesizes collagen, a protein that keeps the skin firm and wrinkle free.

- spinach and dark, leafy greens like kale which are filled with iron, omega-4 fatty acids and vitamins A, B and E, which protect the skin and improve your immune system. The phytochemicals and folates also help hydrate skin and keep it healthy.

4. Use sunscreen

Apply sunscreen with at least SPF (sun protecting factor) 30 daily before heading outdoors. Despite the lack of regular sunshine in the cold season, we still experience significant level of UVA during the cold season, even in a temperate climate, so sunscreen is a year round necessity. You may like to try this dermatologist sunscreen.

5. Get a humidifier

A cool air humidifier increases the moisture level in the air, which helps your skin to stay hydrated. To maximize the amount of water in the air, place a humidifier in the bedroom, since that is where you spend the most time (sleeping). We recommend this one, which enables you to put a few drops of essential oils in it and experience the effects of Aromatherapy, as you boost your natural moisture levels.

6. Shorten your Showers

Long showers can leave your skin crying out for moisture over the longer-term. Opt for shorter, more lukewarm baths and showers and pat your skin dry afterward, following up quickly with a layer of moisturizer from head to toe.

7. Wear Gloves

Wearing gloves in the winter season is important to the health of your skin. There’s no reason to wait until the temperatures drop to freezing to wear gloves. Protecting the skin on your hands as soon as it gets cold out is important. For some, it might be a good idea to wear gloves each day during the winter until spring rolls around. Skin chapping on the hands can quickly turn into fissures that can become infected.

8. Manage Stress

Stress can have a profound impact on your body, even on your skin. This negative impact can be accentuated in the cold winter months. To relax, try Aromatherapy Pulse Point Roll-On Oils which are infused with pure natural essential oils that have a calming and grounding effect on the mind and body such as Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Rose Geranium, Vetiver and many others.

Winter might not be here just yet, but it's important to start adapting your beauty regimen to its conditions now. That way, once the temperature drops your skin will be ready and won't suffer at the hands of unexpected windchill and dryness.