Can you smell it yet? No, not Christmas, I mean the hazy cold breeze, the sahara dust, and then the cracking of smooth skin. Yes, it’s the harmattan season and here’s why skin care is important this season than any other we have in Nigeria.
The harmattan season is when the wind blows from the sahara desert into west Africa. It comes with dry skin, respiratory problems, eye irritation (remember the apollo times?). it peaks most in December and January. So, here are some personal tips on how to slay in the original “winter” season especially if you have a dryer skin texture.
1.Stay Hydrated
2.Protect Thy Lips
3.Get Vaseline
4.Keep Your Skin Covered
5.Avoid Heavy Scrubbing
Stay Hydrated
In this season, a time to be jolly and festive, drinking water is one of the top priorities for this season, drink water often to help you and your own skin stay hydrated.
Protect Thy Lips
Moisturizing your lips is a solid to do task, you must remind yourself to keep your lips moisturized, keep a lip balm or gloss close by at all times. Breaking lips are much more painful than other bruises. By all means, do not moisturize lips with saliva this season to avoid problems.
Get Vaseline
Invest in oils and vaseline products that will deeply nourish your skin and help lock in moisture. P.S always take along with oils every where you go to save you from the “whiteness” that comes dry skin, for winter is truly here.
Keep Your Skin Covered
From face masks to long sleeves and socks, keeping your skin covered is a necessity in this harmattan season. As much as you can, try to keep your skin covered from the chilly but harsh weather.
Avoid Heavy Scrubbing
While getting hot water is good, keep it lukewarm as it prevents your skin from breaking and stripping off natural oils, avoid heavy and harsh scrubbing with sponges for it damages the skin’s upper layer known as the epidermis which is there to protect the body from temperatures, water loss, and damage from the environment. Using heavily perfumed soaps should be minimized.
Bonus tip: To prevent cracked feet, wear socks often, moisturize properly and use foot scrub to remove crusts or pumice stone -a dark rock which most Nigerian mothers own- is used to exfoliate the feet to keep it smooth.
Make sure to reduce overwashing, face and hands to reduce dryness. The harmattan season is always out to suck out moisture, try as much as you can to keep these tips at heart. Drink water often, moisturize thy lips, get oils or vaseline for they help retain moisture than lotions, keep your skin covered and protected, avoid heavy scrubbing, it doesn’t guarantee a cleaner skin. Don’t be a coconut head this season, use coconut oil instead. Have a cherry December
