This time of year can be extremely challenging on your skin – while trying to adjust to the colder temperatures and changing environment, it is dealing with leftover damage from the summer sun and indulgences. There’s plenty of natural ways to combat this, though! To help you keep your skin looking and feeling its best we’ve came up with a few tips that will help now in the transitional period plus during the even colder winter months.
Two major complications in cold weather are moisture and hydration, and yes they are two different things (when regarding skincare)! Moisture relates to the skin’s oil content, and when oil production is low you are considered to have a “dry” skin type. Hydration, on the other hand indicates the skin’s water content and having dehydrated skin is a condition. You can have skin that is either dry, dehydrated, or both. With these issues becoming worse in cold temperatures, the tips we provide help encourage skin that is full of moisture and properly hydrated, as well as help rid any damage from the warmer months. So, are you ready to finally win the annual cold weather-skin war? Read on!
Eat to protect & rejuvenate
At Cornucopia we fully support the power of nutrition for any health concern, and that definitely includes skin health! Some specifics for this time of year is to load up on foods that will replenish and hydrate from the inside-out. Foods high in antioxidants like berries, dark leafy greens or sweet potatoes will encourage cell rejuvenation (think, sun damage and wrinkles) and fight off free radicals. High water-content fruit and vegetables like apples, citrus, celery and cucumber are great for hydration and foods with essential fatty acids, such as almonds and avocado, will support skin’s moisture levels. Eating seasonally is also great for your body overall, so get down to your local farmer’s market to really connect and adapt to the season.
Exfoliate
Possibly the most essential tip, exfoliating during this time can be extremely important if you want to achieve soft and glowing skin. During the warm weather more time is spent outside which means greater exposure to toxins and sun, leaving you with ample build up and dead skin cells. If left alone these dead cells can clog pores, prevent skin’s natural functions, and evidently leave it dry, flaky and prone to breakouts. Exfoliating will remove these dead cells, improve circulation for a natural grow, stimulate skin regeneration and overall provide a firmer, younger look that’s ready to absorb any moisture you provide it with. One of our favorite ways to exfoliate all over is with a homemade scrub – check out the end of this article for a perfectly seasonal recipe!
Get Moving
While exfoliating is getting rid of junk from the surface, breaking a sweat will help release built-up internal toxins. Other ways exercise can help with your skin’s appearance is by increasing circulation and reducing stress which is a definite culprit of skin-woes from inflammation, to acne and more wrinkles.
Drink Up
It may seem extremely obvious, but making sure to drink enough water can have some major benefits on your skin’s feel and appearance. If you want hydrated skin a great way to start is by hydrating your body in the simplest way possible. Depending on your level of physical activity and amount of water-rich food you consume, the daily amount of water you require will vary. If you’re unsure, start by drinking the typical 8 cups per day and then adjust if needed!
Use Oils
Using pure oils can be extremely beneficial to skin especially during the colder months, and help supply deep moisture without containing a long list of ingredients or fillers. Coconut oil is great for use on your body, while jojoba oil is a great carrier oil and has one of the closest resembling structures to our skin’s natural sebum, making it good for facial use. Another great oil for your face is rosehip seed oil, which is high in antioxidants that can help those with sun-damage, maturing skin and even acne scars. If suffering from extremely dry skin, or a skin condition, using oils as a follow-up to your normal moisturizer can really lock-in the benefits and provide deep conditioning.
As we stated before, exfoliating is a major key to battling the cold weather skin woes – so to get you started we have a nourishing, replenishing and seasonally-appropriate sugar scrub to pamper yourself with. While sugar may not be the best thing for diet, on your skin it can act as an awesome natural exfoliant. Schedule in some extra self-care time this weekend, light some seasonal candles, and show this cold weather that you can in fact have great skin all winter long!
Pumpkin Pie Body Scrub
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups organic brown or turbinado sugar
1/2 cup pumpkin puree (preferably fresh, but canned is perfectly fine)
2 tablespoons jojoba oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg)
3 drops vanilla essential oil or 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Method
- For fresh pumpkin puree, steam the flesh of a pumpkin for around 15 minutes or until soft. Let cool.
- First combine the brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon. Add pumpkin puree, jojoba oil, and vanilla. Transfer mixture to an airtight container or mason jar, and store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- In the shower apply the scrub using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly and pat skin dry. Follow with your favorite nourishing body lotion, oil or moisturizer. Use weekly for best results.
Adapted from Mindbodygreen.com
