HEALTH & BEAUTY 031
wellbeing WAKE UP YOUR
With the change in season upon us, beat the onset of the winter blues with our tips, plus October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, beauty buys and news
Hollie Webb-Hinton
s the clocks go back at the end of the month and the days become shorter, it’s a sure sign that winter is on its way – along with those beauty woes of dreaded dull skin,
chapped lips, fl akiness, and dry hair! But with a little prep and TLC, you can keep healthy and happy all winter long.
Body brushing
If you suffer with fl aky dry skin, body brushing is the answer as it helps remove dead skin cells and ingrown hairs, revealing a beautifully smooth surface. It is also said to help boost both circulation and the immune system by stimulating the lymphatic system (which helps to fi lter bacteria and toxins from our blood). It’s also a more sustainable way to exfoliate – absentee of any microbeads that are damaging to our environment.
Oils over soap
One of the most common causes of dry skin is the overuse of harsh soaps, so with the change of season now’s the time to swap the shower gel for more gentle cleansing oils. While the concept of washing your body with oil may feel bizarre and foreign, it does in fact make total scientifi c sense. Oil dissolves oil, making cleansing oils the perfect way to remove dirt and grime, and the same can be said for the face. Regular soap strips the skin of natural oils, often leaving it dry
and irritated, whereas cleansing oils help replenish the skin’s natural moisture.
Keep hydrated
While it may seem obvious, hydration is key to beating the winter blues. Water accounts for more than 60% of our bodies, and needs to be replenished daily. Dehydration lowers our blood volume, making our heart work harder to pump the reduced amount of blood around our bodies and get enough oxygen to our cells. This can make daily tasks and exercise more diffi cult, and have long-term damaging effects. Water also keeps skin supple, boosting elasticity, which we often lose with age. The NHS recommends that we drink 6-8 glasses of water per day (1.2ltr).
Retinol
A derivative of vitamin A, retinol helps to boost collagen production and aid skin cell turnover resulting in more even, smoother skin helping to reduce the appearance of fi ne lines and wrinkles. Despite the common misconceptions, retinol is different from its prescription-only counterpoint Retinoid, working more gradually due to its difference in molecular strategy. OTC retinols are often mixed with other more moisturising ingredients to help minimise dryness and irritation caused by retinoids, helping to brighten the skin.
Stop shampooing
Much like skin, one of the most common causes of hair dryness is overzealous washing with harsh soaps that which contain chemical sulphates used to create a lather, which are damaging to the scalp and hair particularly if used daily. Less shampoo means more moisture. As a general rule of thumb, most experts agree that washing your hair every 2-3 days is best. If you’re concerned about greasiness, supplement with a dry shampoo on non-washdays to prolong cleanliness, but refrain from using too much to avoid build-up that can cause irritation. The cold outside air and manufactured heat indoors are not helpful to our hair either – stripping it of all its moisture, leaving it dry and causing breakage.
Mindfulness
Harsh, cold winters not only have an impact on our bodies, but on our minds too. SAD (otherwise known as Seasonal Affective Disorder) affects roughly 20% of the UK’s population increasing levels
of stress and making stress management much harder. NHS recommendations range from increased light intake and exercise to practicing mindfulness. Mindful meditation helps to reduce anxiety, prevent depression, reduce distractions and increase body satisfaction – creating a better relationship between brain and body. Apps like Calm and Headspace help make the process of practising mindfulness easier, with daily free, guided meditation sessions, and can be used anytime, anywhere.
• Round Body Brush, £9, The Body Shop, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Bluewater & Ashford Outlet (
thebodyshop.com) • Rodial Retinol Drops, £75/31ml, from SpaceNK, Tunbridge Wells, Tenterden & Sevenoaks
Image licensed by Ingram Image
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