Baby,

It's Cold Outside! 

Greetings!   

I hope you are already out enjoying the snow. I woke up this morning to a beautiful winter wonderland. As beautiful as it is, winter can be harsh on our skin. The winter time causes more drying which leads to wrinkles and ultimately aging skin. One of the most important ways to take care of your skin it to protect it every day from the elements.

Here are a few tips from to help you wrap your skin in moisture this winter season!

Use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. When you're outdoors, reapply sunscreen every two hours - or more often if you're swimming or perspiring. Here is more information: Proper application of sunscreen

Seek shade. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.

Wear protective clothing.  Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats.

 2. Don't smoke.

Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin - the fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking - such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke - can contribute to wrinkles.

If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.

3. Treat your skin gently.

Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm - rather than hot - water.

Avoid strong soaps.  Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers. Natural soaps are best-check your local health food store.

Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For a closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.

Pat skin dry-don't rub. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.

Moisturize dry skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF. See this website for more information: Safe Cosmetics

Stay well hydrated. Be sure to drink plenty of water. Moisture comes from within and requires constant hydration. You should be drinking water all throughout the day.

4. Eat a healthy diet.

I cannot stress enough the importance of eating a health, whole foods diet. A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The anti-oxidants in vegetables and fruits can help prevent the aging process in the skin.

5. Manage stress.

Controlling your stress like improving your diet play a large role in achieving optimal health. Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin - and a healthy state of mind - take steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results might be more dramatic than you expect.

Follow these tips and your skin will be beautiful all year long.
 

Have a Joyous Holiday!

Blessings,

Lynn