Harmattan is finally here!!! Everywhere is dusty, windy, and cold and the atmosphere is extra dry. This can be a nightmare for your natural hair and skin as you have to work extra hard to keep your natural hair and skin moisturized and healthy. You will need to stay hydrated a lot in order to achieve that glowing skin of your dreams.
Here are 3 ways to achieve that glowing skin this dry season.
- Water and Fruits with high water content – Drink a lot of water, preferably warm water. Drinking a lot of water will keep your body hydrated and give your skin a nice moist. You can get yourself a small water bottle to keep you going whenever you are dehydrated, and it is best to stay away from carbonated and caffeinated drinks. Also you can eat fruits with high water content, if you don’t like drinking plain water alone. Eating fruits that would help keep you hydrated like oranges, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon etc. are a good way to get started.You need up to at least 8 glasses of water each day but most people see this as a daunting task.
One of the easiest ways to drink more water this Harmattan is to purchase a fruit infused water bottle. Also known as a fruit infuser water bottle or water infuser bottle, these inexpensive and attractive fruit infusers are easy to take with you anywhere you go, and the yummy flavors help encourage you to drink more. The best part about using a fruit infused water bottle is that the fruit can be reused many times before the flavor starts to dissipate; making it a very economical way to get great tasting flavored water.
- Moisturize with DIY Harmattan Body Butters– Water dries off surfaces easily this during this dry season. Hence it is more advisable to moisturize right in the bathroom while your body is still moist because a few steps out of the bathroom door dries you up completely. This method will help your skin lock in moisture.
Shea Butter is the perfect moisturizer to use during this season because it doesn’t dry up as quickly as body lotions and it can keep your skin moisturized for hours. Using Body lotions will not work to keep moisture in your skin this harmattan, and a better alternative is for you to prepare a DIY Harmattan Body Butter using Shea Butter and other nourishing ingredients.
- Exfoliate and Cleanse – Exfoliating your skin a few times a week will help remove dead and dry skin cells and allow new skin cells to come up. Use a gentle face scrub twice a week. Note however, that if over exfoliation occurs, your skin’s oils will still be depleted and dry skin will recur. So make sure to moisturize with your Harmattan Body Butter afterwards. Make it a point to cleanse your skin in the morning and night to remove make-up, dust and any other impurities from it.
The harmattan season is not the time to use high alcohol or astringent content face cleansers or hand washes as this will strip your skin off its natural oils. Opt out for mild products such as a moisturising body wash, a cleanser that contains ceramides (fatty molecules that make up the outer barrier of your skin) as they help the skin hold in moisture. Also go for regular body massage to improve blood circulation to the skin.