Taking special care for your skin is necessary during this winter season. Your normal lotions and creams may not be enough to keep your skin hydrated. Here are some tips for your winter skin care routine.
This article deals with,
Hair care routine (Hydrating conditioners and hair masks) with homemade diy recipes
Skin care routine (Best Cleanser, scrub, sheet mask, Face pack, Toner, Serum, Facial Kit And Lip Balm) with their DIY homemade alternatives.
Most products that i have recommended here are easily available on all online shopping websites. You may get them on offers too.
If i have forgotten to mention something, please let me know and i will gladly update it for you guys.
Stay Hydrated
In winter we tend not to give importance to drinking fluids. Whether it is summer or winter your body needs water to flush out toxins. Hence Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water to fight dry dull skin and for the healthy functioning of the body.
Also drink warm liquids like Green tea, Soothing lemon and honey.
If it turns out to be too much, reward yourself with a cup of hot chocolate for doing the right thing at the end of the day. 🙂
Hair Care
The best moisturising hair conditioners in the market are as below,
Dove Regenerative Repair Conditioner, Buy Now
Herbal Essences bio:renew Argan Oil of Morocco conditioner, Buy Now
St.Botanica Moroccan Argan Hair Conditioner, Buy Now
WOW Skin Science Coconut Milk Hair Conditioner, Buy Now
If you have oily hair and scalp then skip this as these conditioners may weigh down your hair. Continue using your favourite shampoo and conditioner.
Homemade Alternatives
Curry Leaves Conditioner
Add a handful of curry leaves and 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds to a cup of hot water. Leave it alone until it cools down completely. Strain the liquid. This acts as an excellent hair conditioner and works on dandruff and mild scalp infections. This conditioner helps promote hair growth too.
Apple Cider Vinegar Conditioner
To a cup of water, add 2 tablespoons of ACV and pour over your shampooed hair. Leave it on for about 3-5 minutes and rinse off as usual.
Apply A Hair mask Once Every Two Weeks
Blend a cup of curry leaves and half a cup of curd together. Apply this to your hair for about 35 minutes.
Whisk an egg and add olive oil/coconut oil to it. Apply it to your hair and leave it on for 35 minutes. Shampoo and condition as usual.
You can also use Biotique Bio Musk Root Hair Mask. It works well in nourishing your scalp and adding smoothness and shine to your hair. Review Here
Skin Care
Apply sunscreen religiously for 365 days no matter the season to prevent UV rays related skin damage and premature ageing.
This routine will ensure that your skin stays flawless and baby soft all throughout the season 🙂
Use an Oil Cleanser
One of the main thing to remember is not to use harsh products on your skin during the cold winter season.
You may many choices available in the market. Few of them are,
The Face Shop Rice Water Bright – Cleansing Light Oil Buy Now
Neutrogena Ultra Light Cleansing Oil, Buy Now
Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil, Buy Now
Innisfree Green Tea Cleansing Oil
DIY Homemade Alternatives
Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut oil works just as fine too
Take a few drops of oil on to your palms. Rub both the palms together and apply the oil to your face. Massage gently for a couple of minutes. If you have applied makeup, Wait until your makeup comes off. Gently wipe the oil off with the help of a tissue or a wet warm towel.
Use A Deep Moisturising Lip Balm
Look for ingredients like,
- Calendula Oil
- Shea Butter
- Coconut Oil
- Jojoba Oil
- Wheatgerm Oil
- Aloe Vera
- Almond Oil
These oils certainly help to prevent dryness and chapping of the lips. Do not lick your lips at any cost which will only aggravate chapped lips. Staying hydrated is the main step to preventing chapped lips.
Lakmé Lip Love Chap stick Cherry, Buy Now
Biotique Bio Fruit Whitening Lip Balm, Buy Now
Maybelline New York Baby Lips Lip Balm, Buy Now
Homemade Alternatives
Use coconut oil + Sugar Scrub
Extra virgin Olive oil/ Coconut oil
Rose petal and honey paste overnight treatment
Honey overnight treatment
Aloe Vera gel overnight treatment
Use Soap Free Gentle Cleanser
Gentle cleansers do not strip your skin of its natural oils making it dry and stretchy. These non foaming cleansers remove dirt and make your skin clean but leave it moisturised too. Gentle skin cleansers are a must for winter skin care routine.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, Buy Now
Garnier Skin Naturals Micellar Cleansing Water, Buy Now
Kaya Skin Clinic Face Cleanser, Buy Now
Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser, Buy Now
Homemade Alternatives
Olive oil+ lemon for massaging and wash it off with besan(Gram flour)
2 Tablespoon raw milk and half teaspoon of honey
2 Teaspoon of baking soda with enough water for pore cleansing
Oats meal (Cooked or raw flour)
Use Gentle Exfoliators
Scrubbing is an important part of the skin care routine. Skip harsh scrubs and go for gentle exfoliators that has minute beads. Winter skin care routine does not exclude this step as it important to slug off dead skin cells. If not, your skin may appear dull and lifeless.
