3 Ways to Keep a Healthy and Glowing Skin During Harmattan

Harmattan is a dry and dusty season that occurs in West Africa. Most times it occurs between the month of November to March.

Due to its dry and dusty characteristics, the lips, skin and hair get to suffer the most.

Often, people are seen with chapped lips and skin; also dusty hair which happens as a result of fine dust that invades from Bodélé Depression located at the southern edge of the Sahara Desert in Chad.

Now, how do you keep a healthy and glowing skin during harmattan

1. Stay hydrated

The skin is an organ made up of various cells. Like every other cell in the human body, skin cells are made up of water. 

Due to the dryness that comes with harmattan, dehydration is very much likely to happen; it could result in a dry, flaky and tight skin.

As we all know, dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling.

Water is lost in large quantities every day, during harmattan it is lost in double quantity, we advise you take at least 2 litres of water daily to keep a healthy and glowing skin during this season.

Not everyone will agree that taking enough water plays a role in achieving a radiant skin, but it certainly can’t hurt…right? So drink up.

2. Moisturize always

Skin cell turnover is the process of producing new skin cells that replace existing skin cells. It is a vital aspect of keeping your skin smooth, vibrant, clear and healthy.

A dry, flaky and tight skin makes the skin cell turnover process difficult; in this case, dead skin cells find it difficult to shed off due to lack of moisture. 

In this situation, it is important to incorporate hydrating agents into your lotion. I’ll be sharing with you hydrating ingredients you should check out before purchasing a lotion during harmattan.

1. Emollients: An hydrating agent that comes in form of oil, butter and fatty acid. It prevents hydration loss while smoothing and softening the skin.

2. Humectants: It increases skin moisture by attracting and locking in water to the skin. It works well in improving skin texture.

3. Ceramides: It creates a barrier that prevents the absorption of the skin moisture, locks moisture, prevents dryness and irritation.

4. Occlusives: An hydrating ingredient that acts as a shield against hydration-robbing elements like wind and cold air.

Ensure to check out these hydrating ingredients in a body lotion before buying.

Lip balm is also important. Make sure you apply lip balm on your lips to prevent having cracky lips.

3. Maintain cleanliness

Yes, harmattan comes with dry dust that most time makes your legs and face look dusty and dirty, some even look white. It is important to step up on cleanliness. Ensure to wash your body thoroughly to get rid of dust that may have stuck on your body.

Do not forget to keep yourself warm, wear a sweater and sock if you can.

Originally posted on February 22, 2021 @ 11:29 pm