For people who have dry skin, winter can be a pain in the ass. The climate and temperature change drastically, dry skin might get redness, itchy and flaky during the season transition. You change your skin care products to heavier, and greasier texture to prevent your skin to dry out and cause irritation in the winter. However, there’s something really difficult to avoid and change which is take a hot shower.
A lot of articles online or according to the dermatologists, there are a few actions that you can take to prevent your skin to dry out in the winter.
The top three things that you can do are:
- Shorten your shower time
- Use warm water instead of hot water
- Put on your skincare products ASAP when you are done with your shower
These are very useful tips to protect your skin in the wintertime. If you follow these tips, you’ll probably survive through the wintertime.
But I’m sure there were times you just want to relax and take a good, hot shower after a long day of work. Or some of the days your skin is being really really dry and flaky but you still want to take a hot shower.
So now I’m going to share with you how you can protect your dry skin from a long, hot shower or bath.
It’s very simple, very affordable yet effective.
You only need two products to do this:
-
Nivea Creme
(links)
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Vaseline Petroleum Jelly
(links)
About Nivea Creme
Nivea Creme is a rich cream in white color formulated to intensively moisturize and protect your skin. It can be used on face, body, and hands. It nourishes even on the driest and roughest areas such as elbows, knees, and ankles.
Just make sure you get the right Nivea Creme as Nivea has lots of products for face, but this is the only one that works well with Vaseline. I also heard Nivea has different formulas for Nivea Creme in different countries. I’m not exactly sure about the information, but I always stick to the one that originated from Germany and it works on me.
About Vaseline
Vaseline is so iconic that you can almost find one in any household. The main ingredient is petroleum jelly which creates a protecting barrier on your skin and locks in moisture. It speeds up the skin’s recovery process and protects dry and flaky skin. Vaseline is safe for all skin types even for sensitive skin.
Basically, vaseline is actually a great product to prevent skin dryness. But keep in mind that this is just an emollient but not a humectant. It is an excellent product to keep your skin moist and prevent dryness, but it will not improve and hydrate your skin.
Instructions
All you need to do is mix both of the products together. The ratio is 1:1. You don’t need a lot cause both of the creams are very heavy and thick in texture. And because of that, it can protect your skin from a steamy, hot shower.
Take the amount that will approximately cover your face and mix them together. I always just take out some Nivea cream and Vaseline put on the back of my hand and just mix them together (just like how you normally do with your liquid foundation). Since both creams are thick, you don’t have to worry about it will flow like a liquid and become messy. Anyway, you can also mix them in a bowl if you like.
After you mix these two evenly, you just apply it like a clay mask all over your face. A thin or a thick layer doesn’t really matter cause you’ll have to wash all of it away at the end of it. Do as what you prefer as long as it’s evenly spread and cover all over your face.
Don’t worry about getting your face in the shower. The cream has such heavy texture that it won’t wash away real quick in the shower. Even when you are getting your face directly into the shower, it will still leave a really thin layer of protection.
Regardless, it’s best not to use hot water especially on your face area cause the skin is more delicate over there.
How Does It Work?
The main ingredient for both products is petroleum-based. Vaseline is made out of petroleum jelly while Nivea cream contains Paraffinum Liquidum. Both ingredients have a high percentage of mineral oils and waxes. They might not be the best ingredients for your skin, however, they are excellent in trapping your existing moisture in your skin. With that being said, you can take a hot shower without worrying about your skin’s moisture.
Is It Suitable To Use On All Skin Types?
Yes, but you need to be careful if your skin is very sensitive. As far as I know, it doesn’t cause irritation or trigger sensitive skin unless your skin is allergic to petroleum jelly or Paraffinum Liquidum. Besides, you are only using this for a short amount of time and wash it off eventually. Just make sure you wash it off thoroughly. Your skin will look dewy and soft to touch when you wash off.
Can You Leave This on Your Skin?
No, even though Vaseline and Nivea Cream help to seal your moisture, it is not a humectant. In other words, both of them do not add hydration to your skin and attract moisture to your skin. Your skin (especially dry skin) needs other products to keep your skin plump and hydrated. In addition, the mixture of the creams are very thick and greasy, it might cause pores congestion and trigger acne.
So, once you are done with your shower, you should wash them off with your face wash. After that, go ahead and apply your skincare products.
Other Ways to Use A Nivea Creme/Vaseline?
Nivea creme and Vaseline are serving a similar purpose to your skin. So they can substitute each other and provide the same result to the skin. Here are a couple of ways you can use your Nivea creme or Vaseline.
- diy lip scrub
- add a healthy glow to your skin
- make your fragrance last longer
- cuticle care
- prevent hair dye stains
- polish leather accessories (belts, shoes, bags)
You can always search online and you’ll be amazed at how multipurpose these products are.
Can You Use A Facial Oil Instead?
Yes, you can also use your facial oil to achieve a similar result. In fact, facial oil might be a better choice because it contains ingredients are actually beneficial to your skin. However, bear in mind that facial oil can be easily washed away especially when you are taking a hot shower. Overall, I do feel that Nivea cream and vaseline are doing a better job in trapping moisture in your skin in a hot shower.
