Dear Lifehacker, I like being outside, but not in winter. The cold, penetrating wind makes my face red, tense and painful. Even my eyes ...
Dear Lifehacker,
I like being outside, but not in winter. The cold, penetrating wind makes my face red, tense and painful. Even my eyes are dry! What can I do to protect myself in this hostile environment?
signed
snow sensitive
Dear StS,
Winter cold can be a nightmare for anyone's skin and exposed body parts, not just those with sensitive skin. Lower temperatures, cold wind and dry indoor air cause increased evaporation of water from our skin, itching, dryness and even painful skin cracks, not to mention dry eyes can also (ironically) tear. Unfortunately, it takes more than a little moisturizer to protect your skin and fight the weather. Here are some tips to protect yourself from the cold in winter.
Cover as much as possible
It is needless to say that the less the body is exposed to the elements, the better. You do not need to wear a ski mask or goggles (or you can not give up) just to get to work. The key is to choose your clothes carefully.
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- The best winter jackets have features that block the entry of snow or cold air. For example: storm flap on the zipper, laces or other closures on the sleeves and waist, neck high or high. Dick's Sporting Goods provides a guide to buying winter jackets when looking for a jacket that will keep you comfortable and away from the elements of the winter.
- Knitted caps and earmuffs are beautiful, but a hood, especially when insulated, will keep the wind from the sides of the face.
- In the same way, leather or insulating gloves form a better physical barrier than cotton.
- Do not forget a scarf that not only covers the neck, but also goes over the nose when it really storms.
- Make sure your clothes are not too loose. If this is the case, the wind breaks. Instead of wearing tight clothes, diapers are your friends. (The Uniqlo Heattech men's and women 's clothing line keeps you warm).
- Also avoid rough clothing such as wool, as it may break the skin's moisture barrier.
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Use the right skincare products
Even if your body is covered from head to toe, your skin tends to dry out in winter. It's time to reevaluate our skincare program.
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- When washing, use non-foaming cream detergents and moisturisers instead of drying more soaps. Also avoid astringents, especially those that contain alcohol as they may deprive the skin of moisture.
- In The Telegraph , facial specialist Joanne Evans recommends scrubbing dry, flaky skin three times a week for dry skin, twice a week for oily or combination skin. It eliminates dry skin and helps bring new moisture-rich cells to the surface, explains Marie Claire . The key is to continue the exfoliation with lots of moisturizer or moisturizing healing mask.
- Moisturizer, often throughout the day!
- If you are using a light water-based lotion, choose a moisturizer or oil. WebMD suggests ingredients "unobstructed" oil-based such as avocado oil, mineral, primrose or almond look. Or look for lotions with "moisturizers" that moisturize your skin: glycerin, sorbital and alpha hydroxy acids.
- If you have a very sensitive or sensitive skin, look for products containing sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). These products irritate the skin and make it permeable .
- A protective lotion, such as gloves in the bottle or O'Keeffe's healthy hands, helps to create a barrier that persists even with frequent hand washing.
- Do not forget sunscreen, especially on and under the nose when it is active outdoors .
- Finally, apply lip balm often with SPF, but avoid those containing camphor, phenol, menthol, OL or salicylic acid.
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Protect your eyes
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The environment and the winter decor can make our eyes worse and dry or wet. There is nothing better than going in the cold, a gust of wind that makes you cry, and this water dries the tender spot under your eyes. (My eyes jumped!) To avoid this:
- Wear sunglasses, preferably of the kind that fits around your face. This helps to combat the glare of snow and cold wind.
- If your eyes are dry, apply artificial tears or soft lubricants to your eyes.
- Contact lens users often need to moisten their lenses.
- More wink
- All About Dry Eye recommends applying warm compresses at night or after waking to prevent tears
- And yes, moisturize the delicate eye area.
Change your inner habits
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It's always important to stay hydrated, including winter, when you want to keep your skin. Besides drinking a lot of water :
- Showers or hot baths instead of steam baths. They feel good in winter, but the intense heat can break the lipid barrier of the skin and your body will lose more moisture.
- Turn on the humidifier, especially at night, when your body is trying to repair itself. The Sweethome recommends the air humidifier Air-O-Swiss (180 USD), but there are also cost-effective and technically less optimized ways to increase the humidity.
- Eat more healthy fats like nuts, avocados and greasy fish. Eskimos have a rich diet of seafood and healthy fats that plays an important role in their incredible skin .
- According to NIH , alcohol-based mouthwashes, over-the-counter cold remedies and certain prescriptions, including antidepressants and high blood pressure medications, can worsen the drought alternatives.
- Do not smoke and reduce your alcohol intake.
Treat dry and chapped skin
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If all of these peeling, moisturizing and moisturizing effects do not help and your skin is still dry or cracked, here are some tips that can help:
- Aquaphor or Vaseline, especially on chapped lips.
- After hydrating your hands and feet during the night, put on socks and cotton gloves to regain moisture.
- Treat windburned skin with 1% hydrocortisone .
- Many people like Cream Cream of Zim (though I remember trying it out and it seemed like it was a bit prickly).
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For more information, see the WebMD for All Regional Skin Care Guide (North-West-West Coast) and the Shape Skin Care secrets of winter athletes .
love,
Lifehacker
Pictures by Whologwhy , BJ Carter , LaMenta3 , Nina Matthews Photography .
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