How to Keep Your Skin Hydrated This Winter

How to Keep Your Skin Hydrated This Winter

Winter is hard enough. 

And then add itchy, dry, red, cracking skin to the mix? 


Yeah, thanks but no thanks. 

Lucky for you, hydration is kinda our thing here at Aloe Attiva. 

Being the skincare experts we are...

Of course we have some great skincare recommendations to keep your skin in the summer state of mind. But if we’re being transparent ... 

We know that hydration goes so far beyond your skincare regime. 

All it takes is a few minor adjustments to your everyday routine, and voila! Your skin is glowing even brighter than a July day. 

(are you daydreaming now too?)

1. Add a humidifier to your space.

Central air can be a ... well, you know. *insert not-nice-word*

Ever crank up your heat and immediately notice your skin tighten and get itchy? That’s because central artificial air has zero natural moisture that your skin desperately needs. 


Think of it as a giant vacuum cleaner going straight to your pores. 


Solution? A humidifier that brings water back into the air, which ultimately brings it right back into your skin.  And since we know so many of you are still working from home right now, this tip might be the one of the best to bring your skin back to life.

2. Add moisture from the inside out.

Your skin is the biggest organ in your body. So whether we like it or not, everything we put into our body affects what it looks like on the outermost layer.

We agree, in the winter it is SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT to remember to drink water. 

So make your water fun! 

Add some lemon, berries, cucumber, mint… whatever your heart desires. We like to call this ~pretty water~. And we make a biggg pitcher for our fridge to drink throughout the week. 


Since you get about 20-30% of your water intake from food, (and because we’re total foodies over here at Aloe Attiva) here are some of our fav foods to help our skin glow.


And just remember… caffeine and alcohol can be extremely dehydrating. So when you’re wondering why your skin is so dry after wine night, apply a little extra of your Aloe Attiva. xo 

3. MOISTURIZE.


Bet you saw this one coming.

Here are some Ingredients we love to look for in skincare products to amp up our hydration:

 

- HYALURONIC ACID 

- VITAMIN C 

- ALOE 

- RETINOL 

- SUGAR BEET (a natural form of Vitamin C) 

Also, trust us on this tip, opt for waterless skincare products. "Why?" you may ask... // Check this out //

4. Avoid harsh cleansers.

Read your labels people, read your labels.

Stray away from foaming, fragranced facial and body cleansers in the winter months. These are full of chemicals and strip the skin of its natural oils. 

Instead, opt for a cream-based, gentle cleanser with moisturizing ingredients such as oatmeal and chamomile.  

Pro tip: don’t skip exfoliating - this will keep your skin polished and clear.

5. Keep your showers quick. 

Although tempting, long hot showers can be the biggest culprit in drying out your skin.

Think about it. You know when you take a long bath and your skin gets wrinkly and numb? That’s a result of all the natural oils in your skin leaving the chat. 


So limit those warm, not hot, showers to about 5 minutes. And don’t forget to apply a nice thick body butter right when you get out.

& If you’re feeling ~crazy~, try taking a cold shower first thing in the morning. Not only will this do a heck of a job of waking up your nervous system, but it’ll close up those pores and keep them from drying out throughout the day.

6. Perfect your night routine.

“Beauty sleep” is a real thing guys. 

When we don’t sleep, it shows on our skin much more than we may think. It’s down to a science; lack of rest causes our cortisol levels to rise, resulting in inflammation of the skin. 


Ever wonder why your skin is so puffy, especially around your eyes the morning after a not so great night’s rest? It’s your body retaining water.  And with the sleep we do get, our bodies and skin go through a prolonged time of dehydration. 

Here’s how we like to prep our skin properly before hitting the hay: 

-  Sip on a sleepytime tea (#hydrationnation) 

-  Crank up that humidifier! 

-  Apply a thick layer of your favorite waterless face cream 

-  Lather up in a rich body butter 

-  Put fresh sheets on the bed

-  Apply a lip oil or treatment 

-  Fill up a big water bottle to chug the morning

-  Practice some affirmations (because the best glow comes from self-love)

Chris Nickerson

7. Apply sunscreen

Yes, even in the winter.

The UV rays still exist, even when the heat doesn’t. 

& for those of us hitting the slopes, sledding with our kids, or simply just walking our dogs through our slushy neighborhoods, the snow plays a major part in reflecting the sun’s harmful rays.  

This is exactly why it is SO important to protect your skin. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every morning as part of your skincare routine.  

And you already know we’re going to tell you to not even *THINK* about hitting those tanning beds. C’mon guys, it’s 2021. Self tanner is the way to go. Plus, most self-tanning products on the market are already formulated with moisturizing ingredients - so it’s like a nice 2 in 1 ;)

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