As the winter months approach, so do dry, itchy skin and hair breakage. By switching up beauty routines seasonally, it will help prevent and protect your skin and hair from harsh Iowa winter.

Diet

Start from the inside out. Add more foods that are filled with Omega-3 Fatty Acids, which promote lubrication of skin cells for healthy skin and hair. Foods such as walnuts, flax seeds, olive oil and salmon are filled with amazing skin and hair savers. Try supplements if getting these foods into a diet is hard.

Oils

It might seem weird to look at the word ‘oil’, but oils have been used for centuries to combat dry skin. Using raw olive oil as a nightly moisturizer will create a barrier between skin and the cold climate, keeping moisture in and the drying winter air out. Natural oils are also not filled with dyes, alcohol and preservatives, which in other moisturizers can cause irritation. Popular oils like avocado oil, jojoba oil and primrose oil are okay to use. However, don’t use vegetable oil or other harsh oils. For leave-in hair treatment, use argan oil.

No Hot Water

A hot bath and shower can sound nice in winter, but it’s not good for skin or hair. The lipid barrier of the skin, used to keep moisture in and protect skin from impurities, can break down easily with hot water and over cleansing. When showering, use luke warm water.

Gentle Cleanser: Change it up

You might think to switch foundation shades with the changing months, but it’s also important to change up skincare. A cleanser that might have worked in summer could be over-drying in the winter. Opt for a more gentle cleanser formulated for drier skin or a moisturizing cleanser.

Apply Moisturizer

Immediately after cleansing, use a moisturizer for both the face and body. Using a moisturizer will limit bare skin contact with dry air while using that window of time to seal in the moisture already in your skin.

Humidifier

While the temperature outside goes down, the temperature inside goes up. The hot, dry air inside can contribute to dry skin. Buying a humidifier will bring moister back into the air and back into the skin. Keep the humidifier in bedrooms and turn it on while sleeping. This will also help reduce frizzy hair.

Sunscreen

It’s equally important to use SPF in winter as well as summer. Harsh sun rays are still a factor in winter and can intensify with reflection off the snow, called snow glare. Regularly using SPF will protect against skin cancer and wrinkles.

Hands

Over-washing hands is a trend when trying to ward off cold and flu viruses, but it’s over-drying to the hands. The skin on hands is thinner and has fewer oil glands, which means less protection. Make sure to wear gloves and apply a thick hand moisturizer before bed. Keep a hand cream in your book bag to apply when needed.

Doctor Visit

If at-home treatments are not helping with your winter skin, a doctor visit might be in your future. Winter can irritate and inflame common skin allergies and conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, which can be treated better with medical professional help.

Deep Condition

Deep conditioning hair once a week is essential for optimum hair care. It brings nutrients in and helps combat against damage. Healthy hair will retain moisture better, which helps during harsh weather.

Don’t Overwash

Over-washing hair can strip oils that are helping to protect it. Use a boar bristle brush to help distribute the natural oils in the hair.

Avoid Blowdrying

It’s important not to go outside with wet hair, which can accelerate damage to the hair. Instead of a blowdryer, dry hair with a cotton t-shirt to reduce breakage.

Keeping and maintaining healthy skin and hair is a lifelong process. With these simple tips and tricks, the journey will be much easier – not to mention shiny and strong.