Keep your skin supple and moisturised throughout winter
Women are hiding away their bodies in winter months with many feeling self-conscious of ‘snake skin’ legs and ‘chicken skin’ arms.
A survey of 1,000 women by E45, reveals that despite 90 per cent of women admitting to having winter skin concerns, only half change their body skin care regime to suit the colder months.
Because almost a quarter of women admit to neglecting their skin in the winter due to it being covered up most of the time, most suffer from ailments such as sensitive skin, dry snake skin like legs, rough, bumpy chicken skin arms and dry elbows and knees.
Just under half of women said they suffer from more serious skin issues such as itchy and sore skin and 15% named eczema as their biggest winter skin concern.
Dermatologist Tabi Leslie explains: “As the colder weather sets in, the low humidity in the air enhances its drying effect on the skin. This, coupled with the increase in central heating and us trying to warm up with hot baths and showers can really suck the moisture from our skin.
“In the autumn months when skin starts to be hidden under thicker clothes, it is often neglected. People need to realise that for beautiful skin you need to look after it all year round.”
Winter skin complaints and low skin confidence ensures many stay wrapped up in long sleeved jumpers and tights over the chillier months. However almost half admitted that they would have the confidence to reveal more of their bodies if they had beautiful glowing skin all winter. A fifth of women said they would have the confidence to wear more revealing outfits in general, 17% said they would forgo woolly tights for special occasions and another 17% said they would love to wear shorter sleeved tops to reveal smooth arms.
Dr Tabi has also provided the following hints and tips to help women breeze through the winter with skin confidence.
Showering: Alternate between moderately hot and cold water to give a kind of internal massage that helps blood circulation, in turn helping to keep cells hydrated
Post shower: Apply a lotion all over your body before you dry yourself. Applying to damp skin helps lock in moisture to protect it against unpredictable changes in the weather
Hydrate: Throughout the day drink at least eight glasses of water but try to cut down on coffee and alcohol- both can dry out the skin.
Hands: Keep a tube of hand cream in your bag to keep hands hydrated on the go. Particularly after washing, apply a small amount to prevent dryness and chapping that can be caused by exposure to cold water and dry winds
Bedtime: Rub a richer moisturiser into the skin and allow it to soak in overnight. For skin prone to dryness try a rich formula that leaves skin feeling soft
Application: Apply moisturiser in the same direction as hair growth. This will help to prevent bumps appearing on the skin that sometimes develop when product is rubbed into hair follicles.
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Venus beauty therapist, Nathalie Eleni also has some tips to get your skin through the winter period. She has developed a bespoke Winter Wellbeing Formula for that little extra confidence boost, at a time when we need it the most:
“The effects of winter can be pretty severe on our skin, so I was surprised when Venus’ research revealed that 70% of women don’t adapt their beauty routines to cope with the harsh seasonal changes! For the best results you need to modify your skincare regime to match the season. Here are my top tips to balancing your skin and mood this winter:
Bathing Basics. We all love to indulge in a hot bath during the winter months; however these moments of luxury can actually dehydrate our skin. To avoid this, use hydrating bath oils and bath salts. Otherwise, quick and lukewarm showers are kinder to sensitive skin and are good for overall circulation during the winter.
Skin Renewal. Exfoliating regularly helps combat dryness and removes dead skin cells to reveal freshly primed skin. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, I would recommend exfoliating three times a week, using an oil based scrub. This will simultaneously nourish and moisturise your skin, to help renew your complexion. For more sensitive skin, a gentler option is to use an exfoliating mitt which can be less abrasive, but just as effective.
Smooth and Soft. Don’t let winter make you hide your skin! Investing time in achieving smooth, hair free skin can give us all, that extra boost in confidence. Specially designed to achieve a close shave with less feel of irritation***, the Venus ProSkin Sensitive features 5-blades spaced close together to reduce pressure, making it effective even on sensitive skin during the winter months.
Skin Revival. Moisturising is an essential element to keeping skin soft, dewy and radiant during the winter. I advise my clients to use a moisturising body oil or body butter daily, both in the mornings and before you go to bed at night, to help replenish your moisture levels while you sleep. For a super hydrating finish, try combining the two by layering your body butter over the oil!
Warm Winter Glow. To achieve a winter glow all over the body, introduce a gradual tanner into your beauty regime. This will add a little warmth to your complexion and prevent skin from looking pale or sallow. To achieve the best results, gently exfoliate across two consecutive evenings and finish by layering a body oil with a body butter before going to sleep. On the third evening, avoid exfoliating and mix your gradual tan into your usual moisturiser and leave on overnight. Do this at least once a week for an even glow.
Tagged in Beauty Tips skincare