How to maintain beautiful skin through winter

Winter is a season of extremes. The cold and wind make your skin feel dry, but it's also important to remember that warm showers can do the same. We've got some tips to help you manage the winter months (and beyond) with beautiful skin.

It seems as through winter has well and truly arrived. The days are shorter, the mornings are colder and you may be starting to notice that your skin is feeling dryer (not to mention the fading of your beautiful summer glow). But its not all bad news, winter means cozy night in, blankets, slippers and hot chocolate! And there is a way you can keep your summer glow and radiant skin all year round.

Drink more water

You know that drinking water is good for you, but how much do you really need to drink?

It's recommended that adults consume eight 8 glasses of water per day. However, there are a few other factors to consider:

• If you're exercising, you should increase your intake by another two cups.
• Also make sure to drink before, during and after exercise - that way your body will be well hydrated no matter what type of activity is being performed.  The same goes for staying hydrated while traveling on long trips; remember not only can dehydration lead to headaches but also dizziness.

Switch to a heavier cream or lotion

If you've been using a lightweight moisturiser all summer long, you might be noticing a difference in how your skin feels now that the temperature is dropping.

The cold weather will dry out your skin and cause it to become flaky and dull, so this is a great way to treat yourself while also taking care of your skin. To maintain luscious skin, step up your body moisturisers to something with a little more moisture.

One of the best ways to combat this feeling is by switching to heavier creams and lotions. These products tend to be more emollient and nourishing than their lighter counterparts, which means they'll help keep your skin hydrated even when it's cold outside. Lighter formulas tend to evaporate quickly, while heavier ones are designed to keep moisture locked in after you apply them.

We recommend using a natural body cream with hydrating oils such as coconut, argan, rosehips and vitamin E. For sensitive skin, Acure Seriously Soothing 24 Hr Moisture Body Lotion is an absolute steal when it comes to bang for you buck. With so much goodness in this single tube, Acure Organics is one of our absolute favourites. 

For eczema prone or very dry skin, Eco by Sonya Coconut Body Milk is an absolute must. This highly nourishing lotion is incredible for dry, red and angry skin. Winter months usually exacerbate these kinds of skin conditions; so a little coconut milk over winter will do you good.

Our top 5 favourite winter essentials are:

1. Eco by Sonya Coconut Body Milk
2. Ere Perez Papaya Sos Marmalade
3. Antipodes Joyful Hand & Body Cream
4. Noosa Basics Cocoa Butter Ultra Rich Cream
5. Vanessa Megan Peruvian Flower Body Cream

Use a humidifier

If you live in a dry climate, or if your house is generally very dry, a humidifier can help to keep skin hydrated. A good rule of thumb is that if you feel like you need to use lotion on your skin after showering, it might be time for a humidifier.

Use one in the bedroom during winter months (and year round, if needed). Put the unit on low while sleeping so that it adds moisture to the air throughout the night - this will help with breathing issues like asthma and congestion as well as keeping skin soft and smooth!

Take your vitamins

Winter is a tough time of year for our bodies. We're spending more time indoors, and we're eating more comfort foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients. Taking vitamins can help you stay healthy, keep your immune system strong, and maintain good energy levels during the cold months.

Start by thinking about what vitamins you're missing in your diet. If you're not eating enough leafy greens, orange veggies, or fresh fruits, maybe start there.

Now think about what vitamins your body needs most during colder months. Do you feel like you're catching every cold going around? Maybe vitamin C is right for you! Or maybe you've been feeling sluggish lately? Vitamin B12 could be just what you need!

You can easily add vitamin C powder to your morning smoothie. It's a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the skin from free radical damage. Vitamin C is also found in citrus fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and kale.

Consider adding rosehip oil vitamin C cream to your daily routine

Cold weather tends to dry out the skin, so ensuring you compensate with a rich and natural moisturiser is also paramount.

Winters can be rough on your skin. It's dry, itchy, and flaky. But if you add rosehip oil vitamin C cream to your daily routine, you'll get the hydration your skin needs to look and feel its best. Vitamin C in the cream is important because it helps keep your collagen levels high - which means more plumped up skin cells and fewer wrinkles!

Rosehip oil contains essential fatty acids that help nourish your skin from the inside out. This means it'll not only make you look younger but also improve the condition of your skin over time.

Maintain your glow with a self tanner

Keep your healthy glow with natural self tanners. Eco Tan’s Winter Skin maintains a subtle colour, without looking unnaturally tanned. There is nothing worse than an obviously fake dark bronze tan in the middle of winter. Using a natural gradual tanning moisturiser keeps you looking healthy, but without the obvious “I’ve just had a spray tan” look. 

Here are our top favourites:

1. Eco Tan Winter Skin
2. Eco Tan Invisible Tan
3. Eco Tan Face Tan Water
4. Wotnot Gradual Body Lotion
5. Aussie Bronze Vegan & DHA Free Instant Tan

Layer on the sunscreen during winter days

As you bundle up and prepare for the cold, you might be tempted to skip sunscreen. After all, it's not exactly warm outside - but don't let that fool you. Even though it might be chilly outside, the sun can still damage your skin - so make sure you're wearing a high quality sunscreen with moisturiser every day.

If you are going outdoors, make sure to apply 30 minutes before heading out the door and reapply every two hours or after sweating profusely. Also, use products with SPF15 or higher - and don't forget to cover all exposed areas!

You should apply sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days. This will help protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Lower the water temperature in your showers

Hot water can dry out your skin, which is bad for its health and appearance. Cold water actually has some benefits for the skin: it helps to tighten pores, close up any small cuts or wounds on the surface of your body, and make you feel more awake (at least temporarily).

Don't let the shower run for too long. There's no need to spend an hour under there - five minutes will suffice! If this seems like too much effort for you, consider switching from taking baths to using showers instead; they're quicker and easier overall because there's no waiting time between getting wet and rinsing off afterward like there would be with a bathtub full of hot water...which brings us back around again...

Don't forget about it until spring

Now that you have a solid routine, it's time to make sure that you stay on top of it. The most important thing is to not forget about your skin until summer comes around again. Make yourself a list of all the things you need to do in order to maintain your skin - and then set an alert on your phone so that every day at noon or whatever time works best for you, there's an email reminding you what those things are! It can be as simple as "Drink water" or "Take vitamins" or even just "Look after my face". Whatever helps keep those habits in mind is great!

Use the cold winter days and nights to get some rest! Winter is naturally a time of hibernation.  A time where both animals and plants take a break, in preparation for spring. In our fast paced world, it is all too easy to continue to carry on all year round. We push ourselves to the limit, stay up late with artificial lights and continue to move at the same pace as always. This puts stress on the body and leads to burn out. Use the early sunset to wind down for the evening and have an early night. Use your weekends for rest and relaxation and switch your evening wine for a drink with high level of antioxidants. Antioxidants fight free radicals that can damage your skin, helping to keep your complexion healthy and glowing all winter long.

Final thoughts

Winter is a great time to take care of your skin, but it's also important not to forget about it until spring. The colder months can be brutal on our bodies and skin, but with these tips you'll be able to keep your face looking fresh and beautiful while staying warm at the same time!

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