Winter Skin Care from the Beach to the Slopes

Ever heard of a goggle tan? Skiers, beach-goers, ice climbers, and outdoor enthusiasts often forget basic skin care in the winter because, well, it’s cold. For the outdoorsy among you who struggle with winter skin care, these tips are certain to keep you radiant and protected whether you’re on a mountain or on a beach this winter season.

Cultivate Good Habits
The #1 safeguard against the sun is having good skin care habits in place. Try these easy tips:

Purchase small tubes or sticks of sunscreen and put them in your ski bag, backpacks, overnight bags, and jackets. This way, you’ll always have them on hand.

Pack a hat and extra layers that always stay in your gear back to be used when needed.

Aloe Vera: Mother Nature’s Cure-All
Your grandmother may have had a prickly aloe plant that she would hack away at anytime your burned your finger on a cookie sheet or got a scrape. The healing powers of aloe have been lauded for hundreds of years and, with good reason. Aloe is proven to aid in digestion, boost immunity, and heal your skin/prevent skin damage from the sun. What’s more, if you don’t want to slather it on in a gel form, you can actually drink it. Stick with organic, and your system will thank you.

Head and Shoulders
Basal Cell Carcinomas, though not malignant, are a type of slow-growing skin cancer often found on the head, shoulders, and chest. These pesky growth, though rarely life-threatening, still require biopsy and removal as they can damage tissue and lead to disfigurement. That being said, covering the parts of your body most prone to these cancers is a must.

Some good habits to get into include, wearing a hat and sunglasses, always wearing sunscreen while skiing, evening on a cloudy day, and (no matter how sexy your arms and shoulders may be) cover them up.

You Are What You Eat
One of the most effective ways to take care of your skin and to heal burnt or chapped skin is to make sure you are eating the right kinds of foods. Fruits and vegetables such as avocados, mangoes, and tomatoes hydrate the skin and boost your skin’s natural SPF. Studies have also shown that people who eat oranges and other foods high in limonene are at a reduced risk for skin cancer. Often times, when protecting our skin during the winter months, we only think about the outside when, really, what we’re putting in our bodies can have a positive and lasting effect.