Unless you live in a tropical climate, transitioning to fall and winter means colder weather. Colder weather often causes our skin to become rougher and drier. There are a number of ways that we can make sure that we protect and keep our skin soft during the fall and winter. I’m here to tell you how!
Drink Water
I know you’ve probably heard this a lot but drinking water keeps us hydrated. Hydration is key to our overall health and can also improve the look and feel of our skin. Drinking water can help increase skin’s elasticity to help it stay moisturized longer and prevent premature sagging. These improvements can lead to increasing the softness of the skin.
Exfoliate
Dead skin cells can cause your skin to become rough and/or bumpy. Exfoliation works by getting rid of these dead skin cells. Once a week, exfoliate your body with a body scrub such as one from one of my favorite brands Mango Moi Butters. Make sure that you aren’t too rough when using a scrub to make sure that you do bot create microtears in the skin.
Wash With a Moisturizing Soap or Body Wash
What you wash your body with can make all the difference. Stay away from bar soaps or body washes that are drying to the skin. Look for soaps or body washes that contain moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, or plant oils. My favorite bar soaps are from Akoyn Beauty. The soaps from Akoyn beauty are unique because they are oil cleansing bars. They are made with a ratio of oils and cleansing agents that work together to cleanse the skin without stripping the skin of moisture.
Avoid Showering in Hot Water
Avoid showering in water that is too hot. While it may feel good when it’s cold out, hot water can cause your skin to dry out and cause damage to the outermost layer of skin. Instead, use cool to warm water.
Replace or Layer Your Lotion with a Body Butter
All year-round, and especially in the colder months, I apply my lotion or body oil right when I get out of the shower, while my skin is still damp. After applying lotion or body oil, I follow up with body butter. Applying a layer of body butter helps lock in the moisture and helps keeps the skin moisturized longer.
Wear Sunscreen
This tip doesn’t necessarily keep the skin soft but it does help to prevent the skin from damage. Many people think that you should only wear sunscreen when the sun is out but in reality, you should wear it all year long. Harmful UVA and UVB rays can cause damage to the skin, even on a cloudy day. My favorite sunscreen for the body is from Black Girl Sunscreen. It’s a thick cream and helps keep the skin moisturized all day long. Tip: Remember to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours!
Following these tips are sure to help you get soft skin during the fall and winter.
If you’d like to add to this list, leave your tips in the comments!
