SOS!

Skin care in the cold season

Keeping your skin moisturised is especially important in the colder seasons. Often, a sufficient care is forgotten and cold air outside with heated air inside can stress out your largest organ in no time. Athletes and outdoor activists are in great risk of suffering from dry skin or rashes as they spend more time outside, sweating, and taking showers.

We have created a list of tips for proper skin care in winter and explain in detail what to keep in mind! 

 

 

What does your skin need?

It is quite sensible to adjust your skin care routine according to the season. In winter, for example, the skin can dry out very quickly due to the dry heated air indoors and cold (but also dry) conditions outdoors. In winter, your moisturiser may be slightly more greasy. It’s a good idea to use salves and facial oils instead of your average lotion in winter. Hands and lips especially can dry out quickly and small cracks can cause inflammation. Use rich cold weather creams with high fat content, luxurious facial/body oils or simple coconut or shea butter for your face and body.

Tip: Always apply oils to damp skin so that they can lock in the moisture!

The needs of athletes

Whether running, skiing, skating, etc, in the cold, or swimming in the indoor pool, athletes face extreme conditions everywhere. Essential for healthy glowing skin is a cream/oil that helps to regenerate wind- and cold-stressed cheeks and hands. Skiers can also be exposed to strong sunshine, so sun protection products are mandatory for them. Rich creams that contain natural plant oils are particularly effective. 

But face and hands are not the only body parts to pay attention. Your feet, too, can get very dry and cracks are the result. Regenerating baths and special foot creams help to avoid drying out. Either soaking your feet or taking a bath in Epsom or other mineral salts have many health benefits, including soothing muscle pain and aches, providing itch relief, decreasing swelling and boosting your bodys levels of magnesium and sulphate. Salt bath is great for stressed and dry skin or rashes and eczema as it exfoliates gently and contains a bunch of healthy minerals!

Tip: To save your skin in winter, take shorter, warm showers instead of long hot baths. Do not bathe more than twice a week in the cold season. It is recommended to use salt/oil baths and not bubble baths, as these contain surfactants and fragrances, which can cause dryness and irritation.

 

Healthy alternatives are important for athletes

Doctors warn of skin diseases. Extremely dry and stressed skin is particularly vulnerable. Itching, eczema, psoriasis and neurodermatitis can be the result. If you want to be safe, you should use pure natural products. Skin absorbs all the substances that are applied. For this reason, one should pay particular attention to pure and natural ingredients. Especially athletes, sweating and showering more often, might want to consider using all-natural products for skin care. 

After sports and shaving, pores are opened and your skin has to deal with micro cuts. Here you should pay particular attention to what is applied to the body so that it does not cause any more harm. Natural oil and butter based deodorants are as effective as they are nourishing and moisturising. 

Tip: Read labels carefully and do your research! Even those creams labeled “pure” and “natural” can contain synthetics like formaldehyde, parabens or fragrance. These, unfortunately can do no good for you. Choose skin care that has less fillers and more actives! Oils, butters, essential oils!

What else should be considered

Clima: Many illnesses are either caused or aggravated by poor indoor air quality. Some of the symptoms of either too high or too low humidity levels include, upper respiratory congestion, wheezing, fatigue, dizziness, nosebleeds, and watery eyes. Heated homes and offices cause dry skin, too humid air otherwise gives way to viruses. If air in your home seems too dry, the easiest way is to use a humidifier or diffuser. You can add aromatherapeutic essenial oils. 

Nutrition: A balanced diet with many vitamins and sufficient fluid intake also helps to maintain a healthy skin. Don’t exaggerate with water intake, raw fruits and salads though. In winter, soups, stews and casseroles from root vegetables and legumes are the best since they hydrate you from the inside! Choose warm porridge instead of muesli with milk, tea and coffee instead of iced soft drinks, and red wine instead of cold beer.

 

5 tips for healthy skin in the cold season:

–  Skin is particularly receptive in the evening. Therefore, skin care is most effective before bed. Use serums and facial oils.

– Creams and deodorants penetrate the body through the pores. Natural ingredients prevent subsequent diseases.

– Try taking showers without soap or gels that destroy natural sebum and steal moisture from skin. Natural exfoliators like oats, honey, ground coffee etc, are better for you holistically. If needed, apply soap and shower gel only sparingly and use mild care products especially for the head to avoid dry flaky scalp.

– Self-made salve or lip balm from beeswax, coconut butter and jojoba oil are alternatives and work just as well.

– In winter, use products with more oil, since the skin is generally drier. Moisturizing properties do not come from adding moisture to the skin, but by locking existing moisture in, and this is what oils do.