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Why you get more acne in winter?

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Winters are lovely! But, there are few things which come with the season which can make it a little difficult to live with. Be it excessive dryness or increase in inflammation of the body or static electricity, winter has its own share of skin problems to deal with. One of the major grouches for some is combating more acne in winter, surprisingly! Usually we associate acne and breakouts with summers when it is hot, sweaty and humid but winter dryness is no less irritating for the skin. There are a few things however you could take care of in the season to keep acne in winter at bay.

Why you get more acne in winter?

1. Excessive Dry Skin.

Humidity levels drop significantly during the season especially in the drier climates leading to loss of moisture through the skin. Not using correct skin care products and taking too hot showers are also why your skin is getting excessively dry.

The result being our skin produces more sebum to counter the dryness and one tends to apply excess of moisturizer or use a heavy moisturizer instead which leads to clogged up pores resulting in acne in winter.

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Do you know why your Skin is Dry?

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Updated from 25th January, 2015. A forgotten post which clarifies a lot about our skin care confusions related to moisturization and why skin is dry. Did you know hydration and moisturization are two different things and they come under two different skin problem categories. A skin can both be dehydrated and unmoisturized or it could just be dehydrated or just be unmoisturized.

This winter has been particularly dry in the city and after ages of time, I experienced flaky and cracked skin! And, it has been hell for me for the past couple of days! Which made me realize why is my skin reacting in this way! My skin is dry.

I have used coconut oil, almond oil, apricot oil, even cocoa butter and the recent DIY – washed ghee. They have all helped a bit but not much! And, then, I recalled that there are actually two types of dry skin – dehydrated and actually dry skin!

Do you really know the difference between dry skin and oily skin? Yes, you will say. Skin is dry if it feels stretched and oily skin is like a frying pan. But, ultimately the underlying reason is that both the skin types lack some important ingredient which keeps the skin balanced. Either the skin lacks hydration or moisturization.

Hydration means water and moisturization means oil.

Now, do not confuse the two. A healthy balance of the above two is the key to that perfect skin and solving all the dry skin issues which plague you. So, let us look at both of the terms with respect to their skin conditions a little closely.

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5 Tips to Enhance Your Winter Skin Care Routine

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We are already in the middle of winter and my skin is showing definitive signs of dryness, Hyderabad being even more dry. I thought it would be a good time to talk about winter skin care routine. So, let us start.

Winter Skin Care Tip #1 – Take Care of your exfoliation

Winters is all about more of dead and dull skin. It is time to move away from granular or physical scrubs. And, if you are a fan of sugar, I really hope you are not using the granulated one. It is just too harsh for skin. You must get the organic and least processed sugar versions even for consumption or at least powder the one in your kitchen. Or, best, pick up a few sachets of Demerara or brown sugar when you are at a coffee shop.

Another great way to exfoliate your skin is the good old OCM method. Nothing is better than oil to remove your dead skin and it is moisturizing it at the same time. Make sure you have castor oil in the mix as that is one powerful cleansing oil but way too strong to be used alone. Also, exfoliate more frequently to combat dull skin. If you have exfoliation twice a week in your winter skin care routine, make it thrice in 10 days.

Winter Skin Care Tip #2 – Moisturize in the shower or when you are slick wet

This is the season for my body butters and some of them are way too thick to spread easily on dry skin. So, what am I doing? Smoothing it out on literally wet skin. Within the shower is best but then you need to dab a bit with the towel.

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My Skin Diary – December 2015

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face ceansers and makeup removers - vichy thermal spring water, kama face wash, kara face wipes, nivea cleansing milk

My Skin Diary – November 2015

Hey All!! How have you been? How was Diwali? I know a whole lot of time has gone since we last talked. So, how are you doing? There has been just so much I have to share with you all. So, last two years have been pretty bad for the blog so I apologize for that and I hope it really does not continue. But, then, I do realize I am past all hope and you have for sure given up on me.

Highlights of the Post

  • October Skin Diary
  • November Skin Diary
  • December Skin Diary
  • Why Cleansing is Important?
  • A Trick to Moisturise well in Winters
  • Why You should alternate Skin Care products?
  • How to get rid of Neck Lines?
  • Why Skin looks dark in Winters?

Anyways, my October and November were pretty cool in the skin care department. I have made a huge haul again. Okay, not as huge as Malaysia one but huge still!! I can literally term myself a spendthrift now for the amount of money I have spent this year. And, that reminds me that we are only a month away from 2016. Whoohooo!!

