The Best Ways to Care for Winter Skin
Winter can be beautiful and brutal at the same time. We love seeing glistening white snowfalls and drinking hot chocolate, but the season can also wreak havoc on our glowing melanin-rich skin, turning it into dry winter skin. Understanding how to care for winter skin will allow you to put your best face forward this season.
Why Skin Gets Dry in Winter
Have you ever noticed how your skin stays juicy and hydrated in warmer months? This is because the sun's warmth creates more moisture in the atmosphere. The sun is also a natural source of Vitamin D, and these two components make melanin-enriched skin thrive and glow.
Unfortunately, winter skin requires more care because cold air holds less moisture. When humidity levels lower, our skin's natural moisture factor (NMF) can deplete, causing dry winter skin. It's not only the outside air you must be concerned with, but air temperatures from heating in your house and car can also contribute to dry skin. If you are familiar with the term ashy skin, it can refer to darker complexions that look dull from dry winter skin. Let's cancel the word ashy, and nourish our skin this season. Let's step out this winter, glowing in our melanin glory.
Care for Dry Winter Skin from The Inside Out
Since the skin becomes less hydrated this season, the best way to care for dry winter skin is to approach it holistically. Eating the right foods is essential to increase and maintain hydration from the inside out. Start by drinking at least eight glasses of water daily, and incorporate foods with good fats that combat dry skin. Switching your cooking oils to coconut and avocado will help alleviate dry winter skin.
Have fun on cold winter days by incorporating new recipes with ingredients to combat dry winter skin, like John’s Garlic and Avocado Toast. Fatty fish, such as wild salmon and albacore tuna, are good because of their high omega-3 content, which helps with skin hydration (omega-3s also benefit the heart, brain, and lungs).
If eating fatty fish is not an option, try supplementing. Flaxseed and cod liver oil supplements are great alternatives. Back in the day, mothers and grandmothers would not let their children leave the house without ingesting a spoonful of cod liver oil daily, according to Black Doctors. Org "Mom was right about cod liver oil! The old-school tip still works today.” This is because it is high in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A and D.
Author: Karim Orange
