Winter skincare that works for you

We know you’re busy taking care of the family, but don’t forget to take time out for yourself. A bit of ‘me time’ puts you in a better mood, which is also good for your physical health. As winter approaches, give your skin the care it needs so you feel glowing and good from head to toe.

Face

Start your facial skincare routine by finding out your skin type. To help you, here are the five basic face skin types:
1. Normal: Usually clear and seldom breaks out
2. Dry: Usually dry and flaky
3. Sensitive: May burn or itch when applying certain products*
4. Oily: Feels oily all over
5. Combination: Dry in some places and oily in others. This usually occurs around the forehead and nose.
* For sensitive skin, it’s best to consult a professional before trying any new product. If this is not possible, first try the product on a small area of skin.

Step 1: Cleanse
Environmental factors, stress and poor skin care can have a bad effect on your face. That’s why it’s important to cleanse twice a day. Apply a pea-size amount of cleanser, mix with water and then lather. Apply to your face with gentle, circular motions.

Step 2: Tone
A good toner refreshes your skin, make your pores look smaller, and balances the skin’s pH levels so it’s easier to absorb your moisturiser.

Step 3: Moisturise
For normal to dry skin, try Ponds PCC Normal to Dry Cream. For oily skin types, Ponds Normal to Oily Cream works best. Our EAD Tissue Oil is perfect for all skin types and is known to help reduce the appearance of scarring.

Body

You may feel tempted to curl up in front of the TV after a long day but give your body the attention it needs with these pampering tips:

Exfoliate

Using a dry facecloth, sponge or body brush, prepare your skin by giving it a light rub to remove any dead skin cells. In large circular movements, brush your body in the direction of your heart. This increases your blood flow and helps eliminate cellulite.

Moisturise
For winter, we recommend a fast-absorbing moisturiser such as Nivea Intensive Moisturising Body Cream. Its light texture is enriched with shea butter to nourish your skin and protect against the drying effects of cold weather.

Protect
Protecting your skin from the winter sun is just as important as in summer. Despite colder temperatures, the ultra-violet (UV) rays of the sun can still damage your skin. Apply a moisturiser with sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 or a sunscreen such as Sun Therapy to keep your skin protected.

Feet

Your feet are usually covered up during winter, but they still need some love. Try this DIY home remedy for cracked heels:Oats and tissue oil cracked heel remedy
You will need:
1 teaspoon oats
Some tissue, tea tree, or coconut oil

Method:
Mix 1 teaspoon oats with enough tissue oil to form a paste. Apply to cracked heels. Leave for 30 minutes and then rinse with warm water.

Other benefits of oils:
– Coconut oil can be used as an easy make-up remover
– Castor oil is great for your feet, as it’s also an anti-fungal. Or apply it to your hair for a deeply hydrating hair mask
– Add one teaspoon of sugar to two teaspoons of olive oil for an instant body scrub. Olive oil is rich in Vitamin E, which promotes elasticity in skin.

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Images: Getty/Gallo