(BPT) – Now that it’s the winter holiday season again, schedules and to-do lists are fuller than ever. Between work, family and getting ready for all the celebrations, it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself. Remember to take a deep breath and carve out some time to focus on self-care, including that all-important part of you – your body’s skin. After a few moments for yourself, you’ll be ready to conquer the holidays (and dry winter skin) like a boss.
‘Winter can be rough on the skin,’ says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Elyse Love, ‘and during the busy holiday season, it’s easy to lose track of your body care routine. The good news is that giving your body’s skin the attention it needs is pretty simple.’
Follow these dermatologist-recommended steps to keep your skin hydrated and healthy-looking so that you can take on the holiday season feeling fearless in your skin.
1. Protect yourself from the elements
Even if you’re spending short amounts of time outside, protect your skin from the cold, dry air. In the winter, the air outside can have less moisture than other times of the year. That means, any exposed skin will lose moisture faster than normal. Grab that coat, add a pair of gloves to protect the delicate skin on your hands, and use a scarf to cover your face and neck.
And don’t forget the sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher that provides broad-spectrum protection (against both UVA and UVB rays) for any exposed skin – even on cloudy or overcast days.
‘Make sure to re-apply your sunscreen every two hours so you’ll continue to be protected,’ says Love.
2. Start moisturizing in the shower
While a long, hot shower may feel fantastic after a chilly day, it can be damaging to your skin. Did you know that hot water actually strips away the skin’s natural oils and disrupts surface lipids and proteins? To combat dryness, decrease shower length and use tepid water instead of hot. Also, use a moisturizing body wash formulated with petrolatum (the number 1 dermatologist-recommended moisturizer) to help hydrate while you’re in the shower.
3. Pamper your skin with nourishing, hydrating ingredients
Hydrated skin is healthy skin, and your skin craves moisture even more in the winter. Olay’s new Body Lotion collection combines niacinamide in a proprietary Vitamin B3 Complex with prestige skincare ingredients – collagen, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C – and hydrates to rejuvenate skin’s surface cells for visibly firmer, more radiant skin over time. Crafted by Olay Skin Experts, these hydrating formulas leave you with skin that is moisturized so it feels softer and looks smoother and healthier.
‘Vitamin B3, also known as niacinamide, supports the skin barrier allowing the skin to better hold onto and retain moisture,’ adds Love. ‘Olay’s body lotions feel really great on your skin, and in my experience, they hydrate better than more expensive body lotions.’
Olay’s new Body Lotion collection has three options to choose from to include in your body care routine. Each one will help you keep your skin moisturized over the harsh winter months:
- Firming Hand and Body Lotion with Collagen hydrates your skin with plumping moisture to tighten skin and diminish fine lines, for visible transformation.
- Nourishing Hand and Body Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid visibly replenishes your skin, delivering deep moisture and locking in nourishment for all-day hydration.
- Revitalizing Hand and Body Lotion with Vitamin C brightens dull skin with a boost of rejuvenating hydration for visible radiance.
4. Don’t get dried out
The cold, dry air outside and the overheated air inside can both cause your skin to lose moisture. In addition to moisturizing your skin with lotions like the ones in Olay’s new collection, help your skin stay hydrated by using humidifiers in your home or office so the indoor air doesn’t get too dry. Portable humidifiers are easy to move from room to room. To keep your skin supple and hydrated from within, make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
5. Pucker up
Remember to also care for your lips during the colder months. The skin on your lips is thinner than other parts of the body, so they are even more prone to moisture loss. Keeping a nourishing lip balm handy is a must while balancing cold, dry air outside and indoor heaters.
To learn more, visit Olay.com.
