5 Expert Tips to Bring Out Your Summer Glow in the Middle of Winter

In the thick of winter, it can feel like that summer glow you had only a few months ago is totally out of reach. While fake tanners can help bring an added dose of color to dull skin, there’s more to it than that. We chatted with two experts — a healthy skin expert and a dermatologist — about how to safely channel the radiance we rocked over the summer.

1. Eat the rainbow. Beyond drinking our eight glasses of water a day, it’s important to increase water-rich foods to boost hydration levels in the skin from the inside out. “Fresh fruits and vegetables and their juice provide good-for-skin fluids,” recommends Dr. Karin Hermoni, healthy skin expert and head of science and nutrition at Lycored. “Examples include tomatoes, watermelon, and oranges.”

2. Lock in your moisture levels. There are several factors that happen during the winter that affect the hydration levels in our skin. Lack of humidity leads to a parched and dull complexion, which is why using a humidifier is key this time of year. “Central heating also takes moisture out of your skin,” warns New Zealand-based dermatologist Mark Gray. It’s crucial to be aware of the elements indoors that can impact our skin and radiance.

3. Don’t underestimate the power of winter sun. Just because it’s not beach season doesn’t mean that the sun won’t affect your skin. “We tend to underestimate the damage that can be caused by winter sun, especially when combined with snow glare,” warns Hermoni. Don’t skip a single day of full-protection sunscreen.

4. Use a gentle peel once a week. An instant way to boost your glow is by using a peel to reveal your brightest, most luminous skin. “Do a regular peel to eliminate dead skin cells,” says Gray. “Dead cells diffuse the light, making the skin look dull and dry.” Make sure to do these treatments at night, as afterwards your skin will be more delicate and prone to damage, and to wear SPF the following morning (and every day!).

5. Give the Mediterranean diet a try. Your skin is a direct reflection of your diet, so incorporating nutrient-rich foods that work synergistically can have a noticeable impact on your complexion. “Some key components of the Mediterranean diet are tomatoes and olive oil,” explains Hermoni. “Combining them allows better absorption of the active components from tomato which are oil-soluble.”

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