Six Ways to Keep Your Skin Beautiful During the Winter

When temperatures drop and the weather takes a turn for the worst, it’s easy to forget about your skin when all you’re trying to do is stay warm. During the winter months it’s crucial to take the extra steps to protect your skin from the harsh elements. The biggest skin concerns during this time of the year tend to be dehydration and sun damage. Here are six tips on how to keep your skin beautiful during the winter months.

H2O! 
To keep your skin glowing and beautiful make sure you drink water consistently throughout the day. This is an important step not only for your skin, but for the entire well-being of your body. Water can detoxify your skin while helping regulate your body temperature and even help you lose weight!

Take Warm Showers, Not Hot 
It’s tempting to turn your shower up to full heat when it’s freezing outside, but that’s actually worse for your skin. Hot water strips your skin of it’s natural oils and dries it out. Instead, opt for a warm shower that will be more gentle and nourishing to the skin.

Exfoliate
Exfoliation is equally important during wintertime because as our skin dries out it can becomes flaky and tight. St. Ives Apricot Scrub ($5) works wonders on the skin and can instantly get rid of any dryness or flakiness in one wash. Follow this up with a moisturizer and your skin will be glowing in no time.

Moisturize
After exfoliating the skin, choose a moisturizer that will hydrate while evening out your skin tone. Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 ($17) has soy and light reflecting particles, which gets rid of dull skin. Applying your moisturizer right after exfoliating helps your skin absorb the moisture so that it will last all day.

Sunscreen
If you are using a moisturizer without sunscreen make sure to apply a layer of SPF before applying any makeup. Unlike summertime, in the winter it’s easy to forget about sun damage because you aren’t outside as much and the sun may be covered by clouds. But your risk of getting a good sunburn can be just as high on an overcast day than it is on a sunny one. So make sure to apply an SPF of at least 15-30 for protection. Try CG's favorite sunblock, Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock SPF 70 ($13), for serious protection with a lightweight feeling.

Lip Balm
On the lips, always make sure to swipe a quick layer of lip balm on to nourish and protect them throughout the day. Sugar Lip Treatment ($22.50) is a balm that softens, moisturizes and protects all at the same time. The best part is that it has an SPF of 15 to help prevent UV damage. It comes in clear as well as six different shades for you to choose from.

Now that you have all the skin secrets for winter go ahead and try them out! They will be sure to keep your skin healthy and glowing during the cold months ahead.

By: Flannery Underwood | Image: Source, listed retail stores