With Christmas approaching, everyone’s stocking up on food and drink, turning the central heating up and planning parties, evenings stretched in front of the TV, and a generally indulgent and relaxing break. But how’s your skin going to cope with all this? The last thing you want is a break-out when you need to look your best. Here are five tips for keeping your skin hydrated and moisturised over the Christmas holidays:
1. Keep up your water intake
It’s Christmas, so you’re probably going to be indulging in more alcohol than you might usually drink, both at home and at parties or get-togethers. Alcohol dehydrates your whole body, but it has a particularly detrimental effect on your skin. It dilates the pores, which can lead to blackheads and whiteheads, papules and cysts. It’s also a diuretic, so it removes water that your skin needs to hydrate, and makes you more liable to develop dry and flaky skin, lines and wrinkles. The sugar it contains can also lead to a lack of suppleness and a dull complexion. You’re unlikely to let this put you off your favourite tipple, but make sure you drink plenty of water at the same time, so your skin gets a chance to rehydrate.
2. Turn the central heating down a notch
A recent poll states that the average household has its thermostat set at 23°C, and that in one out of twenty households it’s an astonishing 30°C! As winter draws on, we tend to spend more time at home, but the climate created by continually turning up the central heating is disastrous not just for facial skin, but for the skin all over your body. It leads to increased water loss and subsequent dehydration and the skin is more likely to crack and break out. Try turning the heating down, just by a degree or two, and if you can, avoid having it on at night to give your skin a break.
3. Avoid lengthy baths and showers
It may seem like bliss to relax back into a hot bath with a book and a glass of wine, or indulge in a lengthy shower, but the sudden change in temperature is very bad for your skin. It can cause inflammation, redness, itching and even peeling, as well as removing natural oils, fats and proteins which keep the skin healthy. A lukewarm bath is much better and will help the epidermis, which is the outer layer, retain its natural protective barrier.
4. Apply sunscreen – even if it’s not sunny
It may not be the first thing you think of on a dull, dreary winter’s day, but the sun’s harmful UV rays can permeate clouds and still cause damage to your skin. If more traditional weather arrives, snow reflects up to 80% of the sun’s UV light, so the rays can hit you twice, further increasing the risk of premature aging. Regular application of a moisturiser with an SPF factor will help.
5. Cut down on exfoliation
Exfoliating skin helps to remove dead cells and keep skin healthy, but you can overdo it in the winter when your skin barrier is already compromised due to dry and cold weather. Try to rein back a bit to no more than once a week, and concentrate on moisturising instead.
Our Eternal Skincare range is ideal for ensuring winter skin is kept hydrated and moisturised, and can be used on every part of the body. The key component, aloe vera, is one of the finest natural moisturisers available, and it works alongside a balanced combination of completely natural ingredients. Our products are free from parabens, animal derivatives and synthetic fragrance and colouring, and will provide intensive hydration to soothe and soften skin which is suffering from winter temperatures and excesses.
Try our luxurious Aloe Super Hydrating Moisturiser or our Ultimate Aloe Skincare Moisturiser both of which will soothe and give your body an all-over treat.
Our Aloe anti-aging Day Cream contains SPF20 to help protect skin against summer and winter UV rays as well as green tea extract which has anti-aging properties. Visit our online shop or get in touch to find out more.
