Winter Skin Bugging You? Hydrate Inside and Out!

Every winter it seems my body gets a new itchy spot. Years ago, before going natural, it was my eyelids. Last year it was the backs of my knees, which I scratched (stupidly) until they're almost scarred. One year it was the inside of my elbows. This year: my neck.

Now, I know better than to scratch. Scratching is the worse thing you can do to dry skin, making it red, more irritated, and even more itchy! But, when laying in bed at midnight, the humidifier out of water, and you feel an itch powerful enough to rouse you halfway, you scratch. I can sympathize because I've done it and now my neck is angry. Luckily, I have an arsenal to deal with it, but here are a few tips to keep you from falling into the same trap:

1. Avoid getting the "itchies" in the first place by making sure you beef up the moisturizer during the winter dry months. Whatever you were using during the summer will probably not be enough to get you through the winter if you live in a climate where you have to turn the heat on. Try switching to a heavier cream if you are used to only a light lotion in summer months.

2. Supplement with a serum or facial oil. Sometimes even a moisturizer needs a little help. Skin's new Hydrating Face Serum or Evan Healy's new Pomegranate Serum are oil based and extremely good for adding hydration. Apply them immediately after cleansing and allow them to soak in a bit before apply moisturizer. Evan Healy's facial oils are another great option for under moisturizer.

3. Drink more water. I know how easy it is to drink gallons of the stuff on a hot day but forget to drink a glass full when it's cold outside, so try to keep a tab on how much you consume. Filling an extra large container and keeping it at your desk can be a great way to monitor your drinking habit throughout the day. I prefer my water room temperature, especially in the winter, but if you like yours cold, just fill the container full of ice and drink it as it melts. Cups of green tea, hot or cold, can count toward your total as long as you don't solely rely on them.

4. Spritz yourself. A quick spray throughout the day of an organic hydrosol is a real treat to your skin any time of year. Evan Healy's Lavender, Rose Geranium or Orange Blossom hydrosols give the skin a boost of botanicals, calm your nerves and are great hydrators. Spritz before your serum/oil or moisturizer and then after your makeup and whenever your skin cries out for moisture during the day.

5. Fill the air with moisture. Keep your humidifier filled and going all winter; an extra one by your bedside is perfect at keeping the midnight itchies at bay. At work, fill your workspace with tropical plants and keep them watered nicely. Even bowls of fresh water set near heat ducts will help humidify the air.

Above all, be thankful for the seasons and keep a smile on your face. It could be 104 degrees and the mosquitoes biting... now that's itchy!