With the season’s now changing, you may be noticing a difference in your skin & the products you are using.

With the drier and colder weather of fall and winter its time to revamp our skin care routine. With these tips you can have great skin from head to toe!

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is still a must even though you might not see the sun as much. UVA rays are consistent throughout the year unlike UVB rays which vary with the seasons. In case you were wondering its UVA rays that cause skin damage. Cloudy days give you a false sense of security, the suns rays penetrate through the clouds and during the winter reflect off snow causing even more damage!

If you don’t want to apply sunscreen and moisturizer, look for a moisturizer with at least an SPF of 15.

Moisturizer

Winter winds are harsh and dry your skin so fast that your face can feel tight. During spring and summer using a lightweight lotion is perfect; however winter weather demands more from your moisturizer. You should too! What’s needed now is a heavier moisturizer to replenish your skin and prevent dryness. This does not mean using your heavier night cream during the day. It’s called night cream for a reason. Depending on your skin type, it could mean something as simple as switching from your lotion based moisturizer to a crème based moisturizer.

AHA’s – Alpha Hydroxy Acid

If you avoid using these products during the spring & summer, you can reintroduce these products back into your skin care routine now. AHA’s work as an exfoliator increasing the rate of cell turnover (cell turnover decreases as we age). Try using an AHA mask once a week. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and do a patch test to test for sensitivity as some people experience adverse reactions.

Body care

During the winter I notice how dry and scaly my legs become. I have more scales than some fish if I don’t take care of my skin properly. During the winter months I prefer to use body oil after a shower. Not vegetable oil, I save that for my salads. I use either olive oil or sesame oil. You don’t need to use a lot, a few drops does each leg.

If the thought of using oil as a moisturizer doesn’t suit your fancy, products like Vaseline Intensive Care or Keri Lotion work great as well.

For your feet, there’s no reason for them to be so rough that you can take the stain off a hardwood floor. I save this one for part of my bedtime routine. Now you can use the same moisturizer as the rest as your body; or for an extra moisturizing treat you can use Crisco. That’s right Crisco-not just for baking anymore. Use a generous amount on your feet and cover them with either a pair of cotton or wool socks before bed.

What do you do with the leftover Crisco? Providing that you haven’t double dipped with your feet you can make a batch of cookies to dip in a cup of hot cocoa on those chilly nights.

Home

The air around us changes in the winter becoming a lot drier. From the shopping mall to your workplace to even your home, turning up the heat on the thermostat takes moisture out of the air and contributes to drying out your skin. Don’t believe me? Look what happens to a grape when you leave it in the sun. It turns into a dried up raisin. I don’t want to be a raisin so I bought a humidifier to keep the moisture in the air.

These few tips should keep your skin soft and supple throughout the coming winter season.