7 Easy Tips for Winter Lips & Other Body Parts

From Tuesday noon until evening, about  nine inches of snow fell in our area. Later evening, another 3 inches fell and it’s currently snowing more right now. Being a Midwesterner all my life, snow doesn’t bother me too much, barring a few minor stipulations. Snow is okay in whatever depth in December, January and early February. Snow is inappropriate before mid-November and an abomination in March, April or May. I don’t like snow side effects like traffic jams or accidents and I could live without the melty slush that sticks to my car and then melts all over the floor in my garage. But, on the whole, I find great beauty in the bright, white fluffy stuff. Winter is snow-covered here and that is that.

Winter also is the season for dryness. Dry air, dry skin, dry lips, dry hair and lots of static cling in clothes, and hair, if you’re lucky. Even with feets of snow (wet, damp stuff), everything gets kinda parched. Of course, it’s not terrible but can be uncomfortable and affect the look and health of your body. Never fear. With my years of experience, I’ve got seven tips for you to keep your body from feeling winter.

1. Shorten the shower

You know those long, hot, luxurious showers you like to take? I mean, I haven’t taken one in a few years but I used to. Anyhoo, standing in that hot water for an extended period of time dries out your skin, unfortunately. Either shorten the length or turn down the water temp to keep from drying out your skin.

This is true for babies in the bath, too. Consider turning down the temp, giving baths less frequently or adding a drop or two of oil to the tub.

2. Exfoliate

Keep your skin glowing by scrubbing off the dry stuff. I caught my hands in a photo in the other day and went “Gah! They look so dry!” Oh, and my feet are in terrible shape. Use scrubby pads, loofahs gloves or poof, salt or sugar scrubs or brushes twice a week to keep your skin dry-skin free.

3. Drink lots of H2O (+ cut down on caffeine and alcohol)

One of the top ways to take care of your body is to keep it well hydrated. From temperature regulation to circulation to glowing skin, water is essential to keeping our bodies in tip top shape, This is especially important when the dry weather sets in. So bottoms up!

Additionally, caffeine and alcohol tend to dehydrate. At least I’ve found it to be true. If you are finding you are still feeling dry but you are guzzling water, consider cutting down your consumption of the two and see if it helps.

4. Add moisture back into the air

Dry air dries out nasal passages, the throat and all our skin so adding some back helps. My mom used to boil water on the stove during the winter when I was little and I do it occasionally myself. Other options include a standing humidifier or, if you really want to invest, there are whole-house humidifier systems.

5. Wear sunscreen

Seems a little odd since we equate sun protection with the heat of summertime but the sun continues its power even during the winter. UV rays bounce off snow and can penetrate our skin just as easily as bouncing off the water of the lake in summer. If you want to cut out a step, use a moisturizer with SPF included.

6. Moisturize! Part 1

Bring out all the products. Lotion and oils for skin, extra conditioner for hair, drops for eyes, balm for the lips. Everything needs special treatment in the winter. Put on a moisturizer right out of the shower to lock in skin’s moisture. Put the deep moisturizer on feet more frequently to keep them from cracking. I like to put socks on when I do it so I don’t leave footprints throughout the house while my feet soak up the moisture.

 

7. Moisturize! Part 2

What bugs me the most is dry lips. I’ve made sure to have lip balm within reach of me everywhere in the house from the very first place MJ and I lived. I actually get a little anxious if I don’t have it. Turns out our lips don’t have all the layers the skin on other parts of our bodies to which makes them dry out faster and more frequently (but also makes them lovely and soft, unlike other body parts. haha!) Vaseline® is one of my faves lip treats and not just because I find their Lip Therapy ® tins adorable. It’s long-lasting and it helps dry lips at a deeper level than just making them pretty and shiny or smell delicious or making them rosy, because who doesn’t love rosy lips? Uh, this pasty, white girl does! Love Bug has threatened to steal them all but so far, I have them tucked safely in all my need-lip-stuff-now places. Long life lovely lips! Get your own at your nearest Target and Target.com!

So instead of grumbling that we are knee-deep in snow or that it’s not flip flop weather or that my pants are clinging to my legs again (thanks, static cling!), I’m enjoying it and winter for it’s beauty, bizzarre-ness and fun.

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So tell me: how do you take care of your skin and lips in the winter?

P.S. Isn’t that lip tin cake adorable?? Made by the fabulous Made in Heaven Cakes!

This post is sponsored by Vaseline® Lip Therapy ® Tins. We actually use these in real life! Thanks for being supportive of our sponsors.