Skin care tips for winter months
Seasonal changes affect the skin. In winter, due to lack of humidity, the skin loses moisture to the atmosphere. Also, the air is heavy in winter and pollutants tend to hang low. All this affects the look of the skin, which becomes dry, dull and uncomfortable, especially after washing with soap and water. If the skin is oily and prone to pimples, there may be superficial dryness with a lack of moisture in the outermost layer. So, you need to adjust your daily routine.
If your skin is normal to dry, discontinue soap and water washing and use a cleansing gel containing aloe vera so that it cleanses the skin without disturbing the moisture balance. Apply it on the skin and wipe off with moist cotton wool.
For oily skin, use a face wash containing tulsi and neem. Use rose water to tone the skin after cleansing. Soak cotton wool pads in it and wipe the skin with it. Cleansing the skin at night is important to remove the pollutants that have collected on the skin during the day.
If you are going out during the day, apply a sunscreen gel. Avoid heavy creams, as they block the pores and lead to blackheads and pimples.
Facial masks should also be part of the skin-care routine. You can mix a mask at home with two teaspoons oats, one teaspoon ground almonds and one teaspoon each of honey, curd and rose water. Mix together and apply on the skin twice a week. Wash it off after 20 to 30 minutes.
Apart from general skin care, we need to pay special attention to certain areas of the face, where the skin is different. The skin on the lips, for instance, is very thin and lacks oil glands. After washing the face, rub the lips gently with a soft towel to remove dead skin.
Apply cream of milk (malai) daily and leave on for an hour. If the lips are dark, add a few drops of lemon juice to the cream of milk. At night, apply pure almond oil or an almond cream daily on the lips and leave on overnight.
Dry feet and cracked heels need intensive care. At night, before retiring, soak the feet in hot water for about 20 minutes. Add some coarse salt and shampoo to the water, before soaking the feet. With the help of a pumice stone or a heel scrubber, rub the heels gently, to remove dead cells.
Avoid metal scrubbers. After washing the feet, massage with a good cream. Bandage the heels with cheesecloth, or cotton wool and surgical gauze, then wear cotton socks and go to sleep. This way, the cream will remain on the heels and not get on to the bedclothes.
Home Remedies:
- Apply honey on the face and wash off after 15 minutes. Honey is a powerful natural moisturiser.
- If you have oily skin with pimples, apply 2 teaspoons curd with a pinch of turmeric on the face, washing wash it off after 20 minutes.