10 Tips for Healthy Winter Skin

'Tis the season for...dry skin! We find it no coincidence that November is Healthy Skin Month. We need all the tips we can get during these cold winter months to keep our skin in shape. The air is chill and dry and any indoor heat we have blasting keeps our skin even more parched. Here are some tips for banishing dry skin this winter and maintaining your glow all season long!

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1. Moisturize More

You may have found the perfect moisturizer for spring and summer, but as the weather changes and winter comes around, your moisturizer should change, too. For a winter moisturizer, look for anything that says "oil-based." An oil-based moisturizer will creative a protective layer on your skin that retains more moisture than a regular, water-based moisturizer, cream, or lotion. Keep in mind that not all oils are meant for your face. Look for "non-clogging oils" like avocado oil, mineral oil or primrose oil. 

2. Wear Sunscreen 

Sunscreen isn't just for summertime. Winter sun plus the glare from snow can cause just as much harm to your skin. Just as you should apply in the summer, apply sunscreen to your hands and face 30 minutes prior to exposure. 

3. Use A Humidifier

From November to early March, we are most often blasting the heat in our homes and offices. This heat is hot and it's dry - a tough combo for our skin. We suggest hooking up your humidifier in home and office. Humidifiers help get more moisture in the air which helps prevent your skin from drying out. Consider placing small humidifiers throughout your home for more evenly dispersed moisture.  

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4. Avoid Wet Gloves and Socks

Nobody likes wet gloves and socks! However, sometimes they're unavoidable when skiing or sledding. Wet gloves and socks can really irritate your skin causing dryness, cracking, and sores. Consider taking wet socks and gloves off quickly to avoid irritated fingers and toes. 

5. HANDle with Care

To prevent dry, cracking hands, use wipe-off or soap-free cleansers or alcohol-free hand sanitizers. These are better options than constantly washing with soap and water. The wet-dry, wet-dry of washing with soap and water is what really sucks the moisture out of your hands. If you still prefer washing and drying , try a moisturizing soap-free cleanser or a hydrating antibacterial gel and put on lotion right away. Keep hand lotion at your office and in your bathrooms at home. 

6. Wear Gloves with Lotion

If the above tips still don't lend a helping hand, apply lotion to your hands and put on cotton gloves. Cotton gloves are hugely helpful in trapping the moisture so your cream or lotion can soak in. You' will be able to tell that your skin is softer just after wearing for an hour.  

7. Lather Up from Top to Bottom

Don't leave your arms, legs and torso out. Use rich bath oils or a moisturizing body cleanser. Follow with a rich lathering of moisturizer after toweling off. 

8. Exfoliate Lightly

In the winter, your skin is constantly turning over. Your thick, winter moisturizer won't do it's job on top of dead skin. That's where exfoliating comes in. Remove dead skin cells and prepare for better moisturizing. You can exfoliate with a scrub or a cleanser or with chemical exfoliate like a glycolic acid peel which is offered in Milestone's Oasis Spa. Our glycolic acid peel is a 30% free-acid exfoliator that improves skin’s texture, color and tone, diminishes the appearance of fine lines and improves the appearance of acne for an overall increased glow and moisture to the skin.

9. Treat your Feet

Gently buff away calluses or rough skin with a scrub or a pumice stone. Then, apply a thick moisturizer while your feet are still damp. Immediately put on socks to hold the moisture in overnight. 

10. Keep Showers Short and Not Too Hot

This is a tough one to avoid! During the winter, nothing sounds better than a long, hot shower. However, long, hot showers really strip your skin of moisture. It's better to stick with a luke warm bath or shower and keep it pretty short - no more than 10 minutes, and not more than once a day. 

Do you have any other tips to share for saving face in the winter? Let us know!