Welcome Winter With An All New Skin Care Routine
Winter has already arrived in town, with its cold air and low humidity levels. The brutal weather is all set to steal precious moisture from our skin. And so once again dry and itchy skin, dehydrated patchy lips and dandruff in hair, all part of our winter nightmares, are ready to threaten us! However, if you are feeling lost due to the long list of winter skincare merchandise in market, worry no more. MCL brings you tips to maintain that blushing glow and keep on shining throughout the winter months.
Priyadarshini Snigdha, a beautician and manager of Destination Beauty Parlour, Angul talks about the confusion of choosing the right product and how to solve the dilemma best. “Of course, winter demands your special attention. At first make a list of the basic products you want for everyday use, like face-wash, scrub, toner, moisturiser,lip balm and body lotion. Keeping in mind your skin type (like dry, oily, sensitive or combination skin) choose each product carefully. Go for oil based products instead of water based ones, because they work best during the winter.” She also advises to avoid petroleum based products as they result in long term dryness of the skin. “Many lip balms containpetro-chemicals, which results in patchy lips after wearing of the balm. So, go for one which contains natural ingredients like honey, avocado, shea-butter and essential oils like lavender, white-germ and olive oil.”
She also advises to avoid using of soap on facial skin. “The skin of your face is five times more soft and sensitive than any other area. Choose a good moisturising face wash like Khadi orange and lemongrass (specially designed for dry skin) or Nyassa’s Honey and saffron face wash and limit its use to 2-3 times a day. Remember that every time you wash your face, the little moisture that is there gets washed away. The condition is worse for dry skin. Use luke warm water to wash your face always. That helps in maintaining the moisture level to a point. Scrub once in a week and avoid altogether if you have oily or pimple-prone skin. Always apply toner after washing and scrubbing.”
Sangita Choudury, beautician from Henna Herbal Facial Care talks about the use of natural ingredients for winter skin care. “Natural ingredients come above and before everything else. Our grand-mothers knew more about the natural skin care than we give them credit for. Ingredients from your own kitchen like yogurt, lemon, tomato and chick-pea flour (besan) work wonders for your skin, if only you know how to use them right!”
She recommends using aloe vera which, according to her, tops the list of winter essentials. “Aloe-vera is like a miraculous cure to all your winter-specific skin problems. It is famous for its healing properties as well as a soothing solution.” She suggests Patanjali Soundarya aloe-vera gel, which comes in two different varieties. “Apply an even coat to your face and neck area. Massage gently till it gets absorbed. Keep it over night or 20-30 minutes as per your liking. Wash away with mildly warm water and get soft glowing skin within a week.”
According to her harmful chemicals used in various cosmetic products do un-repairable damage to skin. She shares some of her secret recipes of various facewash and packs that are made using all natural ingredients and are beneficial for skin. “Mix equal amount of turmeric (haldi) and chick pea flour (besan). Take a spoon of this mixture; add a little water to make a smooth paste. Apply this mixture to your face and let it dry. After 15-20 minutes, wash away with warm water. That is the best face wash for winter. And it helps keep the skin soft and glowing. It also prevents acne and pimples.” She suggests adding 1 spoon tomato juice or ½ spoon lemon juice for clear and fairer skin. “Mild irritation is expected. But watch against allergic and skin infection. Do not use the acidic agents if you have acne-prone skin.”
Ashita Praharaj, Gurgaon based skin specialist feels staying hydrated is the key to retain moisture during the winters. “Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily. A healthy smoothie, juice of any kind and 2-3 cups of green tea a day is just what you need to tackle the cold.” She advises to use moisturiser daily, 2-3 times a day. “Stick to your moisturiser like oxygen. Because this is what saves your skin during these rough and cold winter days.”
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She recommends using an oil free moisturiser like Neutrogena’s Oil-free Moisturiser with SPF 15, Forest Essentials Light Hydrating Facial Gel and L’oreal Paris Anti-imperfections Whitening Cream (20+) for oily skin. “One more important point is regular exfoliating. Use a good gel based exfoliating agent, preferably enriched with vitamin-E and use it once a week for best results.”
For oily and combination skin, she advises to avoid clay based face masks. “Better to use some fruit based masks, if only it’s unavoidable.” She also suggests using products recommended by a proper skin care specialist, instead of experimenting too much with all the available products.
Praharaj also emphasises on certain foods that provide necessary nutrients for skin. “Fruits, like oranges, Indian Gooseberry (Amla), lemon and tomatoes are plentily available during this season. And these are rich in Vitamin C that is absolutely necessary for the skin. Start your day with a glass of lemon water and honey; besides keeping the skin healthy and glowing it has other proven healthy effects. Or a glass of amla juice or aloe-vera juice is also a good way to welcome a winter morning. Add a portion of fresh salad with every meal. Green vegetables are better and winter is the time to experiment with low-fat, vitamin rich vegetable dishes.”
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According to her, winter sun is as harmful as the summer sun. “Though it’s tempting to roam around in mildly warm sunshine, it can be awful for your skin. Never forget your sun-screen lotion. But the Vitamin-D enriched morning sunshine is good for body, so a morning walk or jog is advised”, she says.
Eat healthy, drink a lot of water and follow up this simple skin-care routine for best results. After all, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?
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