Harmattan is a season in West Africa that occurs between the month of November and March, the harsh harmattan could only be bearable if proper care of your skin is taken, harmattan is that weather change not everyone is enthusiastic about, it can take its toll on your skin, the surface of the skin tends to dry out easily if it’s not hydrated and this is where the best lotion would be needed to care for your skin and lock in moisture while you enjoy some outdoor game.
The adverse effect of the dry dusty weather requires a simple lotion that hydrates the skin deeply and won’t just sit on the skin. Keep in mind that what suffers most during harmattan is your skin hence you need the best lotion to prevent this from happening.
We have compiled a couple of highly reviewed lotion that would act as a protective barrier against the harsh weather condition, it can be added to your moisturizer for a more effective result.
1. Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion
This is a pretty common lotion you might want to have at hand for harmattan, it was a top scorer for skin softening and long-lasting moisturization, vaseline repair lotion is best for damaged skin as it restores lost nutrient to the skin. Vaseline intensive care lotion is also lightweight and not sticky on the body, it has been clinically proven to heal dry skin and most importantly absorb fast for a non-greasy feel leaving your skin healthy, glowing and smooth.
2. Cocoa Body Butter
The cocoa body butter is one of Africa’s best lotion during harmattan, it’s very essential for dry skin, it’s super-rich and creamy which makes it just perfect for all skin types, it comes with a sweet scent you are going to find soothing and nice on your skin. The cocoa body butter is a pretty popular lotion during harmattan and there is also similar homemade cream.
3. Jergens Ultra Healing Lotion
Jergins ultra healing lotion is another lotion we recommend trying during winter, it is quite light on the skin and you can’t help but love the simple soft feel of it on your skin. Jergens comes in a nice pack to make using it easy, Jergens ultra healing lotion can moisturize your sensitive skin, improves skin tone, texture, and luminosity. This lotion is suitable for males and females, it absorbs into the skin rapidly with no grease or stickiness. You can find Jergens in any shopping mall in West Africa.
4. Nivea Body Lotion
Natural fairness, preferably, its what I use all year 🙂
Nivea comes with various kinds of lotion, ranging from cocoa butter to Nivea body lotion, any of Nivea’s lotion has the ability to last 48 hours regardless of the skin using it, it’s even more effective on dry or extremely dry skin. Nivea body lotion has lots of reviews and also a common lotion for African’s, it contains natural ingredients that do not irritate the skin.
5. Olay Quench Body Lotion
Fragrance-free lovers, this is for you, enjoy this harmattan period with olay quench body lotion, it has been formulated to go beyond moisturizing alone, it keeps your skin sleek and smooth, this body lotion formula works within skin’s surface layers to nourish and improve skin’s barrier over time. It also comes with 24-hour deep moisture and it repairs and nourishes the moisture barrier to break the cycle of dry skin.
Ways To Protect Your Skin During Harmattan
During harmattan, your skin is not the only one that goes dry but your hair tends to become more frizzled, your lip, heels, and even nails are not left, they become dull and prone to breakage if proper care is not taken.
1. Hydrate
It is very important to stay hydrated at all times; drinking water shouldn’t be limited to when the weather is sunny, the recommended daily intake for each day is 8 glasses of water so a little more than this would be needed to keep your body hydrated and enough to keep the dryness balanced.
Staying hydrated is also vital in flushing out the impurities from the body thereby keeping the skin smooth and supple.
2. Moisturize
Keep your skin moisturized to lock in moisture and keep the nutrient from being stripped off and you should opt for natural moisturizing products that won’t dry out the skin more. It is important that you use a moisturizer that will infuse the skin with moisture if it contains humectant then it’s even better.
There is an abundance of natural oil like coconut oil, shea butter oil, olive oil, or cocoa butter that is perfect for retaining moisture within the skin. These are the best moisturizers to buy if you have oily skin.
3. Use Of Lip Balm
Protect your lips from cracking and bleeding which can be really annoying and uncomfortable, the lip is the most delicate part of the body and the best way to keep it safe from the harsh weather is to give it more attention, a good quality lip balm should be applied to keep it moisturized inside out.
You should use natural rich oils on your lip to keep it nourished, regular exfoliation would help too, here are some DIY lip scrub recipes you’ll find handy.
4. Lukewarm Shower Or Bath
During harmattan, you did think the perfect water to take a bath with is hot water but the dermatologist did suggest going for lukewarm water instead, hot water would only strip off the nourishment from your skin. Constant bathing should also be limited as it will only dry your skin out more.
5. Exercise
Exercise will help maintain the body and mind, it’s not just your physical body that will be enlightened but your skin and body will feel rejuvenated too. It is a natural stress buster and releases unwanted toxins from the body which gives a natural glow.
People with dry skin are the ones that are mostly hit by the harsh harmattan however if the right beauty routine is adopted then there is not much to worry about, you should also not hesitate to go out with sunscreen if you plan to stay long outdoor.
On a final note, you should always apply a lip balm or lip salve before lipstick to keep it from getting chapped or you can go with a simple moisturizing lip gloss.
