Image source – https://pixabay.com/en/winter-redhead-female-portrait-1127201/
No one looks their best over winter, do they? We all know that. We gain weight, our skin is dry and sore, our lips are chapped, and our hair is limp and lifeless. But, there are simple ways to protect yourself from all of these things. Looking after yourself and making sure you look good over winter has many advantages. It can boost your confidence and mood, help you to enjoy the festive season and even contribute to reducing your stress levels and preventing coughs and colds. Here is your ultimate guide to looking great, even in the coldest of winters.
Get More Sleep
Sleep is your body’s chance to recover from the day it’s had and prepare for the one ahead of it. Have you ever woken up from a poor night’s sleep feeling sluggish and achy, perhaps even ill, like you are hungover without having had a drink? This is because your body and mind haven’t had the chance to recover fully. It’s a bit like a video game, where your health goes up the longer you stay away from harm, but with sleep.
Getting plenty of sleep means you wake up feeling refreshed, bright and alert, both physically and mentally. Your skin and eyes will be more radiant, you will stand straighter, and you’ll look much better for it.
Most people need between 6 and 8 hours a night, but it depends on your lifestyle, health and fitness levels. Only you can know what works best for your body but look to https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/15/how-much-sleep-do-i-need-recommended-amounts-all-ages for some guidance.
Eat Right
Over winter time it’s tempting to eat fatty, greasy foods that are quick and easy. While these may make you happy short term, they will leave you with oily skin, outbreaks and could see you gaining weight.
Home cooked comfort foods can be warming, and healthy if you do them right. Meals like warming winter soups, pasta and sauce, cottage pies and curries are filling and can be packed with vegetables filled with vitamins and minerals. Just make sure you use plenty of veg, low-fat options, and opt for the brown versions of all of your favorite carbs.
Eating a diet rich in everything you need for a healthy lifestyle (with the occasional treat!) can help you to maintain a healthy weight, look youthful and fresh and feel great all year round.
Boost Yourself Naturally
Natural supplements are a great way to give your body an extra boost when it needs it the most. Check out http://naturalcave.com/posts/shilajit/ to get started. Shilajit is one of the best kept secrets of alternative medicine. It can boost your mood and immunity, prevent illness, promote healthy hormone levels, enhance mental alertness and performance, protect your heart and brain, improve your memory and encourage healthy ageing.
Vitamin C is another essential vitamin for winter time. Especially if you don’t eat much fruit and Veg. Vitamin C protects your body’s cells, helping them to stay healthy and can help you to fight the symptoms of any illness you do pick up.
If you spend much of the winter indoors or live somewhere there is very little sunlight on a winter’s day; you may also want to take some extra vitamin D which will help your skin and hair look their best.
Drink Water
Your body is made up of massive amounts of water. Throughout the day, these reserves are depleted which means they need to be restored. This is why you feel ill if you don’t drink enough. Your body cannot function at its best.
Drinking water will help your mental functions and your internal organs as well as boosting your digestion, improving your skin tone, keeping your skin soft and clear of spots and brightening your hair and eyes. Drinking plenty of water can also improve the elasticity of your skin, helping to prevent fine lines and wrinkles.
Get Some Rest
Yes, you need sleep, but you also need time to rest and relax. Many of us are at our busiest over the winter months, which is a contributing factor to winter sickness.
When you are running around making sure everyone else is well looked after and preparing for the holidays it can be easy to become stressed out. This stress, if left unchecked can lead to sleepless nights, illness and even mental health problems.
To reduce your stress, try to take some time out for yourself. Do something that you find relaxing such as reading a book or having a long bubble bath, eat your favorite food and have a good catch up with your friends.
Brave Exercise
Many of us spend the months running up to summer exercising more than usual in a desperate attempt to get the perfect beach body. Then, when summer is over, we stop. There’s no need to exercise towards a great body when you are going to spend the next few months wrapped up in layers of warm clothes.
However, there is always a point to exercise. It boosts your circulation, which can improve your skin tone and clarity, releases endorphins and serotonin, which makes you happier, improves your confidence and mood and also helps you to stay at a healthy weight and protects you from both long and short-term illnesses.
Treat Yourself
Treating yourself is a great way to make yourself feel special and glamorous. Take some time out to do something that is just for you. This could be something small like painting your nails or getting a makeover, or a full weekend at the spa.
Experiment with Fashion
One of the best things about the colder months is the great options when it comes to fashion. What could be cuter than a woolly jumper, sexy boots and a chunky knit scarf? Play around with some new ideas instead of sticking with your usual winter staples. Let yourself have a bit of fun with your style. If you are always in jeans, try pairing a dress with thick tights, just don’t be afraid of new ideas. Have a at http://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/autumn-winter-2017-fashion-trends for some inspiration.
One easy way to change things up is with your accessories. Winter accessories give you plenty of options. Invest in some hats, scarves and gloves but also try a thick winter poncho and some trendy ear muffs.
Try a New Hairstyle
Autumn is also a great chance to try a new hairstyle. If it goes wrong, you can always cover it up with a thick hat for the next few months. Reds and coppers are always popular in autumn, so why not speak to a stylist to see which shade would suit you?
When it comes to styles, long bobs, super sleek and thick bangs are all incredibly trendy this season, so consider giving one a try. Pinterest can be a brilliant source of ideas.
Moisturize
Winter is hard on your skin. It’s hard to look great when your skin is dry and red. So, make sure you moisturize every morning after you shower. Pay particular attention to your hands, lips and face, which tend to suffer the most from bitter winds.
Smile
Do you spend hours taking selfies trying to perfect the perfect smile? I’m sure we’ve all done it. Only to decide that the moody look works better. Well, this tends not to be the case. You might think you look better dark and brooding, but everyone else thinks your smile is amazing. Smiling, even when you aren’t feeling the best is a wonderful way to look happier, more confident and truly beautiful.
Looking and feeling fantastic over winter can help you to enjoy and embrace the season without longing for the warmer months. While this might sound a lot, if you fit small changes into your everyday routine, it’ll seem normal in no time, and your skin will be soft, your hair shiny, your nails strong and your immune system on top form. Just remember to enjoy yourself and have some fun!
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