Time to bring out your winter shields

HAPPY NOURISHING

The worst possible experience during harsh winters is sensing  that your hands are like sandpaper, or a notch higher, is having lips that feel like a metal grater. Winter is one season when our skin requires utmost care and maximum amount of nourishment to keep it supple and glowing. Usually, most people end up with chapped lips, dry, itchy skin, and few may even suffer from eczema. The essential ways to maintain a rosy face and soft hands and feet are not that tough to follow, but  be wary of the products you wish to use and take care of how often you use them. Rather than burying yourself in a gloomy mood, take note of a few simple things and make heads turn this season.

Moisturise

Nothing spells disaster than being a self-expert and choosing skincare products without knowing whether they would suit you or not. Not every moisturiser is made for winters; there are many that are for spring and summer too. An ointment moisturiser (not a water-based cream) is an ideal product to buy since it is oil-based, a vital
requirement for the winters. Essential oils present in the moisturiser keep the nourishment levels up and the skin soft for a longer duration. However, keep
in mind which product you choose — best suited are avocado, primrose and
essential oil-based creams.

No boiling hot water baths

Often, people take extremely hot water baths that can damage the skin. They make the skin awfully dry and even break down the lipid barrier, which may result in dry, itchy skin. It is advised that one should ideally take a warm water bath and regularly moisturise the skin.

No to damp clothes

There are occasions where we pay less attention to fabrics
being damp — for instance, wearing damp gloves or socks. This is a sure-shot recipe for itchy skin or even eczema that might put you in a painful situation.

Stock the right fat

One essential factor to keeping good skin during winters is including the right fats in your diet. For instance, omega-3 fatty acids, which are present in fish, nuts, flax seeds, olive oil, sardines and even avocado.

Glove it up

Every time you step out in the cold, try using gloves for your hands. Because, unlike other parts of your body, the skin on your hands is
the thinnest and lacks oil glands.

Humidify the air

Heaters and blowers used to warm the air in the room pull out the moisture from the air making it one of the primary reasons for dry skin. Ideally, one should install humidifiers around the house to maintain the moisture balance in the air.

Nail it right

The dry, cold weather makes the nails brittle leading to easy breakage or damage. A good start would be to run a little olive oil on the finger tips and massage the oil over the nails so that they get proper nourishment. Consuming 
biotin-rich foods would also help maintaining healthy nails during winter.

Get a head massage

With hot water baths and head washes, the skin becomes dry and even the scalp is stripped off its moisture, resulting in dandruff and itchy scalp. Ease this itchy problem with coconut oil and a dash of Vitamin E to maintain the lustre.

‘Sunguard’ yourself

It is a common myth that sunscreens are only to be used during summers. Let us enlighten you with the fact that the winter sun can be pretty damaging as well. A sunscreen should be applied every two-three hours, depending on the sun exposure you face.