Preparing for winter from the Inside Out, and Outside In
Our skin is one of the main ways that our body interacts with the world, it reacts and responds to the light, the humidity and temperatures we expose it to, as well as the products we use topically.
We always feel better when our skin is looking and feeling good, so just like we try to look after our other organs such as our heart and liver, it’s worth thinking about how we can look after our skin too. The products we use can make a big difference, but the real changes happen when we feed and care for our skin from the inside.
Winter can be one of the toughest seasons for our skin, so starting now in the fall is a great time to get our skin prepared for the winter months
Here’s what I’m taking:
1. I focus on essential fats. These oils literally make up our cell membranes plus they help with all inflammation. I eat oily fish, seeds, organic eggs and avocados regularly and I supplement with extra fish oils.
2. Collagen. I’ve recently started taking this regularly for joint health but my skin is loving it. Fantastic for healthy skin integrity and suppleness.
3. Vitamin D. A winter-must have for so many reasons, and our skin is no exception.
It’s not just about supplements and food. Here are some lifestyle ideas to bear in mind:
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Hot steamy showers. The ones that we take to warm us up can be very drying for the skin. Be sure to apply a body oil or moisturizer to your damp skin as you get out, or try taking a bath with some oils and salts to warm up instead.
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Dry winter air. Caused by extreme cold, or by heaters or fires can cause redness, inflammation and flaky skin. Protect your skin with rich, natural moisturizers such as shea butter, mango butter or tallow. Small children and babies are particularly susceptible (as well as adults with very sensitive skin). Remember preventing is always easier than trying to cure.
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Hydration. Nothing replaces water for our whole system. I find it much harder to keep my water intake up in the winter. Try herbal teas if you need something warm, and I have a large bottle at work that I sip throughout the day.
These simple shifts in food and lifestyle can make the world of difference to our skin. Try them this year to see and feel the difference!
