In part one of our skincare for cold climates tips, most of the tips revolved around you skin and what you need to do in terms of daily care. In part two, we want to look at more of the outside factors that can impact your overall skincare health.
Protect Your Skin from the Wind
The wind, be it the summer or winter, can be brutal, but the dry air in the winter can do some serious damage. When you go out on cold, windy days, try to cover your skin as much as possible. For the areas that are exposed, such as your lips, use a petroleum-based lip balm.
Now the next part may sound a bit weird, but I promise you it works. As a cyclist, I ride all-year-round, and we generally ride in shorts until the weather gets really cold. So how do we protect all that exposed skin? Most of us coat our legs and face in Vaseline to create a barrier to block the wind from doing damage. It might sound a little gross, but it works wonders, and it gives you a excuse to take a long soak when you get back from the ride.
Avoid Extreme Cold Exposure
This is a no-brainer… you never want to be out in extreme temperatures for a long period of time. Excess exposure can result in severe skin issues, such as frostbite. If you are experiencing a changing skin color, extreme pain, or loss of sensation in your extremities, you may want to pay a visit to your doctor.
Use Sunscreen
I cannot tell you how many people I have talked to that stop using sunscreen in the winter. The sun may not feel as strong, but it scan still do damage to unprotected skin. Do yourself a favor and use skincare products that have natural-providing SPF ingredients, and a moisturizer that includes SPF protection.
No Winter Tanning
I know, I know… you don’t want to lose that bronzed skin you worked all summer for, but winter tanning is not good for your skin. Sitting in that tanning bed and cooking your skin can do real damage, such as increasing the likelihood of skin cancer. If you have a big event that you want to have that summer glow for, use a self-tanning lotion. However, make sure you use extra moisturizer because self-tanners can also dry out your skin.
Make Regular Appointments with Dermatologist
The final tip we will give you is to make visiting the dermatologist a regular thing. It is always a good idea to get a yearly check so if you do have something developing, it can be taken care of before it becomes a real issue.
If you missed Part 1 of our Skincare for Cold Climate tips, click here.
