The 4 Best Tips for Glowing Skin All Winter Long

Hey y'all!

I think we can all agree that winter weather is not so forgiving on our skin. We get pale, our freckles fade, and not to mention, we don't get to look like the glowing goddesses we were over summer. We all want to put our best faces forward, but it can make us feel a little not so beautiful when our skin looks dull and dry. 

I personally have normal / combination acne prone skin which can make my life easy and not-so-easy all at once. I tried to give y'all some tips that will work for all skin types because I know that everyone is different! 



1. Hydrate
I see you over there with your grande, iced, sugar-free, vanilla latte with soy milk. While you may be doing it because you have a slight caffeine addiction, that's not doing your skin any favors. Before you come after me with your Starbucks cup in hand, I'm just saying that you need to be drinking waaaaay more water in the winter. 

It's harder to recognize that we are dehydrated in the winter because we aren't sweating and tend to not find ourselves as thirsty. (Fun fact: thirst is usually a sign that you're already dehydrated, so try not to rely on that too much) A few other symptoms of dehydration can be chapped lips, nosebleeds, headaches, and even acne.

If you're not feeling like an ice-cold glass of water, why not try warm water with lemon? And if you're not vegan, you can try adding in some honey to make it taste a little sweeter. Get creative with it! It doesn't have to be plain to make it hydrating.

The solution to your lack of water intake? Carry around a bottle that will remind you to drink up! I've recently seen these water bottles that light up when you need to drink more water, but if you are a DIY queen, you can easily draw little ticks on a water bottle that states a time and how much water you should drink. Or you can purchase a decal to put on a clear reusable water bottle, too. So many options, I don't want to hear any excuses!

Also, remember that you can get extra hydration from food! Try munching on foods such as watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, oranges, raspberries, cucumber, iceberg lettuce, celery, green peppers, and spinach!

2. Exfoliate
Exfoliation can be described as the process of removing old dead skin cells on the skin's outermost surface. Basically, we're getting rid of the gross flaky skin that's basically already falling off of your face. If your skin is already dry AF, don't fret. You can still exfoliate! 

For your face:
  1. Clean your face using a washcloth and warm water. Consider purchasing a muslin washcloth, as they are much more gentle on the skin. 
  2. Apply sugar scrub to face using a gentle circular motion.
  3. Rinse off the scrub using warm water.
  4. Apply a high-quality moisturizer.
Sugar Scrub Recipe
Combine equal parts sugar and olive oil. (yes, it's that easy) 
Try to avoid raw sugar, as it has bigger grains that can damage your skin.

A few years ago, I created this DIY lavender sugar scrub that's perfect for using all over the body!
For your feet:
  1. Wash and lather your feet with soap, preferably one that is used to treat dry skin. 
  2. Rub area with a pumice stone for a minute or two in the spots that need it. Be sure to use light pressure and quick strokes. 
  3. Rise area and dry skin.
  4. Follow up with a high-quality moisturizer.

For your body:
  1. Using a natural, soft brush, start at your hands or feet and work your way up to your heart. (It's rumored that dry brushing can increase your circulation).
  2. Apply firm but gentle pressure to the skin. You can either use circular motions or sweep it across in short strokes. 
  3. Rinse off in the shower.
  4. Apply a high-quality moisturizer.

3. Protect
I don't care if you're in the middle of Antartica, and you haven't seen the sun for weeks. You. need. to. be. wearing. sunscreen. It might seem silly and feel like a hassle, but if you love your skin, then you need to do what's best for it. (and if you don't love your skin, do it anyway). 

Just because we think sun = summer, doesn't mean that we're immune to the sun's effects. In fact, UVA rays are the same length throughout the entire year. These are the rays that contribute to wrinkles and cancer. Two things that no one wants. So lather up on sunscreen, baby. Your skin deserves it!

4. Moisturize 
You're going to benefit the most from your moisturizer if you do it immediately after you shower or wash your face. If your skin is just a tiny bit damp, apply moisturizer will help to lock it into your skin, which obviously is what you want during the colder months. 

You also want to be aware of the ingredients that are in your moisturizer. Did you know that petroleum-based ingredients can actually dry out your skin? Also, avoid things that are scented, contain alcohol, or irritants and dyes. 

Try to opt for oil-based instead of water-based because it does a better job at helping your skin stay moisturized. 

According to reviews.com, the best face moisturizers of 2018 are


All in all, skincare is something that is so important. The skin is the largest human organ, after all. We should all take the time to remove our makeup, apply some eye cream, and let our body know we love it. We've only got one!!
Have any tips I forgot? Love a moisturizer that isn't on the list? Let me know in the comments below!

xo,
Sarah 

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