Winterize Your Body

Written by Kari Keenan Wednesday, 11 January 2012 16:58

Winterize Your Body

As the cold weather sets in each year, you go through the process of winterizing your house and car.  But do you winterize your body?  With cold weather comes drier air so it’s important to keep your body (skin, hair, and nails) moisturized during the dry winter months.

Skin
If you normally have dry skin, be sure to use lotion more frequently in the winter.  Moisturized skin not only stays soft, it keeps its elasticity longer, which helps prevent wrinkles, sagginess, and stretch marks.

I recommend using a paraben-free moisturizer for your body.  Parabens are found in many commercial moisturizers, and have shown to have trace connections to breast cancer, skin cancer, and allergic reactions. The long-term effects of parabens are unknown, so if you have a choice between moisturizers, it’s a good idea to opt for the paraben-free option.

For your face, I recommend using both a cleanser and moisturizer specifically formulated for the face.  Regular body wash or soap may be too harsh and even more drying to your face.  I also recommend using a moisturizer that contains sunscreen protection.  Despite the temperature of the weather, the sun can still damage your skin, so it’s important to provide defense against harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Hair
Hair can also get dried out in the winter.  You may want to deep condition your hair every four to six weeks in addition to using leave-in conditioner several times a week.  If you use a heated device to style your hair, make sure to use a heat protector spray on your hair before drying, curling, or straightening it.

Hands, Feet, and Nails
Did you know your nails can get dried out too?  I didn’t know that until a few months ago when a nail technician was appalled at the state of my nails and informed me of a few methods to keep them moisturized and healthy.

The most important thing to use for healthy nails is nail oil.  Among other places, The Body Shop® has several different nail and hand moisturizers and protectors designed to keep nails, nail beds, and cuticles soft and healthy.

Use special hand and foot creams to keep your hands and feet moisturized.  When applying it, pay special attention to your cuticles and knuckles.  Knuckles can easily crack and bleed in cold, dry weather.

Being healthy is not only about exercising and eating healthy; it’s about taking care of your body in all ways.  Winterize your body by keeping your skin, hair, and nails moisturized and strong!

Kari Keenan
National-Level NPC Figure Competitor
FigureGirlWorld.com