by Michelle Howard

Created on: December 14, 2009

If you are prone to dry skin then you need to give extra care to your skin during the winter months.  The tips for fighting dry skin in the winter that you are about to read will help you to protect, provide for and nourish your skin during the coldest time of year.  You'll be glad you gave your skin the extra attention it needed during the winter season when the warmer months arrive and you are ready to show some extra skin.

Obtain and maintain healthier, better conditioned skin by following this extensive list of dry skin tips for winter skin care:

1) Hot water strips your skin of the natural oils required for proper moisture balance so avoid taking hot showers and baths during the winter.

2) Use gel cleansers instead of foaming cleansers because they also strip your body of its natural oils.

3) Wash with warm water followed by a cream moisturizer while skin is still damp.

4) Layer your clothing when going out in frigid temperatures.  Cold weather dries your skin out faster than when it's warm.

5) Use a heavier moisturizer like Organic Shea Butter Balm on your hands, elbows, knees and feet.

6) Be prepared for extra skin care by carry moisturizing cream with you when you are out.

7) Avoid skin care products that contain ingredients that dry out your skin. Such ingredients to avoid would be fragrance oil, alcohol and sodium laurel (lauryth) sulfate.

8) If your moisturizer doesn't contain sunscreen, apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 at minimum.  SPF30 and higher is recommended for the warmer months.  Unless you plan to to spend an extended amount of time out doors, SPF15 is sufficient.

9) Upon returning home nightly, after bathing, showering or whatever it is you to do clean up, moisturize!  Moisturizing no less than twice daily is recommended during the winter.

10) Bathe in a mixture of milk & honey, oatmeal or add a few drops of almond oil to your bath water.

11) Once per week, dry brush your skin before cleansing it.  This helps remove dead skin cells and allows your moisturizer to be more effective.

12)  Supplement your diet with flax seed oil.

13) Humidifiers add moisture to air that's been depleted as a result of indoor heat so be sure to use one in your bedroom.

These tips for fighting dry skin are meant to guide you in caring for your skin during a time when your skin is prone to dry out more than usual.  Follow these tips and you can scratch "skin restoration" off of your list of things to do once the temperatures heat up.

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