Caring for your skin this Winter

During Winter our skin tends to suffer. With less humidity in the air outside and heating indoors, our skin easily dries out.

If your skin feels itchy and dry during Winter, here are some tips for comfortable, soft skin all Winter long.

•  Try switching to a soap-free cleanser or one formulated for sensitive skin.

•  Using a low-irritant laundry powder or liquid is also useful. Dominant has a wide range of products that are low-irritant and for those easily irritated, Sensitive Laundry Powder is fantastic option.

•  With lots of layering of clothing during Winter, ensure the layers close to your skin are made of a soft and breathable fabric like cotton, silk or bamboo cotton. Itchy fabrics can irritate your skin and dry it out even further.

•  When the temperature drops, it is very tempting to have a long hot shower or bath. This can really strip skin of its moisturising oils. Opt instead for lukewarm water and if you’re someone who showers morning and night, cut it down to just one a day.

•  Dry skin needs more moisture. Using a humidifier in your home can make a huge difference in replacing moisture lost through heating systems.

•  Moisturise your skin regularly. Whatever your choice of moisturiser is, you may find you need to apply more regularly or swap to a more nourishing moisturiser during the cooler months. Oil-based products are a great option during Winter, particularly for the body.

•  Hydrate! Just because it’s cold, don’t forget to keep your fluids up. Plenty of water and herbal teas will help keep your skin smooth and clear.

•  Sure, you may not be showing as much of your skin during Winter, but it’s still important to exfoliate. There’s no need to buy expensive exfoliators, this is one product that is easily made from pantry items. Used coffee grinds will work wonders to remove dead skin cells, plus the coffee oils leave your skin soft and moisturised.

Don’t Forget Your Hands

With all the cold and flu cases going around in the winter, it’s a good idea to wash your hands often. Unfortunately all that washing can cause your hands to become extremely dry.

If your hands become dry or cracked during Winter, try replacing your regular hand soap with a cleanser that’s mild or soap-free.

Using a hand cream after washing will also do wonders for your hands.