It’s cold out there… so obviously, the freezing weather can turn your skin dry and pale. So, what do you do? No worries, no need to panic. The illustrious Dr. Shefali Trasi Nerurkar, Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Trasi clinic and La Piel skin clinic, gives TheGlitz readers, sound advice on how to keep the skin, lips and hair well hydrated and beautiful, this winter. Read on…

Skin Win

Hydrate your skin well with moisturizers. One may have to increase the number of applications depending on the skin type. Well-hydrated skin is always healthy and glowing. The common ingredients in a moisturizer can be aloe vera, ceramides, butters like shea butter, cocoa butter, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, oils like coconut oil, olive oil etc. Use fragrance-free, non-comedogenic creams to avoid any skin allergies. Gentle, non-soapy and hydrating shower gels are a must during baths. It prevents stripping of the natural skin oils and keeps the skin hydrated. Also, avoid taking long baths with hot water during the winter season. Use lukewarm water for a bath immediately followed by moisturizing the skin, this traps the moisture in the skin and prevents it from cracking. Pick some good moisturizing cleansers available in the market that remove dead skin cells from the face and hydrate parched skin.

If you have very dry skin, layering of products may be needed. Serums are light molecular-weight products that absorb into the skin instantly and hydrate the skin well. This can be followed by the application of moisturizing creams on top. This layering of skin products hydrates the skin well for a longer period. The common ingredients used in serums are actives like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, glycolic acid, niacinamide, etc.
Face oils can also be used for skin post-middle age. They help to soothe the skin and lock in the hydration preventing any water loss. We can mix face oils with our routine moisturizing creams or apply them as a last product while layering with multiple products. The actives in face oils are generally natural oils like rosehip oil, evening primrose oil or vitamin E oil.
Lastly, always remember to apply sunscreens to protect the skin from sun damage or visible light damage.

Lips

Lips are also an integral part of the face. Chapped lips are a common complaint in this season. Use a lip balm containing SPF regularly to protect them from chapping. For extremely chapped lips use skin boosters to hydrate them internally.

Hair

Your hair can get frizzy and dry in the cold weather. Regularly oiling of scalp and hair hydrates it. Increase the applications of leave-on conditioners or hair serums to maintain hydration.
Lastly, use a humidifier to keep the air moisturized and skin hydrated.

The Best In The Business

Mumbai-based Dr. Shefali Trasi Nerurkar, MBBS, MD (DERMATOLOGY), Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Trasi clinic and La Piel skin clinic is extremely well-known.