The Winter weather plays havoc on our skin, but unfortunately most people are in too much of a hurry to take the extra steps needed to care for your skin, in order to avoid dryness and premature aging. Here are four quick tips to help save time and keep your skin looking supple and ageless:
1) Drink Water. Sorry to join the bandwagon, but staying hydrated is the best way to keep your skin replenished with the moisture it needs. A new study shows that drinking half your body weight in ounces daily is sufficient. So a 120 pound person should drink 60 ounces, or three 20-ounce bottles, of water a day.
2) Invest in a bottle of coconut oil. (This may be found in the Ethnic foods or organic section of your local grocery store.) Use a small amount on dry areas of skin: heels, elbows, knuckles, palms, even the face!, etc. right before going to bed. As an added touch, after applying to heels and feet, put on a pair of socks to help the oils sink in better. Wake up to soft, nourished skin.
3) Take Vitamin D. This super vitamin is not only beneficial for the skin to stay hydrated and young-looking, but it also is known to boost your immune system to keep you clear of the flu and colds and other viruses that tend to make their prescence known during the Winter time. There are several options from tablets to drops to topical skin creams/serums. Do some research to find the best option for you.
4) Airbrush tan. A lot of us love to be tan, ESPECIALLY in the Winter! But did you know that going to a tanning bed actually dries your skin out more? So, on top of having dry skin from the subzero temperatures, etc., sitting/standing in a tanning bed makes the skin even more dry (which is why a lot of dermatogists recommend), where the premature aged look comes from. You could, of course, pile on the moisturizer, or, why not start by getting an airbrush tan? The solutions used by successful airbrush technicians are not only loaded with natural ingredients, they quite often have anti-aging elements as well. Find a technician who has been in the business for a few years, and is not secretive about sharing his/her solution ingredients. My favorite good-for-you-derivatives include Aloe Vera Barbadensis, grape seed extract, caffeine, chamomile, safflower, and other natural elements. To keep the tan lasting the longest, you can follow up with #2) using coconut oil as a moisturizer.
By implementing these four simple changes into your routine, you should see radiant results within the first week. So change those Winter Blahs to Winter "Rahs," because your friends will definitely be cheering the outcome.
Dawnn is the Owner of Raydiant Reflections mobile airbrush tanning, the premier airbrush tanning service of the Twin Cities, MN. She has a background in fitness and skin care and loves to stay informed. You may contact her at dawnn@raydiantreflections.com or through her website www.raydiantreflections.com.
