Winterizing your skin

Your skin may just need some extra TLC during the winter season. Lower humidity levels, extreme cold, varying indoor and outdoor environments can all cause damage to the skins protective outer layer. Vital lipids between cells get stripped away leaving dangerous gaps in the natural defensive barrier. The end result? Irritants can get in causing sensitivity and inflammation, while concurrently critical moisture gets rapidly sucked out. How might your skin feel? Dry, tight, itchy, thirsty and possibly tingly or stinging. It can look dull, flaky, drier around the eyes and possibly pink on the cheeks. Being more sensitive and reactive to your usual products and make up is also a common consequence of gaps in the barrier.

Your hands can also take a beating during the colder months as they too are exposed to the elements. This coupled with frequent hand washing and generous applications of antibacterial hand sanitizer, to fight off colds, can lead to extremely dry, painfully cracked skin. The skin on the legs and the rest of the body may also become reptilian like as a result of hot bubble baths, thicker heavier petroleum based creams and restrictive layers of clothing that trap dead cells . This can even lead to breakouts on the chest and back in acne prone people. If you naturally have a sensitive skin or suffer from eczema or rosacea, flare ups are more common in colder temps, Nylon’s, wool sweaters and dry central heating systems will worsen the condition. Try to wear 100% cotton and natural fabrics and invest in a humidifier for dry indoor environments.

Some Winterizing skin saving tips are:

For your face:

• Switch out your foaming cleanser for a soothing gel cream instead to replenish lipids and soothe sensitivity. Try dermalogica’s UltraCalming Cleanser.
• Sweep away flakey, dull skin cells with Daily Resurfacer that gentle smoothes and brightens while hydrating the skin at the same time.
• Layer on hydration and reduce tightness by spritzing after cleansing and throughout the day over makeup choose from MultiActive Toner, Antioxidant HydraMist or UltraCalming Mist.
• For sore, red, irritated skin, comfort with a generous application of UltraCalming Serum Concentrate and use UltraCalming Relief Masque a few times a week to soothe and calm.
• Change to a heavier weight moisturizer for more nourishment and protection like Super Rich Repair for day and night.
• If it’s super cold, try a healing balm like Climate Control on exposed areas like lips, nose and cheekbones for extra protection and healing.
• Repair and diminish dry skin and lines by gently patting Intensive Eye Repair around your eyes.

For the body and hands:

• Avoid hot water by using tepid water instead, pat skin dry, don’t rub and while the skin is still damp apply your body lotion immediately, avoiding those with artificial color and fragrance. Try dermalogica’s Ultra Rich Body Cream for supreme nourishment and protection from the elements.
• With shower and bath products, avoid soap, artificial fragrance and high foam products as they dehydrate the skin. Alternatively add a few pumps of an aromatherapy oil to your bath. Try dermalogica’s Stress Relief Treatment oil and Conditioning Body Wash.
• Slough off dead cells effortlessly by adding HydroActive Mineral Salts to the bath for a relaxing and exfoliating soak. If your prefer to shower try dermalogica’s Exfoliating Body Scrub and use in gentle circular movements paying special attention to knees, elbows and hands. For super all over smoothness use with the Ultimate Buffing Cloth.
• Opt for the paraffin dip the next time you get a manicure, it’s good for locking in moisture.
• Wear 100% cotton gloves to bed over a healing cream like Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment, this speeds up absorption and you’ll wake up with super soft hands.