Cold weather, biting winds, and the dry heat blasting out from our radiators… the winter culprits that can affect our skin. We may get those rosy cheeks while wondering around those Christmas markets with our hat and gloves on and need a little extra hand cream to combat the cold. But for many us, dry skin can lead to the skin cracking and even aggravating certain skin e.g. my fellow eczema prone peeps! Therefore, in the winter months, it won’t do any harm focussing a little more on our skin routine and nutrition. So here are my top tips to look after your skin in these winter months.
1. Moisturise
Everyone will benefit from this especially if you have dry and sensitive skin. Moisturising in the morning, before you go to bed, and after a shower, will help to keep your skin soft. I even add a face moisturiser before I do my make up in the morning. It almost acts as a primer! So, have a big tub of your favourite brand at home, and stick a mini one in your bag along with a hand cream that works for you to apply throughout the day. Moisturising = done!
2. Water
In combination with moisturising, keep that skin hydrated with water, after all, it’s 60% of what we are made of!! We should all be aiming for 2 litres of water a day, although this will vary person to person, particularly if you are active. A good trick is to check the colour of your urine (yes, I lowered the tone…). If it is clear or light yellow, you are most likely drinking enough water. Alternatively, dark yellow means it is time to refill that water bottle! I keep a 500 mL bottle on me at all times which helps me judge and make sure I am getting enough.
3. Go Nuts for Niacin
Niacin (vitamin B3) is great to keep our skin healthy as well as giving us a little energy and reducing that tiredness. Nuts provide a good source of niacin, as well as flour. Plus, it can’t be stored in your body so trying to get a daily source is not a bad shout – yes, I just gave you another excellent reason to dig into your jar of peanut butter…
4. Eat the Season
Get a little beta-carotene (aka. Vitamin A) in your diet this winter with a variety of autumnal fruit and veg, as well as leafy greens. Not only does vitamin A support the immune system but it is also essential for our skin. So, dig into some carrot or sweet potato soup for lunch, enjoy sides of kale and spinach, and maybe throw a few oranges into that mulled wine mixture for good measure!
5. Bean Chilli Time
A deficiency in vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) can be spotted by dryness and cracking of the skin, particularly around the mouth. Now I am in no way saying this is what causes your dry skin, but, it does show the importance of consuming foods high in B2! As such, pile that plate high with some yummy beans and pulses, green veg, and a few mushrooms. How about trying a bean chilli on a sweet potato with a side of broccoli?
How do you combat the winter weather to look after your skin?