So far the Chicago winter has been surprisingly mild but, with the first real snowfall last weekend, I know that won’t last. Besides, my skin is already feeling the results of the cold temps. The cold weather calls for a change in my skincare routine in order to protect it from the cold and prevent it from drying out. To keep my skin feeling and looking great, here’s what I change in the winter months.

5 Ways to Protect your Skin this Winter:

#1:: Turn Down the Heat. It can be tempting to crank the furnace and take really hot showers. But heat always has a way of drying things out - our skin and even hair is no different. Instead of turning up the thermostat or space heater, keep it at a comfortable but lower temp and add a layer to keep you warm, like a comfy sweater, so your skin can reap the benefits. This also has the added benefit of saving you money!

#2:: Use a Moisturizing Body Wash. Most products are either a body wash or a moisturizer, leaving us to first wash and then slather on a moisturizer. But I’m skipping that two-step process by using the Olay Moisture Ribbons Plus body wash, which cleanses and moisturizes at the same time! This body wash smells amazing (both the Manuka honey and lavender scents), and feels amazing when in use leaving my skin feeling great after its rinsed off. Shhh… sometimes I use this just to wash my hands when they are feeling dry. This is a serious game changer - one of those products I loved immediately and was able to oh so happily ditch my previous body washes.

Join me in the Winter Skin Challenge. Set your usual body wash aside and give the Olay Moisture Ribbons Plus body wash a try! You’ll love the cleansing and moisturizing aspects of this product!

#3:: Drink More Water. Good health and good skin often begins from the inside out. I try to drink at least one extra glass of water daily in order to give my body what it needs in these cold and dry months. Sometimes I even fill a coffee mug with hot water and sip that. That gives me the water I need while also keeping me warm.

#4:: Humidify. With that heat pumping from your vents, it’s important to keep your space humidified. Thankfully, long gone are the days of those big bulky humidifiers that are eyesores. For me, my essential oil diffuser also helps add moisture to the air. I make sure to run it for an hour in the morning and an hour in the late afternoon - at least!

#5:: Bundle Up Outdoors. This is the one I struggle with the most. I hate wearing winter coats and hats and gloves and all that jazz. Usually I keep a coat in my car for emergencies and make a mad dash from my house to my car when it’s really cold. But I’ve noticed the more I protect my skin from the elements, the better it feels and the less dry it feels.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olay. The opinions and text are all mine.