The amount of time spent outside to get your daily dose of vitamin D is probably less in the winter than it is during warmer seasons. Though the forecast may be overtaken by clouds and blizzards this time of the year, that doesn’t mean your skin has to look dull and dark to match the weather. There are plenty of ways to fool your friends into thinking summer never left your backyard. Here are six simple ways you can make your skin glow all winter.
1. Keep using sunscreen
Just because the sun isn’t shining nearly as much as it does in the summer, doesn’t mean you should stop using sunscreen. Dermatologist Joel Schlessinger told Women’s Health magazine that sunscreen doesn’t only protect your skin, but it also helps your complexion retain a healthy glow. Sunscreen has the ability to block UV rays from causing collagen damage, which leads to dull skin over time. If you want to keep a natural glow year-round, apply SPF daily.
2. Exfoliate
If you want your complexion to reflect more light, it’s important to exfoliate at least once a week. Assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine Jeanette Graf told Allure magazine that your skin looks its brightest when it’s smooth enough to reflect light. Dead skin cells pile up, which keeps light from reflecting and makes skin look dull. Give your complexion a deep exfoliation at night to remove dead skin cells and dirt from the day.
Exfoliate at night to remove dead skin cells from your skin and promote a glowing complexion.3. Watch what you eat
Your skin care regimen isn’t the only thing that affects your complexion – your diet does, too. Allure said drinking alcohol and caffeine regularly can dehydrate the skin and sugary foods can break down its collagen and elastin over time. Graf told the source that she suggests drinking more water and eating colorful vegetables because they can help balance your body’s pH levels, which contribute to a glowing complexion.
4. Use self-tanner
One of the easiest ways to keep an even skin tone during the winter is by using a tanning bed – but it’s also one of the most dangerous options. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said indoor tanning can increase your chances of getting skin cancer and potentially blinding eye diseases, and it can cause premature skin aging, wrinkles and age spots. If you want to achieve the spa-glow without damaging your skin, consider using self-tanner. It’s an easy and effective alternative for a gleaming complexion.
“Use bronzer on areas where the sun naturally hits.”
5. Use shimmering powder
Another easy way to add some color to your face is by wearing shimmering powder makeup. Makeup artist Allyson Myette told Women’s Health that she recommends lightly dusting bronzing powder on the areas where the sun naturally hits, such as the forehead, nose and collarbones. This helps create the illusion of a sun-kissed glow during the not-so-sunny days.
6. Apply serum after cleansing
It’s important to have your skin care regimen down year-round, but it’s especially crucial during the cold days of winter to prevent dry skin. Women’s Health suggested making certain you apply a cream or serum loaded with hydroxyl acid and retinol to help dissolve dead skin and promote cell turnover. Make it a routine to cleanse, apply serum and moisturize twice a day to keep your skin from drying out this winter.
