Perfect Personal Hygiene This Winter
During the summer, it’s all about cooling off. We wear as little clothing as possible, slather ourselves in sunscreen and get used to smelling a little funky because even the best antiperspirant in the world can’t keep you from sweating when it’s 100 degrees outside. In the winter, however, there is more involved. All of the clothing we layer upon our bodies and the products we slather on to our skin can really take their toll. Plus, who doesn’t like to skip shaving for a few weeks here and there? It’s not like anybody will see, right?
Here’s something that you might not want to hear: it is just as important to be vigilant about our personal hygiene in the winter as it is in the summer when we are more exposed. Relaxing the reins on our routines only invites in germs and other contaminants. Plus, nobody wants to have to answer the question “is that smell you? Or is your sweater molding from all of the rain?”
For flawless personal hygiene this winter, try the following tips and products:
Skin checks
Just because you’re covered in clothing doesn’t mean the sun can’t still have a detrimental effect. In fact, sun-related problems are more likely to develop in the winter because people think they don’t need sunscreen when it is overcast. Make sure you do regular skin checks. There are plenty of over-the-counter wart and skin tag removal products that you can use to get rid of unwanted issues.
Of course, any moles you find should be examined by a doctor to make sure they aren’t symptoms of bigger problems. And don’t forget to wear sunscreen! Choose a moisturizer or foundation that has a good SPF so that you’re never without it.
Body hair removal
It’s something we all love: the winter turns cold and we tuck ourselves into tights, leggings and jeans. And, since our legs won’t be visible by anybody we aren’t very close to, we decide to let our fur fly free. It’s one of the joys of wintertime.
We’re not going to tell you that you should keep shaving your legs every day (though keeping your underarms hair-free is a good idea because armpit hair really diminishes deodorant’s and antiperspirant’s efficiency). Instead we’re going to advocate that you start getting them waxed. Waxing doesn’t have to be expensive and you’re supposed to let the hair grow out naturally between waxes. No more shaving for you! Let someone else take care of that this winter. The world of opaque tights is waiting for you!
Your breath matters
Holidays are a time for hugging. This means that a lot of people are going to get close enough to you to smell your breath. Carrying mints is always a good idea (gum is for teenagers). Another good idea is to step up your oral hygiene routine. You need to brush your teeth twice a day. Floss once a day. Use a fluoride mouthwash once a day. And, this one is important if you’re concerned about your breath, buy and use a tongue scraper. Tongue scrapers are great for scraping off the bacteria and old cells that sit on your tongue and breed bad breath. Toothbrushes just move that stuff around.
Proper skin care
During the winter months, the air dries out which makes it important to up your skin care game as well. Switch from the lighter cleansers and soaps of summer to cream- and moisturizer-based products for the winter. This will help keep your skin from drying out (and cream based foundation is great for protecting your face against wind burn).
Proper hygiene is so important during the winter and not just because our rained and snowed on clothing makes us smell like wet puppies in spite of ourselves. Use these tips to up your hygiene game so that you can feel daisy fresh all season long!
Article by Layla Davis