It's almost winter - how will you protect your skin?
In winter (especially) skin care becomes very important.
Here are some tips I found for keeping skin protected and hydrated during winter:
• Consider seeing a dermatologist to find more about your skin type, what skin regimen is best for you, and what products are best. And don't worry—inexpensive products work just as well as expensive products. What's important is how a product makes your skin feel not what the label says or claims it will do.
• Exfoliate! Dead cells dull our complexion and gently buffing away old cells can make a big difference. Be careful though, if you scrub to hard or too often you can damage skin's protective barrier function. Use a soft facecloth or flannel (not scratchy ones!) as a DIY facial scrub. After cleansing massage the cells on the skin surface. And if you're extra dry use cream cleanser first then massage with a facecloth.
• Moisturize More. Look for oil-based instead of water-based creams. Night cream, for example, is usually oil-based. Oil creates a protective layer on the skin that helps keep in moisture. Trade in your usual foaming or liquid cleansers for the cream version, which will feel rich and nourishing to your unbalanced winter skin. Be careful that you don't just buy the most expensive cream cleanser—that doesn't mean it's better. Use a hydrating serum under your moisturizer to penetrate skin more deeply to nourish the bottom layer of cells and they will come to the surface more hydrated. Be careful about which oil creams you put on your face, though, as some will clog your pores. Non-clogging oils like avocado oil, mineral oil, primrose oil, and almond oils are good for faces. Lotions with "humectants" (glycerine, sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids) attract moisture to your skin.
• Use Sunscreen! UV rays are around all year round, even when hot summer air is not. Protect against skin cancers, wrinkles, and lines by choosing a moisturizer with sunscreen or UV filter. 30 minutes before going outside apply to hands and face. Reapply if you're doing a lot of outdoor activities, especially in the snow.
• Protect your hands. Hand skin is thin and has less oil glands than other parts of the body. Combining that with the extra exposure and work hands do and you're going to have itchy, dry hands. Wear gloves and consider using a thin soft glove beneath a scratchy wool pair. Take off wet gloves and socks as soon as you can because the moisture can lead to itching, cracking, sores, or eczema flare-ups.
• Use a Humidifier. They get more moisture into the air. Put a few throughout your home to combat central heating systems to disperse hot air. Also try to keep central heating down a bit. This will also save energy and money.
• Protect your lips! For me, chapped lips mean either a) I haven't had enough beverages or b) there is a cold coming on and my immune system is stealing all the hydration. So drinking lots of water (as always) is a good idea. But don't expect drinking extra water to cure dry skin, because good, soft skin doesn't have to do with how much water you've consumed. If you want to exfoliate the dead skin off put on some vaseline for a few minutes then rub it away with a warm, damp facecloth. Use a good lip balm in the morning and night and before going outside to keep them hydrated. Consider switching lipsticks to a more moisturized formula. Look for shea butter and pomegranate ingredients.
• Forget about using: facial peels, masks, astringents, or alcohol toners. Switch to natural products with milk or anything that's "deeply hydrating." Use them all less often.
• Use stronger foot creams containing vaseline or glycerine instead of just the mint summer kind. Exfoliate them more this time of year too.
• Don't take really hot baths. It feels great but that super hot heat breaks down the skin's protective moisture barriers. Warm water and less soaking time is best. Add oatmeal or baking soda to relieve dry and itchy skin. If these baths and more moisturizing don't work , see a doctor to see if you have a condition that's not just dry skin.
What tips would you add to the list? What are your favorite products or regimens?
What are others in your community talking about this?
How important, to you, is skin care?
Here are some tips I found for keeping skin protected and hydrated during winter:
• Consider seeing a dermatologist to find more about your skin type, what skin regimen is best for you, and what products are best. And don't worry—inexpensive products work just as well as expensive products. What's important is how a product makes your skin feel not what the label says or claims it will do.
• Exfoliate! Dead cells dull our complexion and gently buffing away old cells can make a big difference. Be careful though, if you scrub to hard or too often you can damage skin's protective barrier function. Use a soft facecloth or flannel (not scratchy ones!) as a DIY facial scrub. After cleansing massage the cells on the skin surface. And if you're extra dry use cream cleanser first then massage with a facecloth.
• Moisturize More. Look for oil-based instead of water-based creams. Night cream, for example, is usually oil-based. Oil creates a protective layer on the skin that helps keep in moisture. Trade in your usual foaming or liquid cleansers for the cream version, which will feel rich and nourishing to your unbalanced winter skin. Be careful that you don't just buy the most expensive cream cleanser—that doesn't mean it's better. Use a hydrating serum under your moisturizer to penetrate skin more deeply to nourish the bottom layer of cells and they will come to the surface more hydrated. Be careful about which oil creams you put on your face, though, as some will clog your pores. Non-clogging oils like avocado oil, mineral oil, primrose oil, and almond oils are good for faces. Lotions with "humectants" (glycerine, sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids) attract moisture to your skin.
• Use Sunscreen! UV rays are around all year round, even when hot summer air is not. Protect against skin cancers, wrinkles, and lines by choosing a moisturizer with sunscreen or UV filter. 30 minutes before going outside apply to hands and face. Reapply if you're doing a lot of outdoor activities, especially in the snow.
• Protect your hands. Hand skin is thin and has less oil glands than other parts of the body. Combining that with the extra exposure and work hands do and you're going to have itchy, dry hands. Wear gloves and consider using a thin soft glove beneath a scratchy wool pair. Take off wet gloves and socks as soon as you can because the moisture can lead to itching, cracking, sores, or eczema flare-ups.
• Use a Humidifier. They get more moisture into the air. Put a few throughout your home to combat central heating systems to disperse hot air. Also try to keep central heating down a bit. This will also save energy and money.
• Protect your lips! For me, chapped lips mean either a) I haven't had enough beverages or b) there is a cold coming on and my immune system is stealing all the hydration. So drinking lots of water (as always) is a good idea. But don't expect drinking extra water to cure dry skin, because good, soft skin doesn't have to do with how much water you've consumed. If you want to exfoliate the dead skin off put on some vaseline for a few minutes then rub it away with a warm, damp facecloth. Use a good lip balm in the morning and night and before going outside to keep them hydrated. Consider switching lipsticks to a more moisturized formula. Look for shea butter and pomegranate ingredients.
• Forget about using: facial peels, masks, astringents, or alcohol toners. Switch to natural products with milk or anything that's "deeply hydrating." Use them all less often.
• Use stronger foot creams containing vaseline or glycerine instead of just the mint summer kind. Exfoliate them more this time of year too.
• Don't take really hot baths. It feels great but that super hot heat breaks down the skin's protective moisture barriers. Warm water and less soaking time is best. Add oatmeal or baking soda to relieve dry and itchy skin. If these baths and more moisturizing don't work , see a doctor to see if you have a condition that's not just dry skin.
What tips would you add to the list? What are your favorite products or regimens?
What are others in your community talking about this?
How important, to you, is skin care?
Tags: care, cold, hot, hydrate, itch, moisturize, skin, winter
© 2009 Created by Marie
