5 tips to help beat dry skin this winter

With winter comes a plethora of body care woes – the main one being dry, cracked, scaly skin. Address dehydrated skin with our five top winter body care tips.

Ditch the diuretics as they’ll suck you dry
A warm latte in winter will leave you feeling toastie but beware; too much caffeine (or alcohol for that matter) will dehydrate you. Diuretics such as caffeine and alcohol draw water from the body, leaving you feeling thirsty and your skin feeling tight and dry.

Instead, aim to drink six to eight glasses of water each day to maintain the body’s water levels and promote healthy, glowing skin.

Opt for rich creams and nourishing oils
If you’re looking to get rid of dry, dull, itchy, skin look for body care products that are specifically formulated for dry skin. The cooler months are a great time to indulge in those nourishing body oils and rich body creams that are a little too heavy for summertime use.

Say no to super hot baths and showers
The first step to soft, smooth, hydrated skin is a warm shower or bath. The cold winter months might make you want nothing more than to jump into a super hot bath and although a hot soak may leave you feeling warm and cozy, it’ll do nothing for the condition of your skin. In fact it will further dry your already dehydrated skin.

Exfoliate
While in the bath or shower use a rich body scrub or shower puff as both these body care items will rid the skin of dead skin cells on the top layer of the skin, allowing the skin to be more receptive to post-shower body oils and body moisturisers.

Nourish
Apply a few drops of your favourite oil to the bath (almond, jojoba or olive oil are all good choices). This is an easy way to seal in moisture and will leave your skin feeling beautifully soft and smooth.

Applying your rich body lotion in the bathroom following a warm bath or shower is a great way to ensure your body readily absorbs the moisture as the warmth in the air will help open your pores thus locking in the moisture.

Don’t be stingy, slather your body with plenty of body lotion or body butter and remember to focus on the notoriously dry areas such as elbows, knees and heels.

If you’re looking for a great body lotion for dry skin, try choosing one containing shea butter. Shea butter is a natural substance that has healing properties and can help assist in cell regeneration, making it ideal for dry, scaly skin.

Other favourite body lotions, creams and butters that give a helping hand in getting rid of dry, scaly skin include: Nivea Touch of happiness Body Lotion, Vaseline Coco Butter Smoothing Body Butter, Palmers Coconut Milk Formula Body Butter, Garnier Body Intensive 7 days Aloe Vera Extract Hydrating Lotion and Dermalogica Ultra Rich Body Cream. These are just some of the many nourishing body care product tried and tested by beautyheaven.com.au members.

Protect
Safeguard your skin against winter elements such as wind, sun, heat and cold as these can exacerbate dry skin conditions. Regularly moisturise exposed body parts such as arms, legs and face and apply an SPF. Also, try to limit the amount of time spent in heated environments.