Mother Nature hates our skin

Good morning, 

I hope everyone slept well and got a decent amount of sleep, as we all know this is crucial for a glowing complexion. 

Not only does what we put into our body's and on our skin effect us but so does things we can't control. 

For instance the weather . . . . It's hammered home to us all the time that the sun is harmful  and can course us to appear older and damages our skin but the cold and wind can do just the same thing. 

With living in Norway this is something I have had to start thinking about as the winters are cold and harsh. We regularly sit around -20 and can often drop to -30 and -40 degrees Celsius. We don't get a lot of sun light some parts of the country none at all and we get a shed load of snow. So saying that I want to share my tips for radiant skin during the winter. By no means does this apply to those of us who live just in Scandinavia it can be used by all of us world wide. 

Winter weather effects are skin in several ways. Dry skin is the most comman result of the colder weather. Cold winter air lacks humidity and dries up the natural oils in our skin. 

Bitter winds can cause chap ping and windburn and although you may think the answer is to stay in all cozy in front of your fire, you'd be wrong. Indoor heating systems dry the air inside so rather than offering our skin relief you are likely to suffer an extra dose of the drying effect. 

All is not lost we can help our skin to remain healthy looking and avoid dry chapped wind burnt skin. 

So what can we do? 

1, Keep our skin hydrated.

 Not only through drinking plenty of water but also through having a humidifier in the home. I know this can be out of some of our budgets so how about placing bowls of water underneath raidiators or on the hearth. Make sure these are kept topped up with fresh water. 

2. Use oil based moisturizer. 

You may have found a moisturizer that works just fine in spring and summer.  But as weather conditions change, so, too, should your skin care routine.  Find an moisturizer that's oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture than a cream or lotion. (Hint: Many lotions labeled as "night creams" are oil-based.)

But choose your oils with care because not all oils are appropriate for the face. Instead, look for "nonclogging" oils, like avocado oil, mineral oil, primrose oil, or almond oil. Shea oil -- or butter -- is controversial, because it can clog facial pores.

Try to  look for lotions containing "humectants," a class of substances (including glycerine, sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids) that attract moisture to your skin.

3. Slather on the Sunscreen

No, sunscreen isn't just for summertime. Winter sun -- combined with snow glare -- can still damage your skin. Try applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and your hands (if they're exposed) about 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply frequently if you stay outside a long time.

4. Give Your Hands a Hand

The skin on your hands is thinner than on most parts of the body and has fewer oil glands. That means it's harder to keep your hands moist, especially in cold, dry weather. This can lead to itchiness and cracking. Wear gloves when you go outside; if you need to wear wool to keep your hands warm, slip on a thin cotton glove first, to avoid any irritation the wool might cause. 

To prevent chapping parched hands, embrace wipe-off, soap-free cleansers and alcohol-free hand sanitizers. 

They're less drying than washing repeatedly with soap and water,it's the wet-dry, wet-dry that really sucks the moisture out of your skin.

When you do wash, choose a moisturizing soap-free cleanser or a hydrating antibacterial gel, then slather on lotion right away.

5. Avoid Wet Gloves and Socks

Wet socks and gloves can irritate your skin and cause itching, cracking, sores, or even a flare-up of eczema.

6. Grease Up Your Feet

Yes, those minty foot lotions are lovely in the hot summer months, but during the winter, your feet need stronger stuff. Try finding lotions that contain petroleum jelly or glycerine instead. And use exfoliants to get the dead skin off periodically; that helps any moisturizers you use to sink in faster and deeper.

7. Pace the Peels

If your facial skin is uncomfortably dry, avoid using harsh peels, masks, and alcohol-based toners or astringents, all of which can strip vital oil from your skin. Instead, find a cleansing milk or mild foaming cleanser, a toner with no alcohol, and masks that are "deeply hydrating," rather than clay-based, which tends to draw moisture out of the face. And use them a little less often.

8. Ban Superhot Baths

 Soaking in a burning-hot bath feels great after frolicking out in the cold. But the heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. "You're better off with just warm water, and staying in the water a shorter amount of time."

A lukewarm bath with oatmeal or baking soda, can help relieve skin that is so dry it has become itchy. So, too, can periodically reapplying your moisturizer. 

my favorite winter products I use personally are 

1) Biotherm Aquasource Gel
2) Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
3) Elemis SOS Emergency Cream
4) Laneige Water Bank Eye Gel
5) Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
6) Vaseline Essential Moisture
7) Vaseline Original

Have a great day everyone and look after yourselves

love and foundation and all that sparkles 

Vikkie