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Top Ways To Make Sure Your Hair, Skin And Nails Stay Strong This Winter
Brrr! It’s certainly getting cold out there, isn’t it? But as lovely as it is to come into a heated home and wrap up warm in woollens, your skin, hair and nails are all silently screaming.
The cold winter months can play havoc with your body, but fortunately we’ve pulled together some simple self-care tips you can use to ensure your locks look luscious and your nails and skin look healthy.
Moisturize
Yes, it sounds obvious, but so many of us are still not doing it right!
In order to moisturise properly, you need to choose the right cream for your skin type:
Oily skin: Go for a lotion rather than a cream. Lotions are lighter and less likely to clog your pores.
Dry skin: There is more oil in a cream, so you should choose this over a lotion.
Combination: This skin type is the hardest to manage. Choose a lotion with no acid, or a light cream.
You can apply moisturiser when your skin is wet, but the best time to apply it is after you have applied toner. Your skin will be primed and ready to be moisturised.
Even if you’re shattered from a tough day at work, or getting in late from a night out with the girls, always take time to remove your makeup and moisturise your skin.
SPF in winter?
The simple answer is yes, you do need an SPF in the winter months. Although the sun isn’t making you feel hot, the UVA rays will still be penetrating your skin.
Snow and ice reflect eighty per cent of UV rays. Ninety per cent of wrinkles are caused by UV rays, so you’d be mad to skip your SPF.
The minimum SPF you should be using is 15. If you have oily skin, you can use SPF in place of moisturiser.
Deep condition
Don’t you just love it when you leave the hairdressers and your hair is fresh, smelling gorgeous and just feels so healthy?
This is all down to the high end products your hairdresser uses. Nowadays, these conditioning oils and hair treatments are available to everyone. Treat your barnet to a deep-conditioning session to restore moisture and leave your hair looking strong and healthy.
To use a deep conditioning treatment effectively, start with the ends of your hair. This is the driest part and needs the most care. Once started, keep up your deep conditioning routine (aim for once a week) and your hair will become more manageable and less prone to frizz.
Keep cutting
It can be very easy to scrape back your hair in a ponytail and forget about it. Do not do this! Keep to your hairdressing routine and get your hair chopped every six to eight weeks. This keeps split ends at bay, which can make your hair look sad and dull.
Nail love
Pop a cuticle cream in your handbag and every time you wash your hands, rub some of it onto your cuticles. Your hands are often exposed to winter air, which can dry the delicate skin around your fingers.
Smear your hands in rich moisturiser and wear a pair of cotton gloves (not woolly!) to bed. If you haven’t done this before, it is pure luxury. Rough spots and dry patches on your hands will be largely reduced and moisture in your skin will be replenished.
Self-care schedule
One of the most simple but effective things you can do for your body is to schedule time in every day to look after it. Sounds indulgent doesn’t it? But with prior planning, it can be done.
Put aside thirty minutes every day for self-care. This could mean a twenty-minute bath and ten minute massage from willing partner. Or you could decide to give yourself a mini-pedicure. Your feet may be tucked away in your boots, but they still need some loving!
Superfoods
As well as drinking lots of water, there are some foods which have been shown to improve the condition of your skin, hair and nails.
Broccoli, carrots and dried apricots all contain beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is important as it turns into vitamin A in your body and acts as a crucial antioxidant to fight nasty free radicals.
Vitamin E-ssential
Vitamin E is well known for being essential for protecting skin cell membranes. We’ve all seen the vitamin E creams in our high street chemists, but there are more natural ways of getting a dose of the good stuff without smearing it on your face.
Nuts, seeds, eggs, fish and green veggies all contain vitamin E. Make yourself a warm winter salad with boiled eggs, nuts and greens for a healthy dose of this crucial vitamin.
Turn it down
Lower your thermostat and it won’t be just your body thanking you. Your bank balance will also reap the benefits, as your bills will be reduced.
Central heating rids the air of humidity, drying out your skin. Consider purchasing a dehumidifier, or place small bowls of water near radiators to replace lost moisture in the air.
Unfortunately, it can feel like the winter months are dragging well into the middle of the year. Make sure you keep up your skin, hair and nail care routine and your body will be well prepared for the summer sun when it eventually arrives, even if it does feel like a long way off!
Hayley B is a Blogger for the online fitness workout website that stars The Only Way is Essex’s Lucy Mecklenburgh – Results with Lucy.
