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Winter is the time of year when we celebrate some of the best holidays, but it’s also when our skin feels more reptilian than human. The harsh contrast between the icy wind outdoors and the intense heat indoors seems to burn layers off our faces little by little, destroying our skin by the time Valentine’s Day rolls around.
Experts always say to hydrate, but those who have naturally dry or combination skin know that it isn’t always that simple. Facial lotions can cause excess oiliness and hardly seem to help cure dry patches.
Makeup doesn’t sit well, and exfoliating only seems to make it worse, leaving most who suffer from dry skin with very little hope. Well, suffer no more! The following remedies will get your smooth, flawless summertime skin back just in time for the New Year.
Lukewarm Showers
Often during cold months, we take longer, warmer, and sometimes scalding showers. Hot water tends to dehydrate the skin, leaving the body feeling tight and itchy. It’s best to take a quick, warm shower and to moisturize immediately afterward while your pores are still open.
Likewise, when people feel their skin getting dry, they exfoliate more than usual and remove the body’s natural oils. To keep skin hydrated, it’s important to keep the skin’s natural oils—not scrub them all away while bathing.
Coconut Oil
Some people, especially those who are prone to breakouts, might be hesitant to use oils on their skin, but coconut oil is one of the rare products that is known for hydrating the skin and keeping it clear. As an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial substance, coconut oil can be used on the face and body to kill germs and bacteria and prevent acne from forming. It also has a regenerating property that makes it great for reducing the appearance of acne marks. It can be used in the shower as a face wash or after the shower as a moisturizer. It might feel odd at first if you’ve never used oils on your skin before, but it is an ideal solution for those suffering from severe dry and flaky skin.
Hydration Masks
An overnight hydration mask can help get your skin back on track. Depending on how dry your skin is, you might end up having to use it throughout the winter, but each morning you will notice a healthier-looking you. Best of all, hydration masks often come in the form of thick lotion, so there’s no discomfort of having to sleep with a plaster-like mask on all night.
Water
You’re more likely to reach for a hot cup of cocoa than a bottle of water when it’s cold outside, but keeping your inside hydrated has a significant impact on the outside. Maybe you won’t be drinking as much H20 as you were during the heat wave of August, but you should try to keep up with the suggested average of eight glasses of water per day.
Antibiotic Ointment
Dry skin can lead to cracking, itching, and even bleeding. This can be embarrassing, especially when dry spots appear on the face. Antibiotic ointments that are typically used for cuts and minor burns can help soothe these spots and clear up dry patches in just a few days. If you have a special event coming up and need to heal a dry patch overnight, place a Band-Aid over the area treated with ointment to help lock in the moisture and give you surprisingly fast results by morning.
Makeup can’t hide dry skin the way it hides blemishes and dark spots. In fact, it usually makes dry skin look even worse. The epidermis, i.e., the outer layer of skin, may be where we apply all of our products, but it’s the dermis layer that we need to worry about. Many of the body and face washes we use contain harsh chemicals that prevent the skin from forming natural oils in the dermis layer of the skin. You might think you need to use strong products to cure acne or prevent breakouts, but it’s often the dry, flaky skin these products cause that lead to acne.
Dry skin can also have a negative impact on laser hair removal results. Hydrated skin is more likely to absorb the lasers and prevent excess irritation after treatments. Whether you’re having laser hair removal treatments performed on your face, underarms, or thighs, you’ll want to make sure the skin is healthy and moisturized.
If you’ve already undergone your first treatment and notice your skin is a little dryer than usual, be sure to avoid the sun and only exfoliate at the guidance of your licensed medical technician. For more tips on how to take care of your skin after laser hair removal treatments, watch this video now!
