Article: 5 Soul-soothing Tips to Help Repair and Protect Winter Skin
5 Soul-soothing Tips to Help Repair and Protect Winter Skin
During the chilly winter months, keeping your skin feeling hydrated and protected is more important than ever. Not only is the weather heading into single digits, but you're also exposing your skin to central heating. If you’ve got a history of sensitive skin or you’re suffering from a chronic skin condition, you’ll need to ensure your winter skin self-care routine is fail-proof. So, how exactly does the cold weather cause damage to our skin? Let’s delve a little deeper.
What Damage Does Winter Cause to Your Skin?
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have shown that cold air and low humidity during December, January and February can reduce your skin’s moisture and cause dry skin.1 It’s no secret that if you suffer from dry skin or chronic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, the cold, dry air of winter can cause flare-ups!
Much of this can be linked to the lack of moisture in the air. Cold air is dry air, and that dryness pulls the moisture away from the top layers of your skin. With the weather so cold, you can’t be blamed for hopping in hot showers after some time outside. However, hot water can also leave your skin feeling more irritated than before because it strips your skin of natural oils, causing more dryness and redness.
How Does Unrefined Shea Butter Help Dry Winter Skin?
This is where the magic of unrefined shea butter comes into the equation. Unrefined shea butter boasts a whole list of beneficial results, from softening and moisturising to anti-inflammatory anti-irritant properties. It’s also rich in vitamins A and E and natural fatty acids (vitamin F), making it ideal for a sensitive skin winter routine. So, it’s no wonder it’s been used for centuries in parts of Africa as a natural remedy to help hydrate, protect and heal.
Each Aviela product only uses Grade A 100% pure unrefined shea butter sourced from northern Ghana in all our Aviela products. Learn more about our story and the benefits of shea butter. Read on to discover our top tips for winter skin barrier repair and self-care without blowing your budget on an expensive spa.
Tip 1. Perfect Your Aviela Bathing Ritual
Put the ‘self’ back into self-care by nurturing your skin and soul. Taking good care of your skin is one thing, but we often neglect our inner selves. The length of days and chilly weather can bring down our mood, which is when the phrase ‘winter blues’ springs to mind! So, it’s extra important to give yourself some love and grace this season. Your soul also needs nourishing because mind and body are linked, after all.
Before you head to the bathroom to begin your skincare ritual, remember to set the scene. How do you like to unwind? Perhaps it’s by putting on some rain sounds and meditating to settle yourself. Or maybe it’s all about light some scented candles and pouring a glass of your favourite tipple. Either way, neglect the little things that bring you inner peace.
According to recent studies, water exposure and its temperature can affect our skin barrier. It also draws out oils and moisture, leaving skin dry and prone to damage.2 So, keep your baths and showers short or opt for warm over scorching hot water.
Once you ’re feeling thoroughly soothed, we recommend reaching for gentle products that don't strip your skin of its natural oils. Our African Shea Black Soap is ideal for bathtimes because it gently cleanses without drying out your skin. It’s handmade using 100% pure, highest grade unrefined shea butter, along with cocoa pod ash, and a blend of natural oils, coconut and neem. The luxurious foaming texture of the soap will only elevate this moment of self-care, making for a mindful and comforting cleanse.
Tip 2. Lock in Moisture Immediately After Showering or Bathing
When it comes to your body, take the same amount of time and consideration. See it as a daily ritual throughout the winter months and beyond. Start by gently massaging the formula into clean skin and pay extra attention to dry areas, such as your elbows and knees. You can even work some of the shea butter into freshly washed hair to really lock in that moisture.
Tip 3. Give Your Hands and Feet Intensive Treatment
There’s more to your body than your face, legs, and torso. Your hands may already be on your mind because they’re often exposed to the elements and suffer more obviously. However, when was the last time you showed your feet some love?
After a long day, take the time to massage your feet with our Shea Foot Butter. It boasts a healing blend of 100% pure, highest grade, unrefined shea butter and cocoa butter. The formula is also infused with neem, tea tree, baobab and sweet almond oils. This vitamin-enriched treatment softens, repairs, and deeply moisturises, making unsightly cracked skin a thing of the past.
Having our Shea Hand Butter readily available throughout the day is sure to grant your hands relief from dryness. It’s the perfect size for your bag or pocket, so there’s no excuse! As with every Aviela product, our Hand Butter is made from 100% pure, highest grade unrefined Shea Butter, infused with cocoa butter, crambe seed, cedarwood oils and more.
Patricia's tip: If your hands and feet are really feeling the effects of winter, massage our Pure Shea Butter onto your hands and feet while they’re still damp after bathing.Then cover with cotton socks and gloves for a minimum of 30 minutes to seal in the moisture. You’ll be amazed by how smooth and soft they feel afterwards!
Tip 4. Turn to Daily Sun Protection for Winter Radiance
Using sunscreen is a no-brainer during summer, but it’s important to keep the habit up during the winter as well. Harmful UV rays are always present, even on the greyest of days.
Apply a protective layer over your moisturiser each day. Keep in mind that you should be re-applying throughout the day. Doctors and professionals recommend doing so every two hours while the sun’s still out,3 though if you spend your time mostly inside, you can be less strict.
Patricia's tip: If a makeup wearer, apply a sunscreen mist to your face. It won’t smudge your foundation - and it’s super easy and quick to use.
Tip 5. Stay Hydrated and Be Mindful of Your Diet
It isn’t just what we put onto our bodies to keep them healthy that counts; it’s also what we put into them.
If there’s one simple rule we’re taught since childhood, it’s to stay hydrated. And when it comes to relieving dry, irritable skin during the colder months, it’s even more important that you stick to your daily water goals. If your body isn't ;taking in enough fluid, it can affect the appearance of your skin, making it more prone to dryness.
In addition to staying hydrated, eating as healthily as possible is also important - though we should treat ourselves from time to time, too.
Start introducing more foods that are high in antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids into your diet. These nutrients protect your cells from environmental damage, helping your body create healthy skin cells.
By antioxidants we’re talking about berries and leafy greens, while salmon, mackerel, walnuts, flaxseeds and chia seeds are all rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.
Embrace Winter with Healthy, Soothed Skin
Now that you know how to transform your winter self-care routine and repair your skin barrier, it’s time to select your Aviela kit.
Shop the Aviela Winter Repair Collection. Plus, if you really want to indulge this season, we have some wonderful Self-care Kits , specially curated to make you feel nourished and comforted. These thoughtful sets also make wonderful gifts for your nearest and dearest.
Citations and caveats:
1 https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/what-to-do-about-dry-skin-in-winter
2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8778033/
3 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/sunscreen-and-your-morning-routine
