9 Skincare tips to enjoy better skin this winter

9 Skincare tips to enjoy better skin this winter

With biting winds, freezing temperatures and the central heating turned up its no wonder that our skin suffers in the winter season.

There are plenty of reasons to make skin health a priority during the cold months:-

• Skin lacking in moisture becomes rough and loses elasticity, exacerbating skin problems and becoming much more susceptible to premature ageing.

• Our skin acts as our defense against chemicals, bacteria and viruses entering our body, when this barrier is compromised we are more susceptible to irritation, infections and allergies.

• For eczema, psoriasis or dry skin sufferers this is your danger period, when skin problems can flare causing discomfort and irritation.

A healthy body on the inside shows on the outside, so our skin is a reflection our internal health.  Foods that provide nutrition for our body to be strong are the same ones that will feed your skin, repairing and protecting the skin cells so that skin can look and feel supple and radiant all year round.

All skin types, particularly those prone to dryness, will benefit from taking extra care of their skin health over colder months.

Follow these simple skin boosting tips to help protect against the affects of winter:

1. Drink water
   Hydrate from the inside and it will reflect on the outside.

Many of us tend to drink less water when the temperature drops.  If drinking cold water in the winter doesn’t work for you than try drinking herbal teas or boiled water infused with ginger, lemon and cloves to pep you up and provide additional skin and health boosting benefits.

2. Pure Fats
   Feed your skin from the inside out by ensuring that you increase your intake of excellent quality fats this winter. Eat, drizzle and cook with a range of pure cold-pressed organic seed and nut oils and don’t shy away from those healthy nutrient dense animal fats and butters from grass-fed free-range sources.

Fats do such a good job for our health it is well worth investing in good quality diverse types to receive wide ranging benefits.

3. Eat those greens!
   We keep hearing about the benefits of dark, leafy green veg but did you know how important they are in skin health? Green leaves, such as spinach, kale, swiss chard, collards and cabbage contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that replenish, repair and hydrate skin cells and are rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene, essential for skin boosting collagen production.

Eating fresh foods is often neglected in colder months, so try to be more attentive of your diet this winter, include a good size portion of green leaf veggies in each meal and replace packaged snacks with fruit or veg bites and your skin will thank you.

4. Essential Fatty Acids

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are pure gold for skin health.  They are the fats that your body cannot make on its own and the building blocks for healthy cell membranes.  They play a critical role by increasing blood flow and producing natural skin oils, helping to maintain hydrated, youthful and radiant skin. They are available in delicious foods that also deliver other healthy nutrients, such as avocados, chia seeds, nuts, hemp seeds, eggs, flax, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

5. Avoid dehydrating culprits

Caffeine and alcohol can dehydrate and put your internal digestive system under pressure impacting on your skin’s health and radiance.  For optimal skin health it is best to avoid these dehydrating culprits or to keep to a minimal.  Try to replace with healthier options, such as chicory, herbal teas, hot almond cacao mylk and hot spiced berry infusions.  Reduce your intake over the Christmas season by matching each alcoholic drink with a glass of water.

6. Protect and moisturise

We wrap ourselves up in winter coats and hats and should apply the same principal for our skin.  Hands in particular are at risk as they have few oil glands to act as a natural defense to cold dry conditions.

Keep skin healthy and supple during winter by protecting with natural oils and balms. Remember that natural and chemical free is the best way to go for happy protected skin and apply twice daily, morning and evening .  Try pure Coconut oils for general skin maintenance and Leafie Skin Aid Balm for intensive relief and protection of problem areas.

7. Face skincare routine

Skin changes with the seasons so introducing gentle cleansing prior to moisturising is a great way to revive and brighten dull skin.  Avoid cleansers and toners with soaps or alcohols as they strip the skin of its essential moisture leaving it feeling tight, dry and depleted.  Instead cleanse your skin each evening with natural products such as Aloe Vera Tonic Gels, available from most Health Food shops, to leave skin refreshed and hydrated.

8. Lips

Lips often suffer in the winter months.  Prevent dryness and cracking by keeping your favourite natural salve ready and applying frequently.  Avoid petroleum jelly based products that dry lips out.  Try pure Coconut oils, shae butter for every day protection and pure tallow to relieve dry chapped lips.

9. Exercise

Often overlooked when talking about skincare but a healthy fitness routine will increase blood flow and stimulate beneficial endorphins, which have a positive impact on skin health.  Even better, take your activity outside into the park or woodlands to get that much needed vitamin D boost.

Enjoy your improved winter skin!