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One of the main causes of dry skin in the winter is the lack of moisture in the air. The cold and dry days that are common during low humidity seasons – along with indoor heating can cause flaky patches or cracked skin. This is also when itchy red patches of skin that are common with eczema can flair up. Summer isn't the only time to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is a great idea during the fall and winter months also.
Easy Ways to Fight Dry Skin
If you already see the signs of winter skin dryness, here are 3 tips to help maintain body moisture and keep your skin healthy and soft during the winter.
1. Avoid hot showers and long baths
A hot shower to break the morning chill or a long soak in a hot tub of water to relax you at night may sound great, but hot showers and long baths are two of the main contributors to dry skin in the winter. Both of these can strip the protective coating of natural oils from your skin, leaving you with alligator-like skin texture.
In winter, use warm water, not hot water for showering and bathing. Keep these water cleanings to under 10 minutes. Follow up with a pat dry and a hydrating body moisturizer with nutrient-dense natural ingredients like coconut oil, avocado oil, or Shea Butter.
2. Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser
Avoid using a body and facial wash with excessive surfactants that increase foaming and lather in cleansers. They also attract both oil and water away from your skin. Avoid harsh, antibacterial washes or soaps unless you have a dermatological need. Even deodorant soaps contain stronger detergents that can remove the natural oils from your skin – leaving it more sensitive to the drying effects of the winter air.
Switch to a fragrance body wash that is gentle on the skin and does not strip the body of its natural protective oils. The organic products with simple ingredients are a better choice for winter months. Make sure you rinse all the soap from your body before drying.
3. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids
If you want healthy skin, you must feed it well with foods that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, mackerel, flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, and anchovies. According to WebMD:
"Among the most important to having healthy skin, she says, are foods containing the powerful antioxidant known as lycopene…the best sources include tomato products, guava, watermelon, and red papaya. Other important skin foods to include in your diet, she says are sweet potatoes, blueberries, and strawberries."
If you're looking to live in Metropolitan Portland’s most prestigious suburban landscape, visit us at Kruseway Commons Apartments in Lake Oswego to arrange a tour of our spacious one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments.
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When winter settles in, the state of Oregon sees more rain and more clouds. But don't let the lack of sunshine get you down or steal your internal sunshine. Serve up these blues-curing drinks in your Lake Oswego apartment, and you'll get a little sunshine-like warmth from the inside to carry you over until spring.
Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate
Nothing beats the moody blues like yummy hot cocoa, and this version gives you the soothing sweetness without all the fat or dairy that traditional hot chocolate has. Made with almond milk, unsweetened chocolate chips, and unsweetened cocoa, this cup of goodness is silky smooth and oh-so-yummy. Top off the cup of dairy-free hot chocolate with a dab of whipped heavy cream or coconut whipped cream, and sprinkle the top with more cocoa for an added touch. Friends who get this drink when they swing by for a visit will leave your apartment feeling like they just got a much-needed hug.
Hot Not Toddy
Known as the soothing remedy for colds, the flu and more, the traditional hot toddy is made with alcohol. However, this version of the famous drink is still hot without alcohol, so it is referred to as a Hot Not Toddy. Mix together seven ounces of hot tea, honey to sweeten, and a splash of lemon juice (along with a few spices), and you have a sip-worthy drink that easily busts any feelings of winter-season sadness. The collaboration of tea, honey, citrus, and spices soothes your body and your mind.
Nonalcoholic Winter Sangria
Sangria is the epitome of summer drinks with all its bright color and flavor, but with a few little changes, you can have a winter sangria that is just as bright, just as cheer-inducing and just as pleasing. Orange slices, grapefruit-flavored sparkling water, caramelized cranberries, pomegranate juice—this drink is filled with a ton of color, a ton of flavor, and a ton of happiness. Garnish the orange and red concoction with contrasting cinnamon sticks, fresh cranberries, or a rim coating of sparkling sugar for good measure.
No matter how long the winter clouds may linger, you'll feel a bit of upbeat happiness with these cozy drinks around. Talk to us at Kruseway Commons to find out why people love entertaining in our Lake Oswego apartments.
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The winter is synonymous with hibernation, and it's common to hear people use the term as a joke to excuse them from their normal workouts. But it can be detrimental to your health to assume you can take a whole season off (or even part of the season off). Instead of dreading your workouts though, you can mix them up instead. Feel the burn even without the sun with these cool ideas!
Fun Winter Workout Ideas
Celebrate Your Surroundings
Your apartment in Portland, OR may not be swamped in snow all the time, but it's not far from some famous powder-covered slopes. Sledding, skiing, and snowball fights may take a little extra effort, but your body and your mind will thank you. All of these activities get you out and moving, and sledding and skiing can help you improve your coordination and balance. If you're looking for something a little more local, lace up your skates and glide along the ice.
Ditch Your Equipment
You don't need a lot of equipment to work out, a reality that is difficult to remember with all the workout gear for sale. When the available space in your home has been usurped by your tree and the many gifts piled underneath, you can use bodyweight exercises to work up a little sweat. From lunges to planks to traditional crunches and sit-ups, all you really need is yourself and some motivation if you want to get a good winter workout.
Look for Opportunities
Window shopping at the mall, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, an indoor game of tennis, a balance ball at work: it all counts and it's all worth it. The colder seasons may take a little extra planning, but it can make the activity that much more rewarding. Just walking around in an indoor space is often enough to get you on your way.
Portland apartments can be a great place to work out in the winter so you can beat the seasonal blues. If you're looking for an apartment complex that can keep up with your ambitious schedule, consider Kruseway Commons. We offer the space and amenities you need to get the most of your fitness routines, so give us a call today to schedule a tour.
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Don't let the lack of daylight keep you from having a good time this winter. Invite your friends over and turn your apartment in Lake Oswego into a place of joy!
Ideas for Throwing the Ideal Winter Party
- Keep the guest list small, so you can have a more intimate setting. Around four to six guests should be the maximum number of guests.
- Take a chapter from the Nordic lifestyle and buy lots of candles of different sizes. Candles set the mood by helping guests relax and feel at home. A roaring fireplace also provides a bit of light therapy for you and your guests.
- Have some cocktails handy for guests when they arrive.
- Prepare appetizer trays ahead of time full of cheese or charcuterie displayed artfully on wooden cutting boards.
- Make soup the day before and heat it up in a pot while you are preparing your other dishes.
- Heat sliced and buttered bread in foil, then place in insulated cooler where it will remain hot for hours.
- Roast vegetables on a tray while preparing your main dish. Find some unusual or elegant vegetables such as colored beets or carrots to add that extra bit of color.
- Offer a variety of coffee and teas between dinner and dessert. This allows guests to mingle, let their food settle, and look around.
- Find a dessert that is already made and requires just a little extra garnish or a scoop of ice cream. Pie, pavlovas, cheesecake are all examples of perfect desserts that pair well with a sprig of mint, a touch of chocolate syrup, a few berries, or some enticing ice cream.
- Make little takeaway favors for your guests. Have the favor be related to the dinner, whether it be a special syrup you poured over dessert, a cocktail rum, or a special, fresh-roasted coffee you brought back from your trip to Panama. Make sure to include a tag with the name of the ingredient and a recipe for how to use it.
If you are looking for an apartment in Lake Oswego, call our office today to see which floor plans we have available. Our apartments are great for entertaining and dining with friends.
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