Cold weather and low humidity levels can lead to your skin losing moisture and drying out, that’s why it’s important to take extra care of your skin during the colder winter months. Harsh temperature conditions such as cold winter winds and dry indoor heat can even cause skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis to flare up. Whilst it’s great to ensure that you hydrate and moisturize all year round, here are some extra steps you can take to treat your skin during winter.
Swedish Massage
A Swedish Massage or a full body Deep Tissue Massage is a great way to look after not just your skin but your whole wellbeing. Massage helps to reduce tension in the skin to allow blood to flow easier. Swedish massage techniques create a rejuvenating effect on the body, helping you to look and feel better during the cold winter months.
Benefits of Swedish Massage Include:
· Muscle relaxation
· Reduced swelling
· Increased serotonin
· Lower blood pressure and heart rate
Swedish massage isn’t the only holistic massage therapy that can keep your skin feeling fabulous. Facials are also a great way to keep your blood flowing and your skin glowing. Focusing on just your face, can help to treat acne and manage scar tissue around the face, shoulder, and neck area.
Hydration
Your body loses fluids just as much in winter as it does in summer. Instead of forcing your body to gulp down eight glasses of cold water per day, it may be easier to reach proper hydration through warm herbal teas and a healthy diet. Slashing your alcohol consumption and ensuring a balanced and healthy diet full of water dense vegetables is sure to keep your skin healthy during winter.
Switch up your moisturizer
It’s tempting to just go for the thickest heaviest moisturizer during winter, but this may not always be what’s best for your skin type. If you suffer from acne, you want to avoid petroleum or oil-based moisturizers. Look for one that contains lipids instead. Alternatively, if your skin is extremely dry then you could try adding an emollient moisturizer underneath your regular moisturizer to create a protective barrier and lock in moisture. Don’t forget that SPF is just as important in winter to protect the skin and prevent premature aging.
Avoid long hot showers and baths
It can be tempting to increase the temperature of your showers and baths to combat the cold, but this can be incredibly damaging to your skin. Hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils and moisture, which is why it’s best to keep the temperature lukewarm. Adding essential oils to the bathtub can improve your skin’s condition especially if it’s jojoba oil, lavender, or chamomile. Essential oils not only smell amazing but they can keep your skin healthy and glowing during the winter months.