I shall be 30 this year. Bohooo! I do not really know how to feel but it does overwhelm me. I feel that I am getting older but then the next moment I love the liberation which this age brings. Now, I understand why every actress above 30 says this is the best age to be. Teens are confusing, 20’s are insecure, 25+ one is just trying to adjust with growing up. 30’s is when the real life really begins. And, you actually have the guts to laugh on your older self, condemn your actions, realize your mistakes and actually use some brains to avoid more!! Hehe…okay, enough already 🙂

Talking about my skin, I had started sharing my skin care routine again in September. And, then, October was a crazy month. The whole thing went off in anticipation of the wedding of the year in the family and life and mails did bring in a few surprises. Oh yes, I also got a chance to interview one of the leading dermatologists in the country but that was in November. And, I have sooooo many tips to share with you all. So, let me start with October.

Used Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum and the eye cream in October and it was just awesome. Pretty decent serum for all kinds of skin types.

How was October for my skin?

The last two months my skin has been acting up weirdly! In the month of October, it broke out pretty much on the chin area and that had been really difficult to control. I thought it was because I was applying Sheisido sunscreen which probably got a little extra for my skin but now I am not so sure.

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What I am doing for my Skin and Hair this Winter? {Skin Care}

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Btw, did I share with you guys that I am in Delhi and the weather is decidedly chilly and dry and my skin is really not doing that well without a moisturiser. Not that Hyderabad is not equally dry, though. So, how are you thinking of taking care of your skin from the onset of winters. Have you prepared it for the change in weather?

So, once upon a time when I had written about winter skin care, I had mentioned that our skin care regime starts with having a bath in a day but now I would like to change it a bit. Our skin care regime starts with how we start the day and what we eat. As it is, we take less water in winters and if the body lacks good fats, skin does tend to get dry. 

Tip #1 – Water does not hydrate your skin!!

Okay, so a very common misconception is that if we drink 10-12 glasses of water, it should be enough to hydrate the skin from inside out. Well, that is not so! Water is necessary to maintain hydration levels but not enough. So, what out body needs is good fat and omega 3 and vitamin E for keeping soft and supple. 

Solution : Load on the nut even before the winters set. If you do take any smoothies or oats or other cereals, put a spoonful of nuts in it. Otherwise, powder the nuts together and eat them with your meals once or twice a day. Another good option is flax seeds or alsi beej (in hindi). Roast them and powder them. Consume within 10 days. 

Tip #2 – Moisturize inside the shower!!

I have always recommended layering, specially in winters. But, an even better option which is helping me get through these days is moisturising inside the shower. Take your lotion with you and once you wipe yourself off, moisturize immediately. Forget the 3-minute moisturization rule. And, remember this instead. 
The skin is plump and extremely absorbent in the shower due to the heat and immediate cleansing so it drinks up the moisturiser or body oil you apply and prevents the water from escaping keeping your skin hydrated for an entire day. 
Sometimes, if your skin is extremely dry, you might need to apply the body lotion again in the later half of the day. At that time, you can use your toner and dampen your skin and then follow with the moisturiser; unless you take bath twice in a day!

Tip #3 – Sugar is your best friend right now!

Still feeling dry? Moisturising is not enough? Your skin needs regular exfoliation in the winters. And, you really do not want to use anything else right now. Sugar is hydrating as well as exfoliating so it is your best bet. I would recommend the homemade body polish which makes my skin absolutely amazing twice a week! Unless you have acne-prone skin in which case you need gentler exfoliation.
Another tip I would love to include here is that dry brushing should be a regular in your daily routine. It helps increase the skin cell turnover everyday and helps the body lotions and oils to get absorbed better in the skin. Also, it prevents the dry skin itch almost all day long.

Tip #4 – Not only hair but scalp also dries out!!

So, when you are busy taking care of your skin, do not forget that taking good care of scalp will keep the blood flowing to the follicles and promote hair growth which is generally less in the winter months. Also, scalp can get dry and tighten so I moisturise my scalp with 2-3 drops of pomegranate oil. You could also try out grapeseed oil for the oily skin or hair. 

Tip #5 – And, get going!! 

Do not ditch the early morning exercises in favor of warm blankets because it will make you lazier and prone to junk food cravings. And, in turn, cause you to accumulate more fat and make your skin dull. A fresh morning exercise can rev up your blood circulation as well making your skin well-accustomed to the weather changes. 

And, the bonus tip – Do not forget the sunscreen. Winter sun is just as strong as the summer one because UVA rays are still aging your skin.

These were my secret tips for skin and hair this winter. Now, its your turn. What are your special and secret tips for skin and hair care in winters?

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