“Winter is here” a phrase we are thoroughly familiar with — the season of hot chocolate, late nights by the fireplace, and snow. I am pretty sure the mention of winter is already making your heart warm. "Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is time for home." Quotes Edith Sitwell

Winter, along with its festivities and Santa’s laugh, also brings its fair share of problems. It's especially bad news for your skin.

Are you afraid of looking pale and dull on New Year’s Eve? Or are you concerned about losing your sparkle at the holiday bash? If these are your apprehensions. You are just where you're supposed to be.

This blog is all about why you need to take extra care of your skin this winter?

There are quite a few reasons why winter becomes a calamity for your skin.

Decreased Humidity in the air : 

Do you know low humidity levels can take a dramatic toll on your skin? Humidity is defined as the amount of water vapor in the air. Higher the temperature, the more water vapor or moisture it retains. Chilly winter air can lead to decreased moisture in the air. This causes your skin to dry out. Skin is a barrier that normally retains water, but dried skin loses its moisture more easily by evaporation. This leads to itchy, flaky, and cracked skin. Also, many skin conditions are exacerbated by dry skin due to winter, these include

• Eczema 
• Acne
• Psoriasis
• Rosacea.

Moisturizing skin regularly and using humidifiers for skin can be a lifesaver.

Oh No, “ the cold winds

“Blow, blow, thou winter wind, thou art not as unkind as man’s ingratitude” Williams Shakespeare. 

Winter winds can be very unkind to the skin. Cold winds with freezing temperatures can strip away your skin of moisture and some important oils that act as a natural moisturizer. Blistering winds cause cracked skin that is dry and may become even painful.

Hot water? Please no!

A long hot shower after a long tiring day in the frigid cold leaves you feeling calm and refreshed. But these showers can wreak havoc on your

skin. Hot water not only strips moisture from the skin, but it is fast to evaporate, causing nerves to be exposed to air. This causes the "winter itch" which feels like paper cuts on the skin. Use of moisturizers like coconut oil before the shower and immediate moisturizing after a shower can prevent your skin from losing its luster.

 Dermatologists also suggest the use of Luke warm water and extra-gentle cleanser for the winter season. Botanic hearth's tea tree oil body wash is one of a kind providing your skin with a nourishing and gentle cleansing after every shower. 

Sunburn (The winter burn):

As George R.R martin says, “Nothing burns like a cold.” It is generally assumed that sunburn is something associated with summers. If only you knew better, you would apply your sunscreen all around the clock. According to Marshfield clinic, snow reflects up to 80% UV rays, doubling the chances of sunburn in winter. 

Sunburn also exacerbates a condition called windburn. Windburn results in burning and redness after exposure to cold winds and UV rays.  Skin Cancer Institute recommends reapplying your sunscreen every two hours to avoid serious skin damage.

Decreased Nourishment of skin :

Your skin is the barrier that protects you from climatic aggressions. It is the guard from many natural insults. It needs constant power to protect us from these insults. 

Blood flow to the skin through capillaries is a source of constant nourishment. However, chilly weather results in vasoconstriction in cutaneous blood vessels, reducing the blood flow to the skin, resulting in decreased nutrition to the cells. Hence explaining the pale and lifeless skin, we suffer from in winters.  

Consistent moisturizing and massage can replenish and bring the skin back to life. Botanic hearth's Alo vera gel has the properties of aloe vera and provides deep moisturizing and hydration to the skin.

Hyperpigmentation in winter ( Darkness calls ) :

You invest so much in products to brighten your complexion. However, a little carelessness in caring for your skin in winter can turn into a disaster. 

Winter results in the formation of dry patches. Also, sunburn and freckles can happen in winter. All these conditions can worsen hyperpigmentation because when skin cells are inflamed and damaged, Melanin ( dark skin pigment) penetrates deeper, resulting in dark spots and a relatively darker complexion.

Botanic hearths Vitamin C serum is one product that can help brighten your complexion on such dark days.

Extremes of temperatures:

Extremes of temperature your skin suffers from in the summer and winter months can be problematic for you. In winters, we constantly move from warm indoor environments to outdoor colder climates like Relaxing near a blazing fire can cause your skin to dry, as the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests. 

These fluctuations cause further drying and dehydration of the skin. This happens due to sudden vasodilation in warm and vasoconstriction in cold environments.

Why is Hydration of skin mandatory in winter?

“Healthy, hydrated cells are the key to ageless skin and a healthy body,” Says Doctor Howard Murad, a renowned dermatologist. The importance of hydrated skin cannot be emphasized enough. 

Hydrating your skin means increasing its water content. Our skin has consists of three layers that are 

• subcutaneous tissue
•  dermis
• epidermis. 

The outermost layer is the epidermis, which further consists of five more layers. The stratum corneum is the top layer of the dermis containing dead skin cells. These dead cells are shed continuously naturally, and new cells regenerate. 

When there is insufficient nourishment, climatic insults to the skin, it can result in no regeneration of new cells and persistence of dead ones. This makes the skin dull and lifeless.

Hydration of the skin is mandatory to keep the skin looking healthy fresh, and glowing. Winter is especially famous for stripping away moisture and oils from the skin, causing the skin to dry out. Dry skin can become flaky, parched, and cracked. This dried-out skin results in a condition known as winter itch or winter xerosis.

Dehydrated and dry skin can also exacerbate many skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, acne. It can also cause premature aging of the skin resulting in wrinkles. Skin in newborn and old people is even more prone to these problems. 

So proper hydrating skincare regime is a must-have in winters. Here are a few ways we can keep our skin hydrated and well-nourished in the icy weather.

You should use a good Moisturizing and hydrating product. Lotions are not recommended as they are relatively not as thick and moisturizing. The use of thick creams and ointments aids more in hydrating skin.

Use an extra gentle cleanser rather than a cleanser with fragrances, alcohols, and other chemicals as they tend to irritate and dry the skin.

Oils like lavender and Argan oil should be used with a carrier oil like coconut oil before and after baths. These provide hydration. They also minimize drying and flaking of the skin due to the use of hot water. Botanic hearths lavender essential oil is a preferable choice. It is consists of the right consistency of lavender and is preferably budget-friendly compared to other products in the market.

Investing in a humidifier can be a lifesaver in the harsh winter temperatures. It can keep the air humid and prevent the damages of decreased humidity on both skin and hair. The botanic hearths set of essential oils for aromatherapy can be your best friend. Paired with a humidifier, you can experience a calm, soothing environment along with many skin benefits befitting your needs.