Good tip about lubing the lips. Especially during the winter. You need to make sure that you use the right lip balm based on the weather. Like in the summer, I usually use a non-greasy balm as in the winters I use a very greasy/thick balm.
Ahhh, the joys of autumn: cozy sweaters, crisp air, gorgeous colors everywhere! But while you might welcome the soon-to-be-winter weather, your skin isn’t so thrilled. Falling temperatures can sap the moisture out of even the softest, most radiant faces and hands (just think about what this season does to the leaves!). Add the warm, dry air that assaults us every time we head indoors, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for raw, scaly skin.
But this year, you don’t have to be destined for dryness. Some simple tweaks to your routine and a few new products (budget-friendly, of course!) will make sure your skin is nourished from head to toe, all winter long. Here’s everything you need to know to leave the cracked, flaking skin to the reptiles:
Skip the Morning Suds
Face wash is designed to remove makeup and dirt, but it can strip away moisture in the process. So cleanse your face just once a day―at night―and in the morning, simply rinse with lukewarm water. To minimize drying, stick to a detergent-free cleanser like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($11.49, drugstore.com).
Don’t Get in Hot Water
As tempting as it is to jump into a steamy shower on a chilly day, it’s not the best idea: Hot water washes away the natural lipids that hydrate your skin. Keep your shower as cool as you can and suds up with a mild cleanser that won’t overdry, like Dove Beauty Bar ($3.49 for two bars, cvs.com). If you prefer baths, add colloidal oatmeal, which soothes and moisturizes chapped, damaged skin. Try Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment ($6.34, drugstore.com).
Slather Up With Speed
After your shower, you only have a precious few minutes to lock in hydration: Skin cools itself by evaporating the water on its surface, and that process starts as soon as you turn off the water. So, immediately after drying off, apply a heavy cream with ingredients that create a moisture-locking barrier on the skin’s surface. Look for shea butter, humectants such as hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone (it’s silicone-base makes it compatible with all skin types).
No matter what your skin condition, DML Moisturizing Lotion ($15.80, drugstore.com) is a must-have for your face, thanks to its ability to deeply hydrate and replenish without adding fragrance (one of the biggest skin-irritation culprits) or clogging pores. For the rest of your body, try Vaseline Intensive Rescue Moisture Locking Lotion ($5.99, walgreens.com). If you need some extra moisture, simply add a bit of oil to your lotion to boost the richness factor—I love Neutrogena Body Oil Light Sesame Formula ($9.99, Neutrogena.com).
Buff Your Body
When your skin is dry, dead cells on the surface become resistant to shedding, so you end up with dull, rough patches. Help move along the cell renewal process—and uncover smooth, fresher skin in the process—by exfoliating once a week (any more than that can traumatize your skin). Try a sugar-based scrub—the sweet stuff is actually a natural humectant and gentle on irritated skin. You can make one yourself by adding brown sugar to your favorite cream-based cleanser (like Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash ($8.25/$6.60 with coupon, soap.com).
Lube up Your Lips
Since they don’t produce their own moisture, lips are one of the first places to show chapping and cracking. To keep yours soft and supple, keep a lip balm in every purse (and your desk drawer). And don’t even think about going outside without protecting your pout from the cold—it’s much easier to keep lips healthy than it is to repair them. Try Burt’s Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter ($4, burtsbees.com) for a natural finish, or trade in your usual lipstick or gloss for a tinted balm like Maybelline Baby Lips ($3,99, maybelline.com), which comes in several pretty sheer shades and provides SPF 20 protection, too.
Don’t Forget the Sunscreen
Even those of us who are religious about applying sunblock during the summer months often forget to apply it in the winter. But even when the sun’s not warm, its UV rays are just as strong—and just as damaging. To eliminate the extra step of applying it after your moisturizer (who needs something else to think about in the morning?), try a hybrid like Purpose Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion SPF 15 ($9.99, walgreens.com) for normal, acne-prone or sensitive skin. For dry skin, I recommend Olay Regenerist UV Defense Regenerating Lotion SPF 15 ($22.99, walgreens.com).
As the days turn colder, turn to products that seal in precious moisture (and lock out the gator-like dryness). Your skin and lips will thank you!
How does your skin care routine change from summer to fall?
