Winter is upon us, and thus it is important that we are well prepared for it. It is a beautiful season, one where the world is draped in cold and grey, the leaves are cleared off trees, and the flakes drop softly. Speaking of flakes, ever noticed how your skin is awash with that stuff during this season? Notice how your lips get dry and how your joints chafe with every movement? It's natural. The skin undergoes such changes every time it is exposed to cold weather.

And that means you have to change things up a bit. You cannot expect to follow the same skin care routine you did when the weather was warmer, to get the same results. You have to come up with new ways to keep your skin warm, glowing, and intact. In cold weather, low humidity levels, and dry indoor heat robs your skin of all moisture. This makes your skin chafe, become red and irritated, scaly or rough. The best way to protect the skin is to go natural – synthetic products might only irritate your skin further.

The best ways to treat your skin naturally during winter are to:

Drink a lot of water.

You would need it anyway. In extremely cold conditions, your body would need to filter blood at a higher rate than usual because it circulates faster. This results in you having to urinate more often, and leads you to replenish the water in your body at a faster rate.

Staying hydrated is the most basic form of skincare. It has a moisturising effect that reduces wrinkles, increases blood flow to your skin, maintains its elasticity and prevents it from chafing out. In winter, it pays to be intentional about the amount of water you guzzle; set a daily goal and pen down a strict routine to be followed. Set an alarm or use reminders if you are prone to forget. The importance of this cannot be overstated.

Use the right moisturisers.

Moisturisers are a big part of organic skincare, and that does not change during the winter months. While staying hydrated, you should keep your moisturiser close on hand too. Moisturisers are used to trap moisture in the skin, keeping it hydrated and sealing water underneath the skin. There is no general principle everyone must follow, but you should be aware of your skin type before you make any decisions on the kind of natural moisturiser you would prefer.

For people with typically dry skin, generous dabs of thick moisturisers should be used (oil-based ones are best because they help to lock in moisture easier). For people with normal skin, a water-based moisturiser would do the trick just fine. People with oily skin should opt for lighter choices; a moisturiser rich in soft ingredients like aloe or chamomile or any other botanical oil would be best.

Avoid synthetic soaps and products.

One would assert that this is implicit, considering the fact that we are exploring all-natural organic skin care products and options for your skin. And it's not just about the skincare creams, serums and masks – your soaps are also on trial.

If you are to treat and pamper your skin, throw all the synthetics into the bin. Antiseptic and antibacterial soaps might completely rid you of germs, but they would also rid your skin of the natural oils needed to keep it smooth and moisturised. The only way to keep your skin in prime condition during winter is to invest heavily in natural skin care products.

Use coconut oil.

Coconut oil has vitamins and minerals that help the skin fight off free radical damage, essentially making it an anti-ageing product.

Watch your diet.

This is one of the more elaborate factors that determine how well your skin glows. It's time to lay off the fast food – you'd have to be a really committed person to eat fast food in winter anyways – and focus more on your fruits, greens, and nuts. Here are some foods that you can incorporate into your winter diet for proper skincare:

- Carrots.

Carrots are a rich source of many vitamins and other nutrients, including Vitamin A and C, Beta carotene, antioxidants, and lycopene. The antioxidants help your body to produce collagen, a skin protein that upholds skin structure. Vitamin A especially fights off free radicals that might be dangerous, reducing skin ageing and preventing blemishes. Carrots also have potassium, which helps to moisturise the skin.

- Green vegetables.

Broccoli, spinach, kale, etc, all have vitamins and minerals that protect the skin from ageing. Spinach, in particular, is rich in iron and lutein, countering iron deficiency and sun damage simultaneously. Broccoli has Vitamin B, which prevents flakiness of the skin.

- Avocado.

Apart from the vitamins which help protect against skin ageing, these products give natural skincare a new meaning by providing a deep source of monounsaturated fats, which help to retain moisture in the skin. It also contains folic acid and potassium.

- Nuts and berries.

Almonds are known for their supply of antioxidants and Vitamin E, making them an anti-ageing agent and a moisturising agent at the same time. Berries too have antioxidants that prevent ageing by fighting off free radicals.

- Salmon.

If you have no compunctions about taking meat, eating salmon is a must for you during the winter months. For one, it has fatty acids that replenish the skin. It also contains minerals that prevent sun damage and inflammation.

- Use natural exfoliants.

The idea of exfoliating during harsh weather might scare you, but you have to understand that it is necessary to keep dead cells away from your face no matter the season. It prevents infections and keeps your skin smooth. Of course, natural exfoliants are again the best choices if you'd prefer to have one for the season.

Conclusion

Winter is probably the harshest period of the year for all skin types. If left to itself, it runs the risk of being worn out, flaky, undernourished and extremely pallid. Half the battle is the effort invested – once that is secure, you and your skin are sure to win the season in the battle of the flakes. Contact us at Amu Skin for your the best organic skincare products Australia has to offer.

Natural Ways To Treat Your Skin In Winter

Conclusion