7 Winter Skin Care Tips for Busy Moms

The cold winter air can strip your skin of natural moisture, leaving it dry, dull and flaky. That’s why you need to follow a good winter skin care routine to keep your skin looking fresh, nourished and radiant. We understand that as a busy mom, you don’t always have the luxury of spending too much time in front of a mirror each morning, or indulging in time-consuming skin care treatments. But here’s the good news – a good skin care routine doesn’t need to be time-consuming. In fact, experts suggest that the less you put on your skin, the better it is for your overall skin health. So, take a look at our favourite winter skin care tips that you can easily incorporate into your hectic routine to give your skin all the care and nourishment it deserves.

1. Minimize the damage to your skin

From cleansers to creams to makeup, we apply a variety of products to our skin daily. Most of these products contain chemicals and harsh ingredients that can actually damage your skin over time. This effect doubles during winter time. So, do your skin a favour and minimize damage by (a) lessening the amount of beauty products you use daily, (b) using natural and organic skin care products that contain less chemicals. The best skin care products are those with the mildest ingredients that don’t do much damage to your skin. Simplifying your skin care routine can truly work wonders for your skin in the long run.

2. Opt for a gentle facial skin cleanser

Replace your regular skin cleanser with a gentle, hydrating facial cleanser, preferably one with natural ingredients. Don’t wash your face too often in winter. Use a cleanser twice every day – once in the morning and once at night. Over the weekends, cleanse your skin by using natural ingredients such as –

• Olive oil/Coconut oil: Massage a few drops of olive/coconut oil into your skin and then cover your face with a muslin cloth soaked in warm water. Let it sit for a while and then wipe off gently to cleanse your skin of impurities.

• Apple cider vinegar: Mix a few tsp apple cider vinegar with double the quantity of water, dip a cotton ball in the solution and use it to cleanse your face gently. Make sure to moisturize when dry.

• Honey: Apply a thin layer of raw honey on your skin and leave it on for a while. Cleanse using cotton balls dipped in warm water and rinse off properly.

3. Moisturize effectively for smooth, radiant skin

Come winter and most of us slather on cream after cream in an effort to keep our skin soft and smooth. But even then, a lot of us deal with dry and flaky skin during wintertime. To make sure you’re moisturizing your skin effectively, follow these simple skin care tips:

• Lock in moisture by applying body lotion to your skin immediately after your shower.

• When moisturizing your face, apply face cream in soft, upward strokes with your fingertips to stimulate the renewal of skin cells and boost blood circulation.

• Pick a gentle moisturizer with natural skin-nourishing ingredients. Designed specifically for baby’s sensitive skin, Softsens Baby Rich Moisturizing Cream is the perfect winter skin cream for your face. Packed with the moisturizing goodness of natural Milk Cream and Shea Butter, this rich skin cream works to nourish, hydrate and heal rough skin, making it an excellent product for dry skin.

• During winter, the skin on your hands tends to become extremely dry so try to avoid washing your hands too much. Every time you wash your hands, immediately moisturize after with a gentle skin cream such as Softsens Baby Rich Moisturizing Cream. Our tip – keep one in your handbag at all times so that you can moisturize whenever needed.

• Hydrate your skin from the inside by drinking LOTS of water and healthy fluids.

• Pamper your skin with moisturizing face masks made from natural ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Coconut Oil, Yoghurt, Banana, Papaya, Shea Butter, Glycerin or Oatmeal.

• Give your skin some extra love & care by applying an overnight hydrating sheet mask that works to repair your skin while you’re sleeping.

4. Exfoliate gently once a week

A build-up of dry, dead skin during winter can cause your skin to become flaky and patchy. This kind of skin issue can’t be solved by moisturizing alone. You need to exfoliate your skin well to remove dead skin cells, leading to smoother, softer skin. But over-exfoliation too can cause your skin to become red and irritated. For those with normal skin, exfoliating once a week during winter works well. Those with overly dry and sensitive skin can exfoliate once every two weeks. In addition to exfoliating your face, don’t forget to exfoliate your body as well. Use an exfoliating glove to slough the dead skin cells off your arms and legs whilst you are in the shower. Make your own skin scrubs at home using natural ingredients that won’t damage your skin. Here are some great combinations for natural DIY scrubs that can become part of your skin care at home regime:

• Sugar + Olive Oil

• Brown sugar/Oatmeal + Raw Honey

• Oatmeal + Yoghurt

• Aloe Vera Gel + Sugar

• Coconut oil + Ground Almonds + Avocado

5. Go easy on your makeup

Choose hydrating cosmetic products that are light and gentle on your skin. Stay away from powders that can make skin look dry and cakey. Before you apply makeup, prep your skin with a good hydrating primer that’ll provide the right base for your makeup. Replace your powder blush with a cream-based blush. Use a bright lip balm for your lips. Don’t use harsh makeup removers to wipe off your makeup as these can over-dry your skin. Instead, wipe off makeup with natural products for skin like coconut or olive oil. Softsens Baby Massage Oil also works as an excellent makeup remover.

6. Don’t skip your sunscreen

It doesn’t take too long to apply sunscreen to your skin every morning, so make sure you take two minutes and protect your skin before leaving the house.Even in winter, UVA rays can damage your skin and so it’s important that you use sunscreen all year round.

7. Eat your way to gorgeous skin

If you want gorgeous, glowing skin all winter long, load up on foods that are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Here are some foods that can help restore your skin’s glow this winter: berries, beetroots, carrots, peaches, avocados, sweet potatoes, salmon, almonds, walnuts and green leafy vegetables. Pack a box of fruits/nuts in your handbag for busy days so that you can eat on the go.

What’s your winter skin care regime like? Leave us a comment below.