We’re nearly in the middle of winter, and the chances are that the cold weather has started to take its toll on your skin and hair. Winter might be a wonderful time, but for our hair and skin, it’s no fun at all. The combination of freezing weather and the heat from our radiators can cause dry hair, and sore cracked skin. (We would turn the radiators off but it’s just so cold.)

 

This time of year is party season, which means one thing – we want to look our best. Something that’s impossible to do when your skin and hair isn’t in the best shape. Hair that’s dry becomes frizzy and incredibly difficult to style, which for party season is a nightmare. Skin that’s sore and dry, makes wearing makeup tricky. When it comes to makeup and dry skin, foundation and setting powder only highlight the problem.

Image from Flickr

 

Party season and dry skin and hair really don’t mix. Luckily for you, I have put together a guide to all the best ways to get your hair and skin back in shape. So that you can look and feel good. Take note of these tips, and in a few short days, you can give both your hair and skin a major health boost.

 

For your skin:

 

To start off with, we’re going to focus on your skin. Chapped, dry skin can be nasty; not only does it look unsightly but it can also be sore as well. Luckily, with a little TLC, you can give your skin all the nourishment that it needs to be healthy.

 

Cleanse and tone

 

One of the most important elements of a good skin care routine, cleansing, is so important for your skin. It’s such a basic part of caring for your skin, and yet many of us make the mistake of failing to do it. If you don’t cleanse your skin each evening, you’re allowing your makeup, along with all the oil and dirt from the day, to sit on it. This can cause breakouts, blemishes, and during the winter, dryness. (Many makeup products can dry the skin out, so leaving makeup on overnight is a recipe for disaster.)

 

Toning is just as important as cleansing – think of it as the second step in the process. Although cleansing should remove most of the dirt and oil, toning is important in case any is missed. More importantly, toner will help to soothe and nourish the skin, giving it a boost of hydration. So for dry skin, toning really is a must.

 

Exfoliate

 

If you want healthy, happy skin, exfoliating regularly, is important. However, come winter, it becomes, even more, crucial. If you want skin that’s smooth and healthy, it’s important to exfoliate. Exfoliation removes dead and dry skin cells and helps to boost the speed at which new cells are produced.

 

There are various options when it comes to exfoliation, what you chose to use is up to you. Most women use manual exfoliation two to three times a week, using sugar scrubs. While manual exfoliation is effective, microdermabrasion has also become a popular technique. Not only because it keeps skin soft and smooth, but also because it has fantastic results when it comes to slowing down aging.

 

While you can pay to have microdermabrasion treatments at a clinic, you can also do them at home yourself. Working out how often to do microdermabrasion at home can be tricky, it all depends on how much exfoliation your skin needs. However, if you get it right, the results can be fantastic.

 

Moisturize like mad

 

By far the most important thing that you can do to keep your skin healthy is moisturize at least twice a day. Without adequate hydration from a face cream, your skin will dry out and become cracked and sore.

 

To keep it healthy, you need to apply moisturizer in the morning before putting on your makeup, as well as in the evening. If you’re prone to dry skin and suffer badly with it, a rich moisturizer is a must. Creams containing shea butter are always amazing for dry skin, as is pure shea butter. Admittedly, shea butter does leave a somewhat greasy sheen on your face, but it’s an amazing form of hydration for your skin.

 

For your hair:

Photo source

 

It’s not just your skin that becomes dry in the winter weather; hair is also prone to drying out. While your hair will be more prone to drying out if you use straighteners each day, the cold weather can wreak havoc on even the healthiest hair.

 

Deep conditioning mask

 

Sometimes all it takes to get your hair back in shape is a little TLC. Invest in a deep conditioning mask for your hair and use it to breathe new life into it. There are various masks to choose from, but some of the best contain coconut or argan oil. The results of argan oil on dry hair really are amazing, so if you can, opt for an argan-based mask.

 

Spray throughout the day

 

If your hair is really dry, throughout the day spritz it with a moisturizing spray. There are plenty of these on the market, all you need to do is choose the perfect one. Again, argan oil based products are amazing for achieving healthy, hydrated hair. Look out for an argan-based spray, and you can ensure that your hair is as healthy as possible, despite the cold weather.

 

Invest in shea butter

 

An amazing natural conditioner for hair, shea butter is fantastic for giving your hair a health boost. Made from the Shea-Karite tree nut, shea butter has some amazing uses. It’s known for being an amazing hair sealant; it can be applied to the ends of the hair to lock in moisture. Unlike many other hair sealants, it won’t cause greasiness, so is ideal for using on a day to day basis.

 

It might be a little harder keeping your skin and hair healthy during the winter months, but if you take note of these tips, it is doable.