Top 5 Beauty & Skincare Tips During Winter

Winter brings drastic changes in the weather and a need for taking better care of one's skin. Dry, cold air may affect the skin, making it lose moisture and become even more vulnerable to the elements. Here are some tips to keep skin moisturized throughout the winter season.

1. Opt for oil-based moisturizers. Depending on one's skin type, for winter, it's best to go with oil-based moisturizers, because according to experts at WebMD, it provides a protective layer on the skin, making it retain more moisture compared to water-based counterparts. Make sure to select non-pore-clogging oils such as avocado oil, and primrose oil. Take a look at the packaging and look out for moisturizers that contain humectants, substances such as glycerine, sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids that pack on the moisture in one's skin.

2. Use hydrators. In line with reading the packaging notes on moisturizers, check for labels that include glyceryl glucoside, a version of the humectant glycerin that takes moisture from the air and takes it deeper into the skin. Allure reports that selaginella lepidophylla is an extract that is a humectant and antioxidant that according to cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson, "constantly renews the skin, making cells more cohesive to prevent water from escaping." Niacinamide is also great because according to cosmetic chemist Jim Hammer, "It strengthens the skin's outer layer to prevent water loss and speeds up cell turnover."

3. Moisten up the eyes. Prevention reports that according to clinical professor of ophthalmology at New York University Dr. Marguerite McDonald, tear production slows down once a person hits 40 years of age, and menopausal women are more prone to dry eyes. She adds that some medications like hypertension drugs and cholesterol-lowering statins can also affect eye moisture, so make sure to have an air humidifier at home, and limit the consumption of caffeine and alcohol, which both dehydrates the body.

4. Slap on some lip balm. Chapped lips can be very painful especially when grabbing a bite. Lather on a good amount of lip balm with moisturizers to keep it from getting dry and chapped.

5. Wear sunscreen. No matter how cloudy or cold it may be outside, it's always better to lather on a broad-spectrum sunscreen that will protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays, Huffington Post recommends. Use the ones with zinc oxide, as it repels the rays before they can enter the skin. Remember that sunscreen is always a good measure for any season.