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If winter turns your once-dewy skin into a cracked desert, you are not alone. Even a slight drop in the temperature and humidity is enough to make your skin dry and flaky, often accompanied by irritation and itching.
However, the moisturizer you apply is equally to be blamed. In winter, your skin requires additional moisturization to withstand the harsh cold winds. While you need emollients for hydration, for a healthy glow, mild exfoliation is important too. Thankfully, you can get both benefits with one ingredient- oats.
So, if you find yourself searching for the best winter moisturizer or winter face creams for dry skin, every winter, here is all you need to know about oats for skin.
Why do you need a winter skin care regimen?
The cold weather tends to strip your skin off its natural moisture, leaving it vulnerable to dryness, redness, and irritation. Indoor heating and hot showers further aggravate the issue by dehydrating the skin.
This is why adopting a good winter skin care regimen is crucial. To keep your skin healthy and plump, you not only need the best winter moisturizers but also exfoliators that gently remove dead skin cells without making your skin dry, allowing moisturizers to penetrate your skin’s layers.
Enter oats. Oats, which are known to be a superfood for their health benefits, are also nourishing for your skin. Oats are rich in proteins that help balance the microbiome on your skin and provide deep hydration.
Let’s look at the oats’ benefits for the skin.
Oats’ benefits for your skin
Oats which are a commonly known breakfast staple have made their way into the skincare spotlight, for their varied benefits.
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It gently exfoliates
Due to its grainy soft texture, oats have natural exfoliating properties. It gently scrubs off dead skin cells and unclogs pores without making your skin dry or irritated, aiding better absorption of your moisturizer and creams. Moreover, it also helps soak in excess sebum, helping reduce acne and breakouts.
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It hydrates deeply:
Winter skin craves hydration, and oats deliver. Oats are rich in vitamins and fatty acids that retain moisture in your skin and act as emollients for long-lasting hydration. It penetrates deep into your skin layers for deep moisturization, making it a perfect choice for dry skin.
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It has anti-inflammatory properties
Oats have anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the skin and reduce redness, itching, and inflammation, caused by dryness or acne. It also calms irritated and itchy skin which is often accompanied by harsh winds and low humidity in winter months. Worried about your sensitive skin? Oats can be your perfect companion!
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It strengthens the skin barrier
Oats contain prebiotic properties that help balance your skin’s microbiome. It also strengthens your skin's natural barrier, prevents moisture loss, and makes your skin more resilient to environmental aggressors.
How to Use Oats for Skin Care?
Incorporating oats into your winter skincare routine doesn't require a complicated ritual. Here are some simple yet effective DIY ways to harness the power of oats for moisturizing:
1. Oats-infused Face Wash:
Here is how you can prepare this DIY oats face cleanser:
- Take a bowl of oats, blend it to make a fine powder, and store it in an airtight jar.
- To use it as a face wash, mix a tablespoon of grounded oats in warm water and one teaspoon of honey.
- Massage the thin paste on your face and neck in a gentle circular motion for 60 seconds
- Wash off for a clear, thorough cleanse.
You can also opt for a face wash enriched with oats. Try the 1% Oat & Allantoin Deep Nourish Face Wash that is packed with nourishing oat extracts & skin-soothing allantoin. It removes excess oil and impurities without damaging the skin barrier and prevents post-wash dryness.
Use it twice daily for clean, refreshed, and nourished skin.
2. Oatmeal Face Masks:
You can also opt for a DIY oat face mask to nourish dry skin in winter.
- Mix one tablespoon of ground oats, honey, milk, and rose water each to make a fine paste.
- Apply this mask all over your face and leave for 10-15 minutes until it is completely dry.
- Wash it off with warm water and pat dry.
- Use this once a week.
3. Oat-Infused Moisturizer:
If you’re looking for the best moisturizers for dry skin, an oats moisturizer can be a game-changer in your dry skin care routine. Oats-enriched moisturizer soothes itchiness and irritation associated with the winter while hydrating your skin.
While shopping for the best moisturizers for dry skin, look for face creams that are enriched with humectants, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, etc.
You can opt for 1% Oat & Allantoin Nourishing Face Cream with Vitamin E.
It has a non-greasy, rich & creamy consistency that provides long-lasting moisturization. It soothes and nourishes dry, sensitive skin while strengthening your skin barrier.
Coined as one of the best moisturizers for dry skin in winter, it is enriched with prebiotic oats, allantoin, and vitamins B5 and E that hydrate your skin and reduce flakiness and roughness.
This vegan moisturizer has been clinically tested and is proven to provide 72-hour sweat-free moisturization.
Final Takeaway
Oats-infused moisturizer can be a valuable and effective moisturizer for the skin. Oats have nourishing properties that help to protect and strengthen the skin barrier, preventing moisture loss and keeping the skin hydrated. Additionally, they are also natural exfoliants, gently removing dead skin cells and promoting smoother skin and even complexion, making them an ideal ingredient for dry skin.
By incorporating oats into your skincare routine during this season, you can ensure that your skin remains healthy, nourished, and protected from harsh winter.
FAQs:
Q.Can oats be used on sensitive skin?
A.Oats have anti-inflammatory properties that soothe your skin and are thus perfect for sensitive skin. However, it's always advised to perform a patch test, if you have hypersensitivity or use an oats-infused product for the first time.
Q.How soon can you expect results from oats-infused products?
A. While it depends on your skin concern and usage, you can see skin texture and hydration improvements within a few weeks if you use them consistently. Plum 1% Oat & Allantoin Nourishing Face Cream with Vitamin E has been clinically tested and is proven to provide 72 hr sweat-free moisturization.
Q.Can oats brighten skin?
Oats contain natural cleansers called saponin that gently exfoliates and brightens the skin and evens out the skin tone, giving a healthy glow.
Q.Can we apply oats on the face daily?
A. Yes, you can apply oats on your face daily. However, while you can use an oats-infused face wash and moisturizer daily, it is advised to restrict the usage of face masks and exfoliators to once a week.
