6 Ways to Keep Your Skin Moisturized in the Winter

Well… the holiday season is finally over (boo!!!), and to say we’re a little down about it would be a colossal understatement! We are now officially knee deep in the winter season! While we’ve been waking up each morning to colder temperatures, and hustling and bustling to get to work or drop our kids off. I would be willing to bet that most of us have been so busy this winter that a lot of our self-care needs have been put on the back burner. Over the years I’ve come up with a few things that I swear by and am going to share with my MAPE peeps (Mrs. All Pink Everything). Now I’m not saying you have to follow all of the tips, but I can promise if you incorporate even just a few, you will be well on your way to soft, smooth, and MOISTURIZED skin all season long! OK… here we go, and this is in no particular order!

1. Drink Water

OK. I know what I’m about to say is totally frowned upon, but whatever. I DON’T LOVE DRINKING WATER. I mean I drink it every day, and on most days, I almost reach my goal of 72 oz, but it is a major struggle. So, here’s the thing... as much as you need water in the summer months to make sure you don’t get dehydrated, you need it even more during the winter months!!!! One of the first signs of not drinking enough water in the winter is dry skin and chapped lips! Making sure you are fully hydrated helps keep your cells full and all internal organs working properly. Like I mentioned before, I personally don’t love drinking it, but I know I have to, so in an effort to try to make it more fun I add a few slices of cucumber or lime, and I am always on the hunt for fun water bottles… you know, just to make drinking water a little more exciting! Right now I’m totally loving this one. Since it’s glass, I usually only drink out of it at home or am extra careful with it!

2. CREAMY!

So, when I say creamy, I mean switch your body wash and facial cleanser to one that is cream based. During the wintertime, just to get a jump start on things, I switch from shower gel to shower cream. My “go to” is Dove, it has a nice fresh smell and doesn’t leave your body feeling tight and dry. For the facial cleanser I use the Neutrogena Creamy Foam Cleanser. I tried this one out because I already use the Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser (which is gel based) during the summer/fall months, and they both work about the same to me. They leave your face feeling clean, soft, and feeling fresh, but this one just has way more moisture in the formula. Side note: Make sure you are using warm and not hot water.

3. Even more CREAM!

During the summer months I like to wear fun fruity smelling light lotion so my skin doesn’t feel coated and sticky. However, during the winter months, something light is just not going to cut it. If you’re not used to using super thick lotions, go to the store, and test them out. Whichever seems crazy thick (like you’ll be rubbing it in for days) is likely the one you should get. I prefer this one by Shea Moisture. It is super thick, smells very tropical, and a major plus, it is filled with amazing natural ingredients like; Coconut Oil, Hibiscus Flower, and Shea Butter. It leaves my skin feeling silky, supple, and smooth!

4. Essential Oils

If oils have not been a part of your routine in the past. You should add it immediately. I currently alternate between a few different ones, but I mainly use any brand coconut oil, and Neutrogena Body Oil. There are so many options for you to choose, but for any one you select, make sure to put it on after you get out of bath or shower while your skin is still damp. Once it has soaked into your body, if it’s night time, it is still important to apply your super creamy lotion to make sure all that moisture is locked in!

5. Lips, Hands, and Feet

I put these three together because they are generally the last things I do each night (minus lips which I tend to multiple times during the day). This is a really rough time for your hands because you wash them so many times, and they are exposed to cold and dry air. So it is super important to put that moisture back in your skin with a good hand cream. Regarding feet… let’s be honest, those can be in rough shape year-round, so I just pay a little more special attention to them during the winter. I found this great combo that smells great, has cute packaging and packs a lot of moisture in a small package. Right before I get in bed I ALWAYS (repeating: ALWAYS) put on a lip balm. Right now I’m using this one. It smells amazing and tastes YUMMY, and when I wake up my lips are soft and smooth!

6. Humidify

I know when most people think humidifier, they think about using it when they have a cold, or perhaps have a stuffy nose or sinus infection. But did you know that a humidifier is also great for your skin? Like I mentioned before, during winter the air outside is very dry, but the air inside your home is affected too. To help make the air a little less dry, I use a humidifier at night. I find when I use my humidifier at bedtime it helps me sleep more comfortably, I can breathe much better, and I wake up feeling like my skin is fully hydrated. I absolutely love this cute Hello Kitty one, but you can definitely purchase one that is a little more grown up!

BONUS!

Ok, so I know the above routine looks like it might take at least 3 hours to complete each day (I promise, it really doesn’t!) but if you’re looking for just a few quick add on’s that pack a lot of moisture. Two items I absolutely swear by when I just want to do the bare minimum are shown below. The Vaseline Jelly Cream is SOOO thick, but it absolutely melts right into your skin and leaves it feeling so moist and supple. I also use the Bliss Marshmallow Mask about once a week to help replenish moisture. Fun bonus, it literally smells like a marshmallow!!