Natural Winter Skin Care

By Helen Wang

Winter is a wonderful time of the year - warm fires, holidays, crisp air, and for many, fresh fallen snow.

But the colder temperature and lower humidity can affect the condition of your hair and skin, so you should find these winter skin care tips handy.

Here are some natural winter skin care tips to protect your hair and skin:

The skin on your hands needs extra protection and care because it is thinner than in other areas of your body.

Make sure that after washing your hands you dry thoroughly and use a good hand cream. Wearing gloves outdoors will also protect them and keep your skin soft.

Sun protection is very important in the winter months, just as it is year-round. Many people forget to use sunscreen, but sun reflects off snow and ice, and you can actually get double the sun exposure.

Knees, elbows, and feet are completely covered in the winter months, and usually forgotten until spring. Clothing and boots can cause friction that creates a buildup of thick skin.

To remove any problems here, a good scrubbing with a natural lofah sponge, followed by a rich cream will work.

Winter winds and low humidity are also hard on your hair, and using a rich, deep hair conditioner is important to restore moisture to your hair.

Use a good lip balm to protect your lips, and avoid licking your lips as much as possible, since that will cause your lips to crack and chap.

If you get a bad case of cracked or chapped lips, use some Vaseline Intensive care before bed, and you should be good to go in the morning.

A massage is one way to keep your skin in great shape. You don't have to go to a specialist for this: just get out your favorite massage oil and ask a family member to give you a quick massage. Then relax and enjoy the experience and the benefits.

Maple Syrup - can be used as a hair conditioner or facial mask, and it's one of the best natural moisturizers. For best results, make sure you look for syrup marked 100% pure.

Baking Soda - can be used as a bath powder, deodorant, or tooth whitener. Mixed with water, it helps remove residues from hair styling products, making your hair clean and shiny.

Citrus Fruit - contains citric acid, which kills bacteria on the skin. Also, the fresh scent is a known energizer. Rinse your hair with lemon juice mixed with water when you hair is dull and tired.

Beans - Finely ground until powder-like, beans make a great cleanser for your face and body: just add the powdered beans to your favorite cleanser and massage into damp skin. Dry beans are rich in protein, potassium and iron, all good ingredients for healthy skin.

Tea Tree Oil - this oil has very powerful antibacterial and antiviral qualities, and it's easily absorbed by the skin.

Enjoy your beautiful skin and hair this coming winter with proper winter skin care!