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Winter (at least in some parts of the country) can wreak havoc on my skin. Including a few tricks and trips into my skin care routine not only helps avoid dryness, but keeps my complexion as radiant as ever.
I believe that achieving healthy and glowing skin requires an internal and external routine. No matter how many lotions or oils you put on your skin, if you aren’t eating the right foods and exercising, your skin still won’t be soft and healthy-looking.
Skin care routine doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Take a look at my internal/external skin care routine during the winter. These beauty practices work for me.
My External Skincare
Exfoliate
I once read that the skin sheds cells at the rate of a million per hour. I guess it’s important to remove those cells on a regular basis. You can buy a face scrub but I usually make my own using ingredients like sugar, coffee, coconut oil, and cucumber. Exfoliating helps your skin look dewy and glowy. Here’s a quick and easy face scrub. Mix sugar with your favorite face cleanser.
Lips
Lips can get dry and scaly during the winter months. To keep lips soft, I dry brush them several times a week with a toothbrush; doing so helps exfoliate the dry skin. Then I apply coconut oil or olive oil directly to the lips.
Dry brush
Dry brush is an effective way of slowing the skin’s aging process. It works to purify, nourish, and tone the body on a deep cellular level. I’ve dedicated an entire blog post to dry brushing.
Moisturize
To lubricate my body, I make body oil by mixing 1 ounce of olive oil or coconut oil with 5-10 drops of essential oil. Oils are super hydrating; they are phenomenal for dry skin. As soon as I get out of the shower, I blot my skin so it’s damp but not bone dry, then I apply my oil. If I take a bath, I add a few drops of essential oil (I love Lavender Essential Oil) to the water to help moisturize the skin. Wet skin moisturizers are also great for locking in the moisture.
Hands & Feet
Don’t forget your hands and feet. Mine get really dry in the winter, so after applying lotion or oil, I wear socks all night. This method makes your feet so soft. For my hands I am considering getting gel-lined gloves to keep them soft.
Hydrate
A hydrating mask keeps my skin soft in the colder months. You can buy them but I just use plain Greek yogurt. Yogurt hydrates the skin so well and most people have it in their fridge. Keep it on for at least 5 minutes. It’s a great hydrating mask for the winter.
Humidify
I love this next one because it’s simple. Use a humidifier to keep moisture in your home or keep a bowl of water on your radiators to add moisture to the air (this is what I do). The higher the heat indoors, the less humidity there will be. (It’s the humidity that helps keep skin from drying out.)
Internal Skin Care
Diet
In general, I like a healthy, whole food, mainly vegetarian diet. Fatty, fried, and processed foods, salt, sugar, can cause skin problems—so I avoid them when I can.
– I try to drink at least eight cups of hydrating fluids daily. I love smoothies, teas, and water. I also love eating soups in the winter.
– I make sure to get enough good fats like Omega-3 in my diet (not the deep-fried, junk-food kind). Omega fatty acids are found in flaxseed oil, walnuts and walnut oil. A diet that’s too low in fat—particularly these essential fatty acids—can result in skin that’s lackluster and dry. If you can’t get your hands on things like flaxseed oil, try taking Fish Oil supplements like these by Nature’s Truth. 
Nature’s Truth Fish Oil is high in Omega-3 fatty acids and it’s primarily used to help support a healthy heart.* Nature’s Truth soft gel capsules are easy to swallow and naturally lemon flavored to avoid bad taste.
– I also stock up on mangoes, broccoli and berries, which are all linked to keeping the skin healthy.
– The Holy Powder of India, turmeric, is spreading its influence around the world. I recently bought Nature’s Truth Turmeric Curcumin supplements to promote normal immune function and promote antioxidant health.* 
Turmeric is a spice commonly used in curries; it is also a natural tonic that can be used to support the immune system. It contains natural compounds known as curcuminoids which have strong antioxidant properties.*
I spotted these Nature’s Truth products at my local Rite Aid, but these products are also available at other retailers such as Walgreens, Amazon, and Target.com.
Did you know you can try Nature’s Truth vitamins and supplements for 30 days and feel the difference or it’s free? I am definitely taking the Honestly Good Challenge. Why don’t you join me ? You’ll get your money back if not completely satisfied.
For more information visit HonestlyGoodChallenge.com and while you’re there, sign-up for discounts, prizes and more.
Exercise
Even in the winter, I try to exercise five times a week. If I don’t, I get cranky. Exercise promotes sweating (which rids the body of toxins), increases circulation, and calms the mind. Working up the motivation to workout in winter can be difficult but I do it for my health, mind, and skin. Exercising regularly helps improve circulation and gives my skin more color. My exercise routine is simple; walking, strength training, and stretching.
Sleep
I try to stick to a regular sleep schedule, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. How do these activities help? In his book You: Being Beautiful, Mehmet Oz, MD, writes, “Sleep and exercise stimulate growth hormone, which promotes fibroblast health and allows more production of collagen and elastin to keep your skin taut. They also accelerate the production of epidermis.”
I firmly believe that small, gradual adjustments in your daily life can make you happier, healthier, and hence, more beautiful. Try this or a similar regimen for one month. Then ask yourself: “Is my skin clearer? My body healthier? My mind at peace?” The answers will be written all over your face.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Do you follow a skin care routine? Do you take vitamins and supplements in the winter? I’d love for you to share.
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