A Winter Glow Secret - Started in the 19th Century

As the winter months settle in it is easy to feel sluggish and our skin looking dull. Gray days don't help our energy either. Yet, would you like to start your day feeling alert, uplifted and ready to take on the day with a rush of energizing hormones?  Would you like your skin to glow naturally and improve its elasticity?  Here is is a tip that I use especially during winter. 

What Happens to Your Skin

Finish your shower with 30–60 seconds of cold water. Seriously, something remarkable happens when you make this a habit. The cold causes your blood vessels to contract and then rebound, essentially giving your circulation a little workout. Better circulation means more oxygen and nutrients reaching your skin cells,  and that translates to a healthier, more radiant complexion. Over time, this repeated contraction and relaxation also helps to tone and firm the skin, improving its elasticity and that coveted natural glow.

A Little History

This idea is far from new. Back in the 19th century, a Bavarian priest named Sebastian Kneipp was pioneering the use of alternating hot and cold water to heal and strengthen the body. His methods became famous across Europe, and what he discovered then is still being celebrated by wellness experts today.

This idea of hydrotherapy is deeply ingrained in the German culture I grew up with. In fact, when my siblings and I were little and flu season came around my mom washed us down in the morning with ice cold water, wrapped us in natural linen towels and tucked us back in bed to warm us up again. For some time my parents even started the day with a cold a shower to strengthen their immune system... brrr While none of us kids feel this steeled, we do finish our showers with a burst of cold water, especially on days where we get up feeling sluggish. It does marvels for you day and your skin.

How to Start

I believe that you don't need to dive in at the deep end. Simply finish your usual warm shower by gradually turning the temperature down over 20–30 seconds, ending with the coldest setting you can comfortably manage for about 30–60 seconds. Focus the water on your legs, arms, and face first and then splash your belly and back for maximum skin benefit. That is it!  It will make you scream at first 😉, yet you will feel ever so invigorated for the rest of the day.

You will also notice that when you apply our body lotion immediately after the shower ending with cold water, while your skin is still slightly cool, how beautifully it locks in hydration and amplifies the glow.

Give it a week and notice the result of this treatment -  improved skin elasticity with a healthy glow, while feeling invigorated, uplifted and alert. And let us know how you feel after a week. We all here would love to hear of your experience.

Read more about how to keep your skin glowing:

https://kettlecare.com/blogs/news/shed-winter-sluggishness-with-lymphatic-flow

https://kettlecare.com/blogs/news/the-chai-spice-body-polish-ritual