More: 5 Simple tips for getting better skin — no matter what your skin type
1. Banish Grandpa Simpson skin
Do scaly legs and overall dehydrated skin all over your body have you down? Slathering on moisturizer sometimes doesn’t help your already dry skin. You need to exfoliate all that dead skin away to reveal the newer, fresher skin underneath, then hydrate with a double punch of a body oil and a thicker cream on top to seal in the moisture. Coconut oil is a great body moisturizer, because it’s packed with saturated fats that give the skin a healthy glow. Generally, body oils that are good try to contain argan oil, grapeseed oil and olive oil.
2. How to beat Eloise Midgen acne
Poor Eloise Midgen tried witchcraft to banish her acne, but you must work with skin-care products. You'd think that during the less sweaty winter months, acne would cease to be such a big problem, but it can feel like the opposite. Wearing heavy clothing, like a hat along the hairline, and layers can cause acne problems on the face or body. You might want to turn to high-end acne products to fix the issue, but those don’t always do the trick, and there are many less expensive options in the drugstore. Look for a combination of salicylic acid (at least 2 percent) and benzoyl peroxide. Neutrogena and Clean & Clear both make inexpensive products for acne with the exact same active ingredients as the more expensive skin-care lines.
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3. Save yourself from nails like Allison's in The Breakfast Club
Ally Sheedy's Allison just couldn’t stop chewing her nails in The Breakfast Club. But winter can ruin your nails even if you don't bite them by drying out your cuticles. If you aren't wearing gloves, your hands will really feel the effects of cold, dry air. Make putting on gloves a habit whenever you step out into the cold. You’ll be amazed at just how much this one step can save you from a winter’s worth of dried-out, ragged cuticles. Protect your hands even more by slathering on a rich hand cream before you go to bed.
4. Soften Napoleon Dynamite “Can you bring me my Chapstick?” lips
You would think lip balm alone would solve dry-lip problems, but really you're just putting a temporary fix on troublesome lips. You have to get rid of the chapped flakes first with a good lip scrub. Many companies make them, or you can easily concoct your own at home with equal parts sugar and extra virgin olive oil. Rub on your lips for a full minute to get rid of excessive flakiness. Then hydrate with a lip product that contains beeswax and shea butter to hydrate your perfect pout.
5. Don't blow your way to a nose Like Rudolph
Your nasal passages can get dried out due to all the indoor irritants spread around by your heating system. Plus, if you get a cold and have to blow your nose multiple times a day, that area can get red and raw. No one wants to look like Bozo the Clown, so take care of that area by first using the softest facial tissue you can find. Keep some in your handbag for when you are out and about. Then hydrate the area with a face balm that is thick enough to soothe the sensitive area. (A great one to try is basic Aquaphor, which you can find in any drugstore.)
With a little know-how, care and prevention, winter doesn’t have to wreak havoc on your entire body. Taking a little extra time with the right steps and products will get you through the chilly months in great shape.
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