We recently turned back the clocks which means winter is on its way. With the colder temps, my already dry skin needs a little extra TLC to stay hydrated. I don’t know about you but there is nothing worse than leaving the house and realizing your ankles or knuckles are ashy. Try as you may, sometimes lotion just doesn’t cut it. This winter, let me help you say “BYE ASHY” and give you some of my tips for keeping your skin hydrated.
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For me, fighting off the winter ashies begins in the shower. II typically do a double cleanse using a soap bar and following up with a hydrating body wash like the Naturium Glow Getter Multi Oil Hydrating Body Wash. After my shower, I slather on a rich almond oil while my skin is still damp to lock in the moisture. Then I follow up with my normal lotion or body cream, the Kopari Ultra Restore Body Butter has quickly become a household favorite.
I see now that there was a reason why my Mom drenched us in Vaseline before we left the house in the morning. Vaseline is the one product that I’ll forever keep in my skincare stash, but definitely in the winter. After I’ve applied my body oil and lotion, my last step is Vaseline on my feet, knees and elbows along with a thin layer on my face.
As far as my skincare goes, I follow the same formula as I do with my showers. Using a gentle facial wash, then I lock in moisture with a hydrating and collagen boosting serum. Lately I’ve added moisturizers with squalane. I had the opportunity to try the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer with Squalane, it’s made a huge difference improving the dry patches on my cheeks and forehead.
For a spa like treatment at home, I’ve incorporated facial steaming. Facial steaming is a great and economical way to add extra hydration to parched skin. Check out this post on some of the benefits of facial steaming.
If you plan on kissing under the mistletoe this season, you can’t be out here with dry, ashy lips. Here are a few things I do to make sure my lips are soft and hydrated:
- Here’s how to save a coin on lip scrubs, make a DIY scrub at home. I like to make a scrub using a tablespoon of brown sugar and some olive oil and store it in a small jar. Exfoliating my lips a few times a week ensures they’ll stay soft and ready for applying lip products and smooching.
- I’m completely obsessed with lip oils these days. Once I tried the Ami Cole Lip Oil back in 2021, I was hooked on how they made my lips soft and kept them hydrated for hours. Lip oils are the IT girl of the moment, so there are plenty of options to choose from.
- Lastly, make your lip treatments a normal part of your nighttime routine. I usually add a light layer of vaseline and top it off with a lip oil. This way, my lips are hydrated throughout the night and I don’t wake up with dry, cracked lips.
The last tip on keeping your skin hydrated this winter is all about your hands. Hopefully, you’re washing your hands frequently, and handwashing definitely dries out your skin. Not only that, your hands are one of the first parts of your body to show signs of aging. So, lotion up those hands, ashy! The brand Necessaire was kind enough to send me their The Hand Cream Barrier Treatment to try out. This not your normal lotion, it’s a thick and hydrating cream with 5 ceramides, peptides and niacinamide. As a tip, try layering your lotions with a touch of Vaseline, you’ll have the softest hands ever.
I hope these tips will help you keep your skin hydrated and kiss your ash goodbye. Make sure you’re also staying hydrated from the inside out by drinking lots of water. Let me know in the comments how you fight the winter ashies.
XOXO-Lydia Marie