In case you are using Hydroxy acid products, Choose one that has lactic acid and skip on glycolic acid products during the winter season. lactic acid is the most gentle of all the other acid exfoliators.
Himalaya Herbals Gentle Exfoliating Scrub, Buy Now
Joy Skin Fruits Gentle Exfoliating Apricot Scrub, Buy Now
Home Remedies
You may apply curd on your face daily. Curd has lactic acid which will help with the exfoliation of dead skin cells. When mixed with honey, this acts as an excellent hydrating mask that is suited for this winter season.
You may also use oats to exfoliate your skin.
Apple Cider vinegar. Soak a cotton ball and apply all over your face and neck
Honey and sugar scrub
Honey and Ground coffee bean scrub
Moisturising Toner
Give alcohol based toners a break in this winter season. Toners help to get rid of any traces of makeup, oil or impurities. Using a moisturising toner not only balances the Ph of the skin after cleansing but it also moisturises it leaving it baby soft. Now the skin is ready for the next step.
Toners for your winter skin care routine are,
Plum Green Tea Alcohol Free Toner, Buy Now
O3+ Deep Concern 2 Hydrating Moisture Tonic, Buy Now
WOW Lavender & Rose No Parabens & Sulphate Skin Mist Toner, Buy Now
Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner, Buy Now
Juicy Chemistry Organic Rose Water (Hydrating Facial Toning Mist, Buy Now
Homemade Alternatives
Rose water and camphor
Peppermint tea toner
Diluted Apple Cider Vinegar
Aloe Vera gel
Apply A Hydrating Mask 2-3 Times A Week
Leave the moisturising mask on for about 20 minutes and wash off. There are overnight moisturising masks available to boost the moisture content of the skin. They help nourish the skin and leave it glowing in the morning.
Some of the best face masks available are as below,
Aroma Magic Hydrating Seaweed Pack, Buy Now
O3+ Plunge Watermelon Glow Mask, Buy Now
Lakme Absolute Skin Gloss Overnight Mask, Buy Now
O3+ Chamomile Hydrating & Soothing Cooling Masque, Buy Now
MCaffeine Choco Caffeine Glow Face Mask for Dry Skin, Buy Now
L’Oreal Paris Hydrafresh Genius Water-Bursting Mask, Buy Now
Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Color Clay Mask – Hydrating, Buy Now
Use a Hydrating Sheet mask
Most of the sheet masks have hydration as their primary purpose. So you can keep using your favourite sheet mask without confusion.
Filled with powerful hydrating serum, this face shaped mask is truly a spent worthy product. There are sheet masks available for different skin problems too. I have already compiled the best sheet masks available in a separate article.
The Face Shop Real Nature Daily Glow Mask sheet Combo (Pack Of 10), Buy Now
Because of their amazing ingredient list, these sheet masks work to brighten, lighten and fade marks and blemishes with consistent use.
Here Are The List OF The Best Sheet Masks In The Market & Why They Work
Antioxidant Rich Hydrating Serum
Serum has potent ingredients in their smallest size which enables them to penetrate the layers of the skin easily. Choose a serum that has peptides in it which helps boosts collagen production.
Peptides is one of the best anti ageing ingredient.
You can also choose a vitamin C serum. Vitamin c protects the skin from sun damage as well as the oxidative stress from pollution. The premature ageing causing free radicals are efficiently neutralised by Vitamin C. It can be used both in the morning and at night.
Make sure your serum has Glycerine or Hyaluronic acid as one of its ingredients.
These humectants helps hold on to water molecules and prevent dryness. These ingredients work best when they are closest to the skin. That is why it is preferable to have these ingredients in the serum than a moisturiser.
Serum for winter skin care routine,
O3+ Plunge Watermelon Brightening Serum, Buy Now
Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Ageing Micro-Sculpting Serum, Buy Now
St.Botanica Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin C, E Facial Serum, Buy Now
Natural Vibes Ayurvedic Vitamin C Skin Care Face Serum, Buy Now
St.Botanica Vitamin C 20% + Vitamin E & Hyaluronic Acid Facial serum, Buy Now
Homemade Alternative
Moisturise Your Face Immediately
Once you have cleansed your face, you need to moisturise right after. Moisturising when the skin is damp helps lock in moisture. They help plump the skin and prevents drying.
