Hydration Tips for Fall and Winter

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #HydrateYourDay #CollectiveBias

I feel like I’ve been living in a dream world since May.  The weather has been hot and sunny most days.  My mood is good, my skin is happy, my hair is shiny.  Summer, I love you.

But all good things have to come to an end, at least if you aren’t lucky enough to live in a place with warm weather year round.  #californiadreaming  Winter is coming!  Ruuuuunnnnnnn!  Or at least hydrate.

That cold, dry weather with the even more drying heat being pumped into every building can wreak havoc on skin and hair.  I swear all the moisture just evaporates from my hands in particular and I am left with scaly grossness that is painful and embarrassing.

Though nothing is a magic wand, a perfect solution, oh how I wish it was, I have come up with a lot of tips that help me cope, and I hope they are effective for you as well.  Winter is still the worst in my book, but I can make it a little more comfortable if I make smart choices.

Hydration is key inside and out.  So let’s start with the inside.  While drinking water is important year round, this is even truer in winter.  The Mayo Clinic says we all should drink 6.3 cups of water each day but most of us only drink 2.5 cups.  That’s a huge disparity.

I always have a bottle of smartwater® by my side, whether I am in the house or out and about.  I love the crisp, refreshing taste.  I also love smartwater® sparkling to mix things up!  It always amazes me how dry malls, museums, and arenas can be, so having a bottle of water tucked in my purse is a must for me.

I know for some people drinking water becomes monotonous quickly.  That’s why I also keep vitaminwater® zero squeezed® in the house.  When I want something flavorful with a punch of citrus but no calories, I turn to it.  That bright flavor always makes me smile and brings a bit of sunshine into the dullest days.

I stock up on both smartwater® and vitaminwater® on my regular trips to Target.  All favors and shapes fill my cart because these are such a staple in my daily life.

Because classic winter foods don’t have the high water content of summer foods (think peaches, watermelon, cucumbers – all packed with water), I try to up my water intake even more to compensate.

I also take an omega-3 supplement and have for years.  They make both gummies and pills, so find the supplement that works best for you.  Pills can be huge and hard to swallow, while gummies don’t have as high of an omega-3 count in them.  Every little bit helps and when I once stopped taking gummies I noticed a difference in my skin within a week.

Of course, you can always eat those healthy fats.  Salmon, eggs, and walnuts are some of my favorite omega-3 rich foods.

Now that we’ve got internal hydration covered, let’s talk about the outside.  You have to hit that dry winter air with a one-two punch.  I keep lotion on at all time.  Seriously ALL times.  I have different kinds throughout the house and even in my purse or the car.

When I am at home, I go with a lotion topped by petroleum jelly to seal it in.  When I’m out, I just wear lotion as petroleum jelly gets everywhere.  When I am cooking or baking, I will often rub a drop of olive oil into the tops of my hands.  If I am feeling extra dry I will also consume a tablespoon of olive oil first thing in the morning.

My hair can also become dry in the winter.  I use a mask in the shower instead of conditioner once or twice a week.  Sometimes when I know I am just going to be hanging out at home I will also put a nourishing hair oil in my hair.  These things really make a difference that I can feel for a few days.  When I style my hair with a flat iron or hot rollers, I make sure to use a heat protector to seal in the moisture in my hair.  I have way too many hair products but it’s fun to switch things up for different scents and levels of hydration.

With all of these tips consistency is key.  It’s about drinking water, wearing lotion, getting in those omegas, and conditioning hair regularly.

This is also just coming from my experience, and I would love to hear your tips!  I am always looking for new ways to improve my hydration inside and out.  Whatever you do be sure to stock up on smartwater® and vitaminwater®!