Want that rich, glowing skin through all seasons of the year? Dermatologist for over 20 years, Dr. Brooke Jackson shows you how:
Keep hydrated: Our bodies are made up of 70% water and hydration is vital to our overall health. Due to decreased thirst drive in the winter months, most people have a level of dehydration, but our bodies rely on hydration for maintenance of our skin barrier which protects us from the outside world (pollution, illness). A compromised skin barrier function can make our skin itchy, dry and prone to infection. Make sure you keep up your fluid intake throughout the day – this can be in the form of hot tea, water or seltzer. Your skin will thank you for it!
Banish itchy skin: There is nothing worse than itchy skin under a heavy sweater! Avoid scratchy fabrics next to skin such as wool, by wearing cotton or silk t-shirts under sweaters and a silk scarf under your winter coat next to your neck. Once the heat goes on in the house, everything dries out – be sure to increase the humidity gauge on your furnace or place a humidifier in your bedroom.
Lastly, make sure to moisturize several times a day with a jar lotion vs. a pump bottle, pump and pour bottles have a higher water content and PH base that can dry out skin. A perfect and affordable solution is Vaseline® Intensive Care® Cocoa Radiant® Smoothing Body Butter which contains 100% pure cocoa and shea butter – this rich, fast-absorbing formula also contains the highest amount of Petroleum Jelly, Glycerin, and emollients for luminous, hydrated skin.
Key seasonal ingredients: Maintain a well-balanced diet! Omega-3 rich foods help with dry skin and hair. Eat foods rich in Omega-3s (oily fish, flax, chia, nuts) for heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory benefits. Enjoy salmon 2x per week, add some flax to your oatmeal on a cold morning and snack on some nuts in the afternoon.
Don’t forget hands and feet: We wash our hands much more during the winter to avoid catching the flu, but