Winter is Coming, Start Preparing Your Skin Now!

Earlier in the year, I published a post on how to prepare your skin for summer but now that we’re halfway through November, it’s time to start preparing our skin for the wintertime. If you live in the mid-west or on the east coast, and apparently some parts of the south, you may already be experiencing winter-like weather but don’t worry, there’s no time like the present to prepare your skin for wintertime.

1. You may experience drier skin.

When I lived in the states, my skin would always get super dry in the winter. My face, hands, legs, etc. all required extra TLC. It is during the winter months when I switch my light moisturizers out for thick creamy products. For my face, the consistency of my face cream varies but for the rest of my body, I have to use a thick cream or a body oil paired with a thicker lotion. Currently, for my face I am using the BoldenUSA Clear Skin Kit which has everything I need to keep my routine consistent but there are days when I like to pair those products with a hydrating eye and face cream like the Skinfix Lipid Boost Eye Treatment and Serum. These two products provide a rush of hydration to my skin and are the perfect combination when layered with my Bolden Products.

For my body, my favorite combination at the moment is to pair the Palmer’s Skin Therapy Oil with the Jergen’s Enriching Shea Butter Lotion. I like to use these two products right after the shower to help lock in moisture.

2. You still need sunscreen!

Although in the winter the sun may not shine as bright, your skin is still susceptible to harmful UV rays. Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen, especially on your face, will help reduce your risk of damage. I’m currently using the Bolden Brightening Moisturizer with SPF 30 since it is a part of their clear skin kit. I like this one because it is formulated specifically for darker skin tones and leaves your face feeling moisturized, protected, with no white or grey residue. Another sunscreen that I’ve heard great things about is Black Girl Sunscreen. It can be used for both face and skin.

3. Water is your BFF.

I know, I’ve said this over and over again, drink your water! I’m not saying that water is a cure-all but it is one of the first steps to healthier skin. Your body is primarily made up of water. Not consuming enough water can cause you to have dry hair, dry lips, and dry skin. Therefore, this is something that I will continue to say, drink your water sis (or bruh)! If you find that you have a hard time getting enough water you can always purchase a water bottle. I suggest that you get one that is at least 32 ounces. That way by finishing just two bottles, you will have met the 64 ounces, or 8 glasses a day, as commonly recommended by health authorities. If you have a hard time drinking plain water, try adding a 0 calorie flavor mixer to it.

4. Exfoliate one to two times a week.

While I recommend exfoliating once or twice a week at any time of the year, it’s especially important in the winter. Exfoliating helps to get rid of dead skin and can also help stimulate cell turnover. There are several exfoliants on the market. There are physical exfoliants and chemical exfoliants. Physical exfoliants are ones like the Prickly Pear Facial Exfoliant from Travertine Spa, which I mentioned in my 2019 holiday shopping guide. I love this exfoliant because it is made with French green clay, aloe leaf powder, prickly pear powder. It also contains jojoba beads which are a gentle, non-abrasive skin exfoliant. Every time I use it my skin is left feeling so soft! The best part is that you just add the powder to your usual cleanser so that you can exfoliate while you cleanse or you can mix it with water to create a paste and use it as a clay mask. It retails for $25 on the Travertine Spa website but you can use code LATAYIA10 and get 10% off your order.

Fro my body, I use a scrubby washcloth like this one from Amazon. Here in Okinawa and all over Japan it is easy to find these cloths and they range from soft to extra coarse depending on how much exfoliation you require. I suffer from what people refer to as “strawberry legs” so I usually use a coarse cloth. Adding this step to my daily showers and following up with the body oil and lotion combo that I mentioned earlier has significantly helped me reduce the rough bumpy patches on my skin.

5. Use a hydrating face mask once a week.

There are many forms of hydrating face masks. You can purchase sheet masks or masks such as the Bolden GLOW hydrating mask which can be applied with clean fingers or a mask brush. I strongly recommend the latter.

Hydrating face masks help to restore hydration to your skin after cleansing. They’re typically left on for 10-30 minutes, depending on the type of mask, and can be used after toning.

6. Avoid taking extremely hot showers.

This is something that I always tell myself but have a hard time sticking to. There’s nothing like taking a nice hot shower on a cold day or any day for that matter. However, showering in water that is too hot can suck the moisture out of your skin. Try showering in warm water instead.

I hope you enjoyed these tips! I recently made a post about my favorite acne treatments so if you suffer from hormonal acne like me, I highly encourage you to check it out!

Let me know down in the comments how you’re preparing your skin for the wintertime!