Does the winter air crack your skin? Cold temperatures, dry indoor air and hot showers can all contribute to dry skin. I’m not skipping out on hot showers, especially on those cold nights, so to help my skin, I am adding more moisture into my daily routine. Here are some of my best tips to keep your skin soft and hydrated:

  1. Know your face. This will help you pick the best moisturizer for your skin. My skin type is oily, so I look for moisturizers that contain salicylic acid – a moisturizer and acne fighter all in one. I also look for products that have a low Environmental Working Group rating, which means the product is good for me and for the environment. Learn more here.
  2. Exfoliate. In addition to washing your face, it’s important to exfoliate to remove dead skin cells, thus improving your skin’s overall appearance. Simply add some brown or white sugar to your usual face wash. If you’re feeling more motivated, mix two teaspoons of honey with the desired amount of sugar. Honey is antibacterial and locks in moisture. Don’t knock it until you try it!
  3. Use body scrubs. These are easy to whip up. All you need is some oil and sugar. I absolutely love using coconut oil and brown sugar, which leaves your skin feeling divine. Add a tablespoon of oil to some sugar and voila! I like my scrubs extra sugary, so I often do a 2:1 ratio of sugar to oil. You can also add essential oil or extracts like peppermint for a great seasonal scent.
  4. Cover up. Sleeping in a light pair of gloves and socks will lock in moisture and reveal hydrated feet and hands. This is my least favorite thing to do, but I know it helps. If I put moisturizer on my feet –after a foot scrub, of course! – I start out sleeping in socks and leave them on for as long as I can. I can’t stand to sleep in gloves, so before shoveling snow off my drive way or my morning commute I’ll put some lotion on and wear my gloves while I work.
  5. Hydrate from the inside. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day. I know water can get pretty boring, so I add cucumbers and lemon, ginger and mint, or frozen berries. Be creative!

My suggestions may seem a little unorthodox, but I personally like to use environmentally friendly products and even make my own beauty products. Cheers – with water of course! – to hydrated skin.