#1 Think about your environment
Extreme cold, central heating, a lack of humidity and too-hot showers can get the skin on our hands and body out of balance during the cold winter months. The constant changes in temperature can leave skin feeling dry, flakey and red and irritated. While you can’t change the cold weather, there are some things you can do. Try to stay away from direct heat like blow heaters, which can dehydrate skin and cause redness and irritation. Keeping your showers short and not cranking up the water to the scorch zone will also stop skin from drying out too much. And when washing your hands, keep the water temperature to comfortably warm and use a gentle hand wash for cleansing.
#2 Layer up
Just as we layer up our clothing during winter, it’s a good idea to layer up your skincare too. For your face, that might mean adding in a serum under your day cream, while on your body, a good way to double-up your nourishment is to wash your skin with a hydrating body wash then follow up with a nourishing body cream (look for formulations dosed with skin nourishing ingredients such as vitamin E and almond oil) after patting your skin dry.
Try: Lotus Flower Hand And Body Wash and Lotus Flower Hand and Body Lotion ($24.95 each)
#3 Be diligent
To keep your hands and body in peak condition, no matter how low the mercury drops, stick to a regular body skincare routine. Cleanse skin with a gentle cleanser then apply a body lotion or butter — and do this both morning and night.
#4 Look after your hands
Your hands can suffer during the winter months. Try carrying a hand cream around with you to top up on the moisture after hand washing. Also, try cutting back on over-washing your hands. One way is with a no-rinse hand cleanser; it’s a great way to sanitises hands on the go without drying them out too much.
Try: Sweet Pea & Jasmine Rinse-Free Hand Wash ($9.95)
