Tips on self-care during harmattan
The harmattan period which occurs between late November and early March is characterised by dry and dusty wind.
It affects the human body in various ways; it causes dryness of the skin, chapped lips, problems in the respiratory system and could be a trigger for asthma, among others. It is important to be informed about the importance of taking care of your skin, especially at such moments. Here are the steps to follow:
Hydrate
Drink lots of water, at least a litre and half a day. This helps to flush out impurities and keeps your skin supple. Cut back on caffeine and carbonated drinks and eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Drink honey, lemon, and ginger dissolved in warm water to soothe any throat irritation you might encounter.
Moisturise
After showering, moisturise. Your body and hair need a lot of moisturising oils this season. This is the right time to invest in natural oils like coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter, and almond oil. Also, choose moisturisers with humectant and occlusive ingredients. Humectants draw moisture to the skin while occlusive seal moisture. Examples of humectants are hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, and glycerin. Examples of occlusive are mineral oil and petrolatum.
Do not wait for your skin to dry completely before using your moisturiser because damp skin absorbs products more readily. Also, choose skincare products that are free from alcohol as alcohol dries out the skin.
Use lukewarm water to shower
Avoid hot showers as hot water strips the skin of its natural oil barrier and causes more dryness.
Exercise
Exercising helps you to maintain a healthy mind and body. It is a natural stress reliever, and it releases unwanted toxins from the body, which helps the skin glow.
Exfoliate
Use a gentle body scrub to help remove dead skin cells and let your glow shine. Excessive exfoliation should be avoided as this will strip the skin of its natural oil and this lead to dry skin.
Don’t forget your hands and lips
Your hands and lips are most vulnerable during the dry season. We must have lip balm and hand lotion handy.
Wear warm protective clothing
It is important to keep warm and protect your skin from severe weather conditions during the harmattan season. Make sure to moisturise the foot, and also wear covered footwear to avoid having cracked feet.
Double cleanse
Even if you do not wear makeup, it is essential to double cleanse during the harmattan season to wash off every speck of dust on your skin.
Protect the nose against dust particles
Aside from wearing masks to prevent dust and certain airborne diseases, masks also protect our nostrils from dust particles, so it is important to wear them during the harmattan season, especially when going to places prone to dust.
Healthcare
People living with sickle cell are prone to having a crisis during this period because of cold weather. In addition to that, asthmatic patients should endeavour to keep their inhalers close to them throughout this season and be on alert for any warning signs of an attack.
Makeup
Use less makeup. The harmattan season is not the time for a face beat. It is advisable to wear less makeup and if you must wear makeup, Prep your skin. Before applying anything else, make sure you prep your face with a good moisturiser because the last thing you want to do is apply makeup on dry, flaky skin.
Swap your matte foundation for a hydrating foundation that settles smoothly over your skin.
Matte lipsticks are beautiful but not so much when your lips become dry and chapped due to the harmattan. Therefore, use fewer lipsticks and more lip gloss or lip balm.
Wiping off your makeup at the end of the day is necessary. Even if you disobey the rule once or twice, you do not want to do that this season. The dry wind carries a lot of dust, keeping makeup on overnight means keeping all the dust and germs that have settled on your face during the day and this can cause acne inflammation. After wiping, ensure you clean up thoroughly to get rid of makeup and dust from your face.
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