Choose products that has Ceramides or Hyaluronic acid.
Depending upon your skin type you can choose an emollient moisturiser that has deep moisturising properties. They help cure dry patches and make your skin soft.
Emollients have oils and butter as their main ingredient.
If you have normal skin that is not sensitive or acne prone, you can choose moisturisers that block the evaporation of the water molecules completely. The main ingredients in this kind of,
Occlusive moisturisers are Vaseline, petroleum jelly and mineral oil
The best facial moisturisers for the winter season are,
Nivea Creme, Buy Now
Plum Green Tea Mattifying Moisturizer, Buy Now
St.Botanica Vitamin C Brightening Day Cream With SPF 30, Buy Now
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, Buy Now
Cetaphil Moisturizing Advance Hydrating Lotion, Buy Now
Luxury Choices
- LANEIGE Water Bank Moisture Cream, Buy Now
- The Face Shop Chia Seed No Shine Intense Hydrating Cream, Buy Now
Do Facial/Massage Once A Month
Massaging your skin increases blood circulation. Also, this ensures that the nutrients are supplied to the skin cells. Doing a facial or a body massage help you relax while making your skin glow at the same time.
Massaging drains the lymph glands and takes out toxins. Most importantly, Choose one that addresses your skin problem.
Finally, A couple of professional salon series facial kit are as follows,
VLCC Specifix Professional Nutri Hydra Skin Nourishing Facial Kit, Buy Now
Intenso Fruitamin 8 Step Professional Facial Kit, Buy Now
Aroma Magic Skin Glow facial Kit, Buy Now
Luxury Facial Kit
O3+ Diamond Luxury System Facial Kit for Bridal Makeup and Ultra Glow Treatments, Buy Now
Best Home Made Face Pack For Winter
This face pack is especially suitable for the winters. It moisturises and nourishes the skin making it baby soft and radiant.
- Cooked Oats – 2 tablespoon
- Honey – 1 Teaspoon
- Curd – 3 Tablespoon
Oats comes in the humectant category, that means it helps attract water molecules and hold on to it. Oatmeal help moisturise your skin and it is definitely suitable for all skin types.
- Curd – 1 tablespoon
- Honey – 1 teaspoon
- Olive oil – 3 drops
This is a simple recipe that does not require any special ingredient and does not consume time to whip it up.
- Papaya/Banana – 3 tablespoon
- Honey – 1 teaspoon
This fruit face pack contains vitamins that help nourish the skin while hydrating it. Honey is antibacterial and packed with antioxidants which is also beneficial for your skin. This fruit face pack is extremely moisturising and has a soothing effect.
You can add raw milk or curd to this face pack for added benefits. Both the ingredients are good for your skin.
Use A Moisturising Body Wash
Moisturising body wash prevents extra drying of the skin. It does not strip all the natural oils and because of that the appears soft and hydrated.
The best moisturising body wash currently available are,
Nivea Creme Care Shower Cream, Buy Now
The Body Shop Shea Shower Cream, Buy Now
Dove Purely Pampering Body Wash Shea Butter & Warm Vanilla, Buy Now
Apply A Body Lotion After A Shower
When the skin is still damp you need to apply a good body lotion to seal the moisture in. The best ingredients for this are oils and Shea butter. They keep your skin hydrated for longer periods of time.
These ingredients also help nourish the skin and nails.
The best body lotions to choose from are,
Nivea Express Hydration Body Lotion, Buy Now
Vaseline Total Moisture Nourishing Body Lotion, Buy Now
ST. D’VENCE Body Lotion with Argan Oil and Avocado Butter for Very Dry Skin, Buy Now
Nivea Nourishing Lotion Body Milk with Deep Moisture Serum and 2x Almond Oil for Very Dry Skin, Buy Now
Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Body Lotion, Buy Now
Himalaya Herbals Cocoa Butter Intensive Body Lotion, Buy Now
There is no rule saying only costly products work on your skin. You may choose to go all natural this winter too.
Some of the best natural Moisturisers for your body are,
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Almond Oil
- Shea Butter
- Jojoba Oil
- Argan Oil
Luxury Sleeping Masks
- The Body Shop British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask
Conclusion
- Do not forget to use sunscreen
- Drink lots of liquids
- Stay warm
- Use moisturising products or oils
- Moisturise when skin is still damp
- Stay away from harsh products that cause drying
- Exercise for 30 minutes everyday
- Remove makeup before going to bed
I have compiled everything that i can think of. But in case i have forgotten to include anything let me know.
Let me know your favourite products too. I would love to add them to the list.
Have A Good Day! 🙂
