We have officially gotten past the stress of the holiday season and are kicking off the New Year. Cheers!

From holiday parties, finding the perfect gifts, decorating, being the perfect host… and everything in between. It is time to treat our skin to some R&R.

We know stress takes a toll on our skin (especially when combined with those holiday cocktails) and with the cold Winter weather among us, we not only need to do some damage control for the past couple of months but protect our skin from lower temperatures.

Here are our top ten tips to get your glow back and keep it until Spring:

Top Ten: Winter Skincare Tips 

1. Hydration is key.

It is common to crave hot drinks on cold, Winter days and forgetting about your water intake. Doctors recommend drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day. If that is the case, go for warm water with lemon. Increasing your hydration is way to moisturize your skin from the inside out (along with many other health benefits other than skincare). When choosing fruit and veggies, opt for those that are known to have high hydration benefits with fruits like watermelon, apples and kiwi and veggies like cucumber, carrots and tomatoes. 

2. Don’t skip the SPF.

If you are seeing gray skies more often than sunny ones, it is still crucial to be applying products with an SPF of at least 15 to prevent premature aging and protect yourself from UVA and UVB rays.  Believe it or not, but the sun’s rays peeking through are just as damaging as in the Summer. 

3. Invest in a humidifier and sleep in lower temps. 

Are you waking up in the morning with a dry nose and dry skin? Adding a humidifier in your bedroom will put moisture back into the air. Adding moisture may help with other symptoms like irritated eyes, frequent coughs, bloody noses and sinus headaches. Maintaining humidity in your home within a range of 40-60 percent relative humidity can help.

You don’t only have to use your humidifier at night though. If you move it to another room in your home where you spend a lot of time during the day, you can even add some essential oils for added benefits. Don’t forget to lower the temperature on your thermostat before you go to bed. It will help your pores stay clog free and reduce puffiness.

4. Take smarter showers.

Opt for shorter, lukewarm showers in the Winter. We know, a long steamy shower sounds tempting but in the Winter it is best to avoid more ways to strip oils from your skin and avoid inflammation. 

5. Make exfoliating part of your routine and experiment with dry brushing. 

While you are in the shower, go for exfoliating body wash. It will help to remove any dry, flaky skin and allows for moisturizers to absorb more efficiently. Combined with dry brushing right before you step into your shower, you’ll be helping to detoxify your skin and get your blood pumping promoting lymph flow/drainage. Dry brushing also unclogs pores in the exfoliation process. 

6. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

Keep a trusted moisturizer next to your shower and make a habit of moisturizing after every one as it will absorb best on damp skin. This will benefit your skin all year long, but in the Winter specifically, you can go for a more rich and nourishing formula. When washing your hands throughout the day, follow our Smarter Showers tip and wash with lukewarm water. Keep a hand cream by the sink and in your purse to keep your hands smooth all season. 

7. Modify your skincare rituals and stick to them. 

It is time to swap out your cleanser with something that is cream based and fragrance free. Just as in the shower, a more rich moisturizer will do the trick. Two other skincare musts: don’t forget to remove your makeup at night which will reduce inflammation and if you incorporate toners and astringents in your skincare ritual, use sparingly as they are alcohol based and known to dry out your skin.

8. Treat yourself to a face mask at least once a week. 

Face masks are the perfect opportunity to show your skin a little extra love and give yourself some time to relax. At least once a week, you should incorporate a face mask swapping from hydrating to exfoliating and vice versa. 

9. Put the oil back in your skin.

By nature, Winter weather depletes the oils in your skin. They also act as a carrier for other active ingredients to penetrate into lower levels of the epidermis. You can try adding a few drops of your favorite oil into your nighttime moisturizer and help your skin stay balanced. 

10. Prevent and heal chapped lips. 

Increasing hydration will be your friend in this department and make sure your lip balm or lip ointment has SPF. (see tips 1 and 2). It is best to apply before your lipstick during the day and before bedtime at night.

Shop our Winter essentials:

1. Zion Health Mineral Sunscreen: http://www.adamaminerals.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=423&search=sunscreen&description=true

2. Age-Defence Cleansing Balm: http://www.adamaminerals.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=669&search=cleansing+balm&description=true

3. Hand Repair Cream: http://www.adamaminerals.com/Hand-Cream?search=hand%20repair&description=true

4. Hydrating Mango Clay Mask: http://www.adamaminerals.com/hydrating-mango-clay-mask?search=mango%20mask&description=true

5. Coconut Bliss Lip Balm: http://www.adamaminerals.com/hydrating-lip-balm-coconut-bliss?search=lip%20balm&description=true