Boost the Hydration

Have you noticed minor, or like me a drastic, difference in your skin and hair this time of year? Maybe a little dryer, or more noticeable lines. This cold dry weather, has an effect even on nature. Just look around, the trees stand stately as always but with one very noticeable change, no leaves, and if there’s a few still hanging, they are dry. An interesting thing to take note of though, are the roots of the trees. The roots remain tucked away safely, being nurtured and fed. Even though we don’t have a root system like a tree, we can build a healthy root system for our skin and hair. Feeding and nourishing ourselves from the inside out during these cold dry months.

One of the most important things we can do to combat dry skin and hair, is well you know what I’m going to say, “drink plenty of liquids”. Drinking room temperature or hot fluids help boost metabolism and encourage a good digestive system. Try adding a simple dash of cinnamon with just a pinch of lemon to your
water, to kick it up a notch. This could be an easy solution for ones that don’t particularly like water. Eat warm nourishing dense foods such as greens, fruits and even dark chocolate. Drinking plenty of fluids and eating well can have a major impact on your skin and hair, as well as the stiffness in your joints and bones.

An additional step in keeping your skin radiant and your hair shinny and healthy during these dry days is to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Your skin is your first defense against pathogens. You do not want your skin dry and cracking. Purchase a good moisturizer, that's made with organic ingredients. Ingredients are important, what we put on our body eventually is absorbed in our body, and can have a direct effect on our health.

Tips to combat the winter dryness

• Using a humidifier can increase levels of moisture in the air, which can create an environment in which your skin stays hydrated.
• Exfoliation is essential to skin care. Failure to do so can lead to dry skin, regardless of how much cream or serum you apply.
• Switching to a hydrating face cream is one of the most critical steps to preventing dry skin.
• “Instead of lotions, opt for creams like Tout Ca, that contain hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
• Personalize your routine with a gentle cleanser for both hair and skin, then feed and seal in the goodness with a moisturizer that contains butters and or oils that will not clog your pores.

Things that can cause dry skin and hair:

• Drop in temperature and humidity causes the air to become cold and dry, which can results in the moisture on your skin/ hair to evaporate and dry out.
• Heating your home using fireplaces, space heaters, wood-burning stoves and central heating causes the humidity inside to decrease.
• Overly long, hot baths or showers strip your skin of natural oils.
• Harsh detergents and soaps can deplete your skin of moisture. 

Symptoms of dry skin:

• Skin looks and feels rough
• Skin feels tight, especially, bathing or showering
• Slight or even severe peeling, scaling or flaking
• Itching (pruritus)
• Ashy, gray skin
• Redness
• Small cracks or fine lines
• Deep cracks that may bleed

Some symptoms of dry hair:

• Tangles easy 
• Brittle, Breaks when styling
• Flat, dull, no shine
• Battling frizz
• Increased shedding