When the cold weather first arrives and the temperatures drop, our skin needs protection. It’s important to stay hydrated and protected during colder weather. We always remember to protect our skin when we’re at the beach, but tend to forget this when we hit the slopes.
However, in addition of the cold, when you’re at higher altitude the sun’s UV rays are less filtered and reflection from the snow intensified. So what’s the best way to effectively protect your skin against cold and sun during winter ? Here are a few simple things to incorporate into your routine !
Moisturize
During winter, your skin needs are not the same. Face, lips and hands are seriously challenged. Even wrapped up from head to toe your skin is still exposed to cold and UV rays and might get dry and chapped. To prevent your skin from getting red and dehydrated due to the changing temperature, stay hydrated !
Practical ways to protect your skin during winter : Use a richer moisturizer and nourishing skin care product than you do in warmer seasons and apply generously morning and night. Do not forget to use hand lotion – because our hands are protected by gloves we often forget that they also suffer from the cold and the dry mountain air. They need help too to avoid becoming dry and cracked.
Drink more
You need to keep your skin hydrated from the inside as well as the outside. So ensure you drink more at a higher altitude compared to what you would normally drink. Humidity is lower at higher altitudes so it is important to drink enough water. Add at least one extra litre to your daily intake.
Use sunscreen
This seems as an obvious piece of advice but cold tends to make us forget the sun’s intensity. It reflects off the snow and sends back more of the ultraviolet rays and is more aggressive than at the beach. To prevent sunburn just protect your skin with a suitable sun cream. In the mountains opt for a 50+ sun cream index. Apply sunscreen half an hour before you go outside and reapply frequently, approximately every 2 hours, if you spend the entire day on the slopes.
Sun attacks your skin even when it’s cloudy, so you still need to protect your skin from sunburn on cloudy days. Another essential : always have a lip balm to prevent chapped lips.