5 Tips to Keep Skin Hydrated this Winter: Healthy Living

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With winter in full swing, it’s time to take steps to keep your skin hydrated and protected this season. Dry air and low humidity levels can wreak havoc on your skin, causing flaking, cracking, and inflammation. Indoor heating and hot showers, as nice and soothing as they are, can  further the problem by increasing dryness and damaging the surface of the skin. To help you counteract winter conditions and protect your skin this season, we’ve compiled a list of 5 tips to keep skin hydrated this winter.

Keep Skin Hydrated this Winter

Use Lukewarm Water

It’s so tempting to take a steaming hot shower or bath during the winter. However nice it may be, try to avoid doing this too much during the winter for the sake of your skin. The heat exasperates skin problems by stripping the skin of oils, leaving it even drier than before. Very dry skin can lead to skin inflammation or even eczema if not treated correctly. Lukewarm water is more gentle on the skin and helps prevent the stripping of oils. It’s also safer for your skin to use on a regular basis.

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Try A Humidifier

There are many benefits of using a humidifier - especially during the dry winter months. Humidifiers add moisture to the air and can help prevent the spread of airborne viruses. Humidifiers also add moisture to skin (preventing chapped/peeling lips, dry red eyes, and flaky skin), reduce allergens, make spaces feel warmer (due to the added moisture in the air), and prevent static electricity. That’s a lot of benefits for just adding water to the air! Give it a try and enjoy the benefits.

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Drink a lot of water and eat vitamin-rich foods

The summer months are when people normally think they need to boost their water intake, however, the winter months are just as  important. Due to the lack of moisture and humidity in the air, it’s very important to drink enough water each day. Additionally, in the winter months, we tend to drink more hot liquids like coffee, teas, and hot chocolate. Make sure you’re drinking the recommended 8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day.

Additionally, be sure to add foods rich in vitamins and high in water content to your diet. We suggest watermelon, cantaloupe, apples, oranges, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, etc. to give yourself a boost in vitamins and minerals.

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Cream or oil-based moisturizers are key

Finding the right moisturizer to use during the winter will help protect your skin and help prevent dryness. The two types of moisturizers that are most effective during the winter are cream or oil-based moisturizers (we love refined Coconut Oil!). These types of moisturizers contain a higher oil concentration which creates an extra barrier to keep skin hydrated.

The downside is creams and oils typically leave skin feeling more greasy than standard lotion. The extra protection is especially helpful in the winter months. So, if you hate the greasy feeling, try switching to the cream or oil-based moisturizers just for the winter. When the season changes, you can go back to the lower oil content lotion for a less greasy feel.

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Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!

To keep skin supple, soft, and even, you need to exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! By removing dead skin cells, you create the foundation for clear skin. During the winter months, skin cells dehydrate faster and need to be removed more frequently. Dermatologists often recommend exfoliating twice a week. For best results, try steaming your face first to open pores, then exfoliate, and follow it up with a moisturizer to lock in moisture.

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Ready for more healthy living tips? Check out the HAPARI blog for more lifestyle and healthy living tips! We also include special product spotlights and exclusive insider deals on our swimwear. See you there!