Winter Beauty Tips

While the month of March may go out like a lamb, it usually starts with cold, unpleasant weather that can be tough on your body. Harsh winds and cold temperatures can ravage your skin and hair. Chapped lips, frizzy hair, wind-burnt face, and dry chapped skin are all products of harsh, wintery conditions.

Here are some ways to combat the effects of winter:

Chapped Lips

No matter how much you bundle up in the winter, your face and mouth are still exposed to harsh wind and cold. This exposure can make your lips cracked and dry. Chapped lips aren’t just unattractive, though; they can be painful.

Combat chapped lips by moisturizing and protecting them. Lip balms are popular remedies for chapped lips, but be careful; some commercial lip balms can actually contain ingredients that can dry out your lips more in the long run.

Try to avoid lip balms with menthol or camphor, and alcohol. These ingredients can cause more harm than good in the long run. Look for petroleum-based lip balms instead of wax based, as they will help retain moisture.

Dimethicone helps lip balm moisturizing effects last longer and help prevent drying. Natural ingredients like cocoa and Shea butters have excellent moisturizing properties. Avoid licking your lips to keep from getting chapped lips in the first place.

Frizzy Hair

Winter weather is one of your hair's worst enemies. Icy cold winds ravage and tangle your hair. Exposure to harsh winds and snow can cause your hair to be brittle and dry. Even the indoor heating has a terrible drying effect.

Protection is the most important key to combating winter’s harsh effects on your hair. Use a moisturizing conditioner every time you wash your hair. A good, thick conditioner coats your hair, adding and sealing in moisture and should have ingredients such as essential oils, fatty acids, humectants and sunscreen.

Depending on your hair type, consider conditioning packs or hair treatments. These treatments can be found in beauty supply stores or look online for homemade recipes. Some ideas are a simple as coating your hair in olive oil or mayonnaise.

Keep hair conditioned properly with “leave-in” treatments. Avoid leaving the house with wet hair. Try washing your hair at night so your hair is completely dry before leaving the house in the morning.

Dry Skin

Face and hands are the most common dry skin problems during the winter. Your face is hard to protect without blocking your sight. Outdoors hands can be protected with gloves, but indoor heating can be drying.

Protect your face by keeping it clean and moisturized. Avoid face washes that include alcohol (they are drying). Opt for face-specific moisturizing daily cleansers. Consider using moisturizing face masks a couple times a week. These can be either store bought or homemade.

Use facial moisturizer lotions daily that include ingredients like fatty acids, humectants and a sunscreen. As always, avoid products that include alcohol.

Your hands, one of the most-used parts of your body are often the first to show signs of aging. Even wearing gloves the harsh wind and cold can seep through and draw out essential moisture. To protect them use lotions and hand creams often.

In moisturizing lotions and creams, for your entire body and face, avoid products that are petroleum or mineral oil based. These ingredients are not easily absorbed by your skin. Look for essential oils, keratin, and coenzyme Q10. These ingredients natural moisturize and lock in much-needed moisture.

For both your face and hands, keep your lotions or creams with you and reapply throughout the day to ensure protection and moisture retention. Winter’s wrath can ravage your skin. Harsh winds, biting cold, and drying indoor heating can have a very detrimental effect on your body.