Beautiful You by Suzanne Edmonds

Each week, beauty enthusiast Suzanne Edmonds explores the best ways to take care of ourselves so that we love the skin we’re in.

Cold mornings, short days and bulky clothes, that hide a multitude of sins, may tempt you to neglect your winter beauty regime.

But winter weather brings with it its own unique set of beauty challenges that need to be addressed, not ignored.

From a flaky scalp and chapped lips to itchy hands and split heels, the drying effects of cold weather can take their toll on our bodies.

A warming winter massage will make you happier and healthier.

Keep on top of your beauty regime with my Top Ten Winter Beauty Tips below:

• Moisturise your skin after it has been exposed to water – after a bath or shower, after you do the dishes, after you wash your hands. Keep that moisture locked in!
  
  
• Hydrate your skin from the inside out, by drinking plenty of fluids. If a glass of water doesn’t appeal on a chilly day, try a fruity herbal tea or warm water and lemon juice, which is also great for your digestion.
  
  
• Always wear a moisturiser with sunscreen on your face. You might not feel it burning, but winter sun can still damage your skin.
  
  
• Apply hand cream generously and often. The skin on your hands has fewer oil glands and is thinner than on other parts of your body. On particularly cold days, wear gloves to avoid itching and cracking.
  
  
• Don’t neglect your feet! Dry, cracked heels are as much of a problem in the winter as they are during the summer. Exfoliate regularly and moisturise them as soon as you get out of the shower or bath – and it is always a great idea to moisturise your feet just before hopping into bed.
  
  
• Treat yourself to regular massages. As well as feeling particularly delicious on a cold day, massage boosts your immune system, helps hydrate your skin, eases aches and pains that are exacerbated by the cold, such as arthritis, and literally makes you happier by releasing serotonin and endorphins.
  
  
• Your nails are 10 times more absorbent than your skin. Moisturise them! Avoid nail hardening products that can dry out the natural oils in your nails. For nails and cuticles that are extremely dry, I always recommend pure lanolin as a great moisturising treatment.
  
  
• Coat your lips with hydrating lip balm, or moisturise them throughout the day to avoid painful, cracked lips. Again, for lips, I recommend pure lanolin.
  
  
• You might have noticed a theme emerging! When it comes to repairing and preventing dry skin, lanolin is my favourite moisturiser. It can be a bit sticky but it is natural, works wonders and is very affordable, as a little goes a long way. Try a dab on dry hands before bed each night and in a week you will notice a big difference.

A little bit of extra effort now will have you stepping out with confidence when spring arrives.

Suzanne Edmonds is the owner of De Lux Beauty of Cherrywood, Tauranga.

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