Ashy Dry Skin is never Sexy Winter Skin Care Tips

If you are anything like me the winter brings dry skin on with a vengance. I spend more time moisturizing during the winter months than I care to admit but ashy alligator skin is a No-No! A woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do. I have compiled a list of some great tips to prevent dry itchy winter skin. Hope some of these work and feel free to add others of your own!


Keep Water Lukewarm, Not Hot
Hot water robs skin of moisture causing dry skin, so it's best to shower in lukewarm water. If you can't bear this rule( I can't I Love a hot steamy shower) -- try to keep your warm showers short and try showering only once per day. This also means skipping the hot tubs/jacuzzi;s in winter (another rule I simply cannot bear). The hot, hot temperature, combined with drying chemicals, is torture on dry skin.
The same rule applies to hand-washing: Wash hands in lukewarm, never hot, water (this is a rule I firmly abide by). If your skin turns red, the water is simply too hot.


Drink water

Keeo your skin hydrated by drinking lots of water. Carry a bottle with you when you go outside. Herbal tea is also great when it’s really cold.(not to mention the antioxidants are great for you as well!) Your skin will soon have a healthy glow. So drink up and don’t let your skin go thirsty.

Invest in a Humidifier
Furnaces rob air of moisture, leaving very little humidity in the air. I once read that your skin needs more than 30 percent humidity to stay properly moisturized. A room heated by a furnace can have as little as 10 percent moisture. In the winter, consider sleeping with a humidifier in your bedroom. Keep doors closed so the moist air doesn't escape the room. This is especially important i notice what a huge difference having my humidifier running makes!

Protect your Hands & Feet
Hands and feet can suffer terribly in winter. Put on moisturizer and gloves BEFORE you head outdoors, and consider lathering up your feet in thick moisturizer and sleeping in cotton socks at night.
Extra Dry Hands & Feet: Cover feet in a thick moisturizer, wrap feet in Saran Wrap, then pull on a pair of socks for a couple hours. Try to sit or lie down while the moisturizer soaks in or risk sliding into a full split and pulling your groin muscles. The same treatment can be done on hands, except try plastic bags and keep hands in a pair of socks. A half-hour should do you.



DON"T LICK YOUR LIPS!!!!(you will end up looking like Malik Yoba!)
Licking your lips will not moisturize them and instead will help dry them out. Lips retain less moisture than other parts of the body, so they tend to dry out more quickly. A simple lip balm helps, as does my all-time favorite lip trick: moisturize your lips with Vaseline. Take a toothbrush and "brush" your lips in a circular motion. This will remove dead flakes and leave your lips soft and supple.

Guard Your Grill!
Cold, winter wind can wreak havoc on skin. To keep your face supple in winter, apply moisturizer to your face before going out into the cold and cover your face with a scarf in harsh wind.
If you have super, duper sensitive skin, consider avoiding rinsing your face with tap water, which can contain harsh minerals that are especially drying to the skin (My Dermatologisttold me New York & New jerse water contains a lot of harsh minerals, while Seattle water, for example, does not. Go figure).

Instead, do like the French and cleanse skin in winter with a cleaner that does not require rinsing, like Pond's Cold Cream.
Try spritzing your face with facial water (Evian Mineral Spray, $11, works great) before applying moisturizer several times during the day in the office. The water locks in moisture and leaves skin refreshed even in harsh office heat