Journal

We all yearn for our skin to glow from the inside out. But gaining healthy & naturally radiant skin is not an overnight progression. It needs a lot of TLC and now that winter’s coming, you certainly need to level up your skincare game. While you pop your favorite winter shrug and soft cozy scarfs, you must keep your skin in its top shape by retaining moisture. But why does your skin need a little more nourishment, particularly during these cold winter months? And more importantly how?

During winter, as the temperature drops, so does the humidity. This, in turn, leads to trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) as water evaporates through our skin in the external environment or simply put causes your skin to become drier and drier. Dryness is not only discomforting in the short run but also leads to premature aging, and increased sensitivity thus it is very important that you take care of your skin a little more during winter.

It is vital to make a few changes in our winter skincare routine such that our skin can remain hydrated & nourished, all throughout the cold. In a nutshell, this journal entry will not only give some pertinent winter skincare tips but also break some winter skincare myths and finally recommend products that will give your skin the much needed TLC it needs in winters. Let’s find out! 

Winter skincare tips you should follow without fail:

1. Moisturize, and moisturize more: Hydrate your skin as much as possible and start using a moisturizer even before your skin feels dry or starts to crack. Add both face and body moisturizer in your winter skincare routine and keep reapplying through the day whenever u feel dry. There is a simple scientific reason behind moisturizing your skin in the frequent intervals in winters. The more the surrounding air is dry, the more it absorbs moisture from your skin and if your skin also has to deal with cold dry wind it needs even more protection. Aminu's Radiance Face Oil such that it strengthens your skin to naturally attract and lock more moisture even in the harshest cold winters without a greasy fell.

2. Choose the correct moisturizer for your skin type:  A good moisturiser should not only hydrate your skin’s outer layers by attracting moisture in the skin and strengthening the lipid barrier to lock the moisture, but it should also do much more than that based on your skin type. For example, if you have an oily or combination skin type, opt for a light-weight, non-comedogenic moisturizer to avoid a greasy feeling. On the other hand, dry skin needs a deeply nourishing oil-based moisturizer to rehydrate. But remember thick textured moisturizers do not always mean better hydration. Confused? To know how you can pick the right moisturizer for your skin, read here.

3. Use a mild exfoliator: It is important to exfoliate as it is very likely that the dead skin cells build up on the surface of your face with increased dryness, preventing it from absorbing your hydrating products. However, using "physical water-based" exfoliators can sometimes be harsh on the skin; thus, we recommend using oil-based scrubs such as Aminu’s Face Scrub.

4. Limit your shower time and opt for lukewarm showers: Keeping your shower short and temperature of water warm (and resisting the temptation to keep it excessively hot), can help prevent moisture loss from the skin. Extreme shower temperatures, either way, be it cold or hot, makes the skin drier. Pro tip - Add a pump of Aminu's Vit C Body Oil to bath to retain moisture.

5. Use pH balanced cleanser: Ideally, you should look out for cleansers that have a pH level close to your skin’s natural level, ranging from 4.5 to 6 (acidic). The reason I am emphasising on using pH-balanced cleansers during winter is because products with high pH (basic) can damage your acid mantle (one of the three protective layers on our skin). This in turn, can aggravate your skin even more, particularly for those with dry or sensitive skin types. 

6. Give your lips and eyes some extra TLC: The skin around the eyes & lips have little-to-no oil glands to protect. This is why we need to apply creams around your eyes and use lip balms, as frequently as possible. 

7. Wear comfortable and breathable fabric: Opt for more light-weighted and soft fabrics. Refrain yourself from wearing those fabrics, which can aggravate allergic reactios in your skin. Fleece and flannels are an excellent choice here.

8. Protect your hands: Whenever stepping out, use a pair of gloves with soft fabric that will not aggravate your skin. Beneath the gloves regularly moisturize your hands with Aminu's Vit B Body Lotion, especially designed for the thin skin on hands and neck.

9. Use sunscreen even in winters: Sun’s rays pose to be extremely harsh and strong particularly during winter even with the cloud or fog cover. We highly recommend using sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage. Read more on the Importance of Sunscreen here. 

Stay hydrated and ensure that you are meeting your day’s worth of water intake!