5 Winter Skin Care Tips for Women

With winter quickly approaching, one concern is "how can I keep my skin healthy?" Many women and men struggle with dry, parched, and chapped skin in the winter months. The frigid weather, wind, heaters in both cars and buildings, and the transitioning between the two can lead to dry, flaky skin. So what can you do?

Here are 5 tips to help prevent and heal "winter skin" this year:

1. Stay hydrated- this is one of the single-most important things you can do to keep your skin healthy and moist this winter. It is essential that you consume an eight cups of water each day, for the average adult. If you are very active, you will need more. When your insides are dry, your outsides (skin, hair, nails, etc.) will be dry, too.

2. Sunscreen- Everyone knows how important it is to wear sunscreen in the summer months. SPF 15 of higher is the typical recommendation for skin protection from sun damage and skin cancer prevention. However, many people don't realize that is is equally important to wear sunscreen in the winter, too. The sun shines year round, regardless of the temperature. One time when it is especially important to wear sunscreen is when in the snow. The snow reflects the sun, giving you rays from both directions. This is the same thing that happens while in the water outside.

3. Moisturize- For someone with dry skin, this is probably the most obvious tip. However, it important to mention it anyway. Moisturize after showering and after washing your face. I wash my face twice a day, on average, and I moisturize after each time. Some people like to step up their miniaturization routine in the winter months, using a richer, more powerful moisturizer. If you have dry skin, this is probably a good idea. If you have acne-prone or combination skin, you will need to be careful not to cause a breakout by overdoing the moisturizer. An oil-free moisturizer is usually best for these people. I consider myself to have combination skin, which leans toward more dry in the wintertime, and I use L'Oreal Active Daily Moisture lotion, with SPF 15. This product is for "all skin types."