Sunday 9 December 2012

Protect Your Skin Against the Winter Elements

Winter cold can bring about many changes in the way your skin looks and feels. The lack of moisture in the air outside and inside will take its toll on your skin's moisture levels. How well your skin copes all depends on your skin's ability to retain healthy water levels, which keeps the surface looking smooth and flake free. We all have a protective lipid barrier that is designed to keep moisture in and irritants out! As we age though and with continuing environmental changes, this becomes weaker - leading to dehydrated, sensitive and drier skins.

 Winter cold and central heating will definitely weaken your skin's barrier function; leaking vital moisture and making your skin feel tight, itchy, dry and flaky! 

If you find your skin takes a hit in winter, there are many steps you can take to prevent the winter onslaught to your skin, here are my tips to keep your skin smooth, glowing and soft.




  1. Buy a humidifier. Low humidity is the cause of most weather-related dry skin, whether it is winter or a desert environment. Keep them in the rooms you spend most of your time in, definitely the bedroom! Central heating is your skin's enemy; it literally leaches water from your skin! So a humidifier is an essential piece of kit for winter skin survival!

 
  2. Use moisturising and hydrating masks 2 - 3 times a week. If your skin is on the dry side anyway use a creamy based mask, if your skin is generally oilier/combination then opt for a gel hydrating mask, as oily skin can still be very dehydrated. My favourites are Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Mask and Eminence stone crop serum or mask.

 
  3. Tweak your products to how your skin is feeling. You can opt for a creamier cleanser; I like the gentle cleanser by eminence. Also you can opt for a slightly richer moisturiser-Skinceutical face cream, and add in some hydrating B5 serum to your routine .Look for products that are concentrated with antioxidants, moisture locking ingredients and peptides. There is a whole host of hydrating super serums and gels that can plump and protect the skin with ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid – B5 gel serum is a real treat for the skin. 

 
  4. Eat Essential Fatty Acids. I encourage my clients to take these all year round, as the results can take up to 3-4 months to show. EFA's are essential for life and we need to take them from a dietary source as our body cannot make them. Our skin needs them as well to form our protective lipid barrier that helps keep moisture in our skin, so supplementing this can make a big difference to your skin. I recommend Udo's Choice Oil which has a balanced ration of Omega 3.6.9 or Solgar All Omegas. 
  5. Apply gentle exfoliation. Do not scrub your skin; scrubbing too aggressively creates tiny tears on the surface of the skin impairing its ability to keep water where it needs to be. Opt for gentle exfoliator such as retexturing serum as this revolutionary resurfacing and replenishing serum surpasses the results of a 20% daily glycolic treatment while simultaneously reinforcing the skin’s barrier for healthier, more radiant skin. Retexturing Activator harnesses two polar mechanisms — exfoliation and hydration — to activate skin’s regeneration response, visibly diminishing surface lines and transforming skin’s fabric into a smoother, softer texture. Using patent-pending technology, this unique treatment contains a 25% concentration of a paradoxal compound discovered to be highly effective at promoting cell differentiation while optimizing the skin's amino acid supply to reinforce the barrier, resulting in the most efficient epidermal renewal. Potent without harsh side effects, Retexturing Activator is formulated in an efficient, oil-free delivery system suitable for all skin types.

 
  6. Don’t forget your Lips. Lips are not good at coping when the air is dry and cold. They lack the oils and skin structure the rest of the face has and, as a result, are far more vulnerable to chapping and cracking during the winter. Opt for products that contain Shea Butter, Beeswax and natural plant oils, as these will effectively hydrate your lips - avoid any petroleum/mineral oil based products as these will only form a barrier, your lips will still feel dry underneath!! Also use glosses during the day to keep your lips moisturised – Bare minerals lip glosses contain natural plant oils, to keep your lips colourful and hydrated.

 
  7. Book a Facial Treatment. Getting regular facials can make a significant difference to how your skin looks and feels and also keeps on top of on-going skin concerns like winter skin dryness. In a professional treatment we can use higher strength serums and special technology to speed up results and problem solve skin concerns. Book an appointment with one of our Therapist who will advise on the most suitable facial for your skin needs.

 
  8. Apply Hand Cream Liberally. Because hands are subject to intense cleansing agents all day long they struggle the most with dry skin. You must be diligent about applying and reapplying hand cream every time you wash your hands. Don't forget to keep a hand cream in your handbag, at your desk, and in every bathroom in your home.

 
  9. Avoid soaking in the bathtub, Jacuzzi, or taking long showers. As lovely as a bath or shower feels, too much water is bad for skin. Indulging your skin with water breaks down the substances that keep skin cells intact and weakens the barrier function. Keep showers or baths short, especially during the winter. Use plant based bath oils that cling to skin so you can massage them in afterwards.

 
  10. Avoid harsh chemicals. Things to avoid are detergent based soaps, harsh toners with Alcohol or over exfoliation.

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