Winter Skin Got You Singing the Blues?

Dust off that humidifier, the cold weather is here! Low humidity and colder temperatures cause skin to get dry, chapped and flaky. These weather conditions increase the rate of evaporation. Our skin cells this time of year are begging for moisture. Dead skin cells cling to you rather than slough off. This can lead to dry, red skin and believe or not, breakouts.

There are simple steps to take to keep your skin hydrated and glowing during the winter months.

1. Avoid cleansers with soap detergents and alcohol. These ingredients strip the skin off its natural hydration and disrupt your natural ph balance. Invest in a soap free cleanser.

2. Exfoliate, exfoliate, and exfoliate! Exfoliating daily can have a huge impact in the texture of your skin. Exfoliating not only removes dead skin that accumulates but also accelerates cellular renewal increasing collagen production. When the environment becomes dry those collagen fibers can get brittle and break down leading to fine lines and wrinkles. You will certainly reap the benefits of a professional facial during the change of seasons. Regular facials are the key to clear, smooth and radiant skin throughout the entire year.

3. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize! Does your skin look moisturized but feel dry? That’s because there isn’t moisture in the deepest layers, where your skin produces a natural substance called hyaluronic acid. It’s vital to youthful looking skin because it traps moisture and creates a gel-like substance. Collagen fibers can then stay flexible and they won’t break down. I suggest a high quality moisturizer for the face and body. I also suggest layering your moisturizer. Put one layer of moisturizer on, wait 5 minutes then apply another layer of moisturizer.

4. The sun can be a danger to skin even in the coldest temperatures. It reflects the snow and the sun’s rays penetrate through cloudy skies. The UVB causes superficial damage in the uppermost layer of the skin. UVB rays are responsible for us to burn or tan. UVA rays are the ones that causes photo-aging, which is damage to the deeper layer of our skin. These rays are not blocked by clouds, glass, or fog. So, every day we are prone to sun damage. Which means your moisturizer must have a broad spectrum sunscreen and worn every day.

5. Use a humidifier in your home. In the winter time when the air is colder and drier, skin can’t hold onto as much moisture as it can with warm air. You need to supplement [moisture] because when it gets dry enough, the moisture on our skin evaporates into the air. Any way you can add humidity to the air in an environment in which you spend a lot of time is going to be helpful.

6. Water, water and more water. Our skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. Dehydration makes your skin look dry and wrinkled, which can be improved with proper hydration. While harder during the winter months, it’s imperative to have 8-10 glasses a day. Add a lemon wedge to flush out toxins and decrease blemishes and wrinkles too and maintain your skin’s radiance!

Author: Stacey Farrell, “The Skin Whisperer”
Founder and owner, Skin Sense of Melrose