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Winter can be trying both physically and mentally. Harsh winds, freezing temperatures and dark mornings conspire to make us feel pretty low and not always looking our best. Heres ELLEs suggestions to get you through the season in one piece.
Our bodies have evolved over thousands of years to need certain vitamins and minerals at specific times of the year. This is where seasonal foods come in – giving us the vitamins, nutrients and minerals that we need at that particular time. This is particularly important during the colder months when bacteria and viruses are rife. Our immune systems are crying out for as much help as possible to protect it. Eat plenty of butternut squash, pumpkins and apples which are at their best this time of year and contain a lot of immune boosting vitamin-C.
The lack of humidity in the air will literally draw vital moisture from the skin, leaving it dry and flaky. The cold and unpredictable weather also often results in patches of itchy, red skin and rosacea. To give your skin a fighting chance try introducing an oil into your skin care routine - we love Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil ‘Dehydrated Skin’, £33 and Relax Body Treatment Oil, £36. An oil works better with the skin and locks in some of that essential hydration (more so than a regular moisturiser) while keeping your skin supple and protected.
Lips are one of the first casualties of winter and extreme dehydration is usually exacerbated by drying central heating. Try applying a layer of Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm, £8.20 (boots.com) to lips before venturing outside and reapply at every opportunity. This clear balm is ideal for very dry and cracked skin – it contains moisturising glycerin, conditioning panthenol while the bisobolo soothes and protects. And try an extra application of the protecting Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant, £25, as revered by Ruth of the Advanced Style blog who has applied it to her lips nightly for years. If you are constantly plagued by sore, chapped skin on your lips you should consider investing in an indoor humidifier which will maintain an ideal humidity of around 40 to 60 percent which will help to prevent the skin on your lips from drying out.
There has been research to suggest that we experience greater hair-loss during the colder weather. It is thought that the sun triggers the secretion of hormones that regulate growth, resulting in accelerated length during the summer and the opposite is true during months where we don’t get as much sunlight. Try Aveda Invati Exfoliating Shampoo, £18.50, and Thickening Conditioner, £20.50, which strengthens and unblock pores so hair doesn’t fall out as often . And don’t forget your scalp. Just like the skin on the rest of our body, the bitter temperatures and central heating can make it tight, itchy and flaky. We love Aveda Scalp Remedy Dandruff Solution, £18 – a leave-in daily treatment with botanical ingredients which calm the itch and reduces flaking by up to 41% in just a week.
It may seem obvious but apply hand cream at every opportunity as the temperatures plummet - the key is to keep the moisture within the skin. Just as important is an SPF (yes even in winter). UV is a major cause of ageing and as long as there is daylight there is UV - if the skin on your hands aren’t protected you can expect to see ugly age spots surface in the future. Try Eve Lom Hand Cream, £22, which not only has an SPF10 but also salicylic acid to gently exfoliate the skin. Nails are also likely to become brittle and prone to splitting this time of year too. One of the easiest ways to protect them is to always wear a coat of polish to act as a barrier against the cold. Use Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle Serum, £10.95, which has biotin and vitamins A, C and E to keep the nail bed and cuticles nourished, healthy and ultimately more resilient against the weather.
Sally Hansen available at Boots and
Regular exercise increases the levels of serotonin in the body, which, as we have learnt helps us to wake up easily, but also help to keep our mood elevated which can go some way to tackle SAD (Seasonal Effective Disorder). As well as giving us a boost during the dark days when motivation is thin on the ground. it also boosts the immune system, making us more resilient to seasonal colds and flu. Try booking in for The Good Vibes Glow Yoga Foundation Series, £55 – consisting of four foundation classes in a bespoke studio with infra-red heating to promote weight-loss and reduce muscle stiffness and ambient SAD lighting to trick your system into believing it is stretching under a warm sun rather than a studio.
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