How To Keep Your Melanin Poppin' This Winter...

It is said that we should consume between 6-8 glasses of water a day. Water is like the liquid version of Soul food! Staying hydrated is the key to supporting vital functions for our organs, skin, tissues and cells. Skin cells require water to function, as water increases elasticity and replenishes the skin tissues. It's also a great anti-ageing remedy. You know how the saying goes "Black Don't Crack!"

It is recommended that we eat our five a-day fruit and vegetables. I can’t go through all of them but I can tell you what a few of my favourite fruit and vegetables are and how they are perfect for our skin.

Carrots are high in both vitamins A & C. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that can help prevent uneven skin tone and wrinkles. Vitamin C helps the body produce collagen which is a vital protein to maintaining the elasticity of your skin. The vitamin also helps fade spots and erase sun-damaged skin.

Tomatoes are great for keeping your skin looking young and fresh. The pigment that gives tomatoes their red colour is called lycopene, which is known to have anti-ageing properties.

Kale - I only started knowing what Kale was when it seemed to be a main ingredient in smoothies. This green leaf is also rich in vitamins A & C as well as vitamin K, which is perfect for nourishing the skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties which helps reduce irritation to your skin.

Our skin needs to be moisturised daily. I moisturise everyday whether it's the Summer or the Winter as our skin has the tendency to become dry and look ashy. In the Summer months I use lighter moisturising creams and lotions but in the Winter I tend to use oils such as Olive Oil Body Whip Cream or Soft & Precious Petroleum Jelly which comes in a variety of fragrances. I know petroleum jelly isn't most people's preference as it is thick but you don’t have to put a lot on. I think petroleum jelly is great for protecting your skin in all weather conditions. However, the best lotions are the ones that contain ceramides which is an essential lipid that is found in your skin's outer layer that plays a key role in enhancing and restoring the skin's protective function. Creams such as these result, in softer moisturised skin that is protected from the cold and wind.

4.  Avoid Steamy Hot Showers: 

If I have to be honest, I plead guilty to doing this. I love steamy hot showers as they feel so good and I always feel like I'm washing off all the grease and dirt from the day off of my skin. However, too much hot water is bad for our skin especially in the winter as it strips off the natural oils. Our skin is made up of three layers,  epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis.  The epidermis is the outer layer, which is affected the most by hot showers. The skin cells in this outer layer are made up of keratinocytes which helps the skin retain moisture by producing a thin layer of oil, that can be stripped away when the water is too hot thus resulting in dry and itchy skin, so try taking lukewarm baths and showers.

Then you have the soaps; harsh soaps also dry out the skin so try to use creamy moisturising body washes such as Sanex Dermo Moisturising and then partner that up with a moisturising cream such as Jergens Shea Butter Deep Conditioning Moisturiser for a smooth and shiny finish.

5.  Avoid Over Exfoliating:

Once again, I plead guilty to this as I used to think that exfoliating would take away some of my flakiness and dark patches as in the Winter, my skin tone tends to change and I end up with various shades. However, this is due to hyperpigmentation, and over exfoliating can make this worse. Hyperpigmentation occurs when the cells produce too much melanin which causes the skin to darken and discolour. 

Lastly, you need to love the skin you are in. Whether you have a light or dark complexion it doesn't matter, beauty comes from within and we are all Queens! Looking after your skin and having an effective skincare regimen, will keep that melanin of yours poppin' throughout the seasons.