Winterize Your Skin

Winter weather combined with indoor heating systems that leach moisture from our skin make it challenging to maintain optimum skin health. Add busy holiday schedules and celebrations and skin can become tired-looking, dull, and lackluster. Here are some tips to keep skin glowing between professional visits.

Drink plenty of water and limit caffeine and alcohol which are known dehydrators. Your skin needs water to function properly as an excretory organ so drink plenty of it and keep in mind that coffee and alcoholic beverages can dehydrate the skin. I always recommend drinking 2 additional glasses of water for every alcoholic drink you consume. Your skin will stay refreshed and you’ll find you feel better as well. Ever notice a drop in energy around mid day? That is usually an indication of dehydration. Try a glass of water and see if you feel a little peppier. And if plain water doesn’t entice you, try flavored mineral water or float lemon, orange, or cucumber slices in your water to improve the flavor. Hot water and lemon is an ideal afternoon hydrator in winter.

Feed your skin! If you are on a low-fat diet, make sure you include enough essential fatty acids (EFAs) or your skin can become dull and dry.

Always wash with warm water (never hot).

Avoid soaps and alcohol-based astringents. These can be very drying to your skin.

Gently exfoliate the skin to shed dead skin cells for smoother, softer skin.

Use a hydrating masque or antioxidant multivitamin masque two to three times a week.

Apply a moisturizer within 3 minutes of washing to lock in moisture and provide a barrier against harsh environments.

Remember to apply sun screen throughout the year wherever skin is exposed to daylight.

Relax! Stress during late fall and winter may actually increase the number of breakouts, especially on the chest and back areas.

Schedule a Facial Treatment to help restore critical hydration and bring skin back into balance.

Schedule a Therapeutic Massage to help relieve stress and promote deep relaxation.

Try Dermalogica’s Spa Body Products along with body exfoliating gloves to keep your skin silky smooth all year long.

Here are some skin myths and facts from the International Dermal Institute and Dermalogica®:

Myth: The thicker the cream, the more moisturizing it is.

Fact: Thick doesn’t equal moisture. The heaviness of a cream is often due to the lipids and emulsifiers in the formula, and sometimes heavyweight creams can leave skin looking dull while trapping dead cells and affecting skin function.

Layering fluids and moisturizers is often the best remedy. Use Skin Hydrating Booster, which contains Hyaluronic Acid, a key ingredient (and also a natural component of our skin) that helps boost moisturization. Follow with a moisturizer: Super Rich Repair contains great hydrators including Oil of Primrose, Sodium PCA, Shea Butter, Colloidal Oatmeal, Algae, Panthenol, Vitamin E, Borage Oil, and Jojoba Seed Oil.

Myth: You don’t have to apply sunscreen as obsessively in the winter as you do in the summer.

Fact: Winter, spring, summer or fall: if there is daylight, you’re still exposed to UV light and free radical damage. And if sunscreen helps prevent the signs of aging, why wouldn’t you want to wear it every day?

A minimum of SPF15 is suggested for everyday use, and skin showing the signs of aging or experiencing sensitivity should wear an SPF30. Dermalogica’s skin condition-specific sunscreens make daily wear more convenient while offering UV Smart Booster Technology for enhanced photoprotection and defense against free radicals.

Myth: Skip exfoliation so you don’t dry everything out.

Fact: Quite the opposite! Exfoliation causes a burst in cell renewal, moving newer, moisture-rich cells to the surface.

Exfoliation also removes old dead cells and dry skin, providing a smoother, brighter surface while enabling effective penetration of hydrating ingredients into the skin. Just be sure not to over-exfoliate, as this will break down the skin’s protective barrier. For extra benefits, exfoliate with a gentle daily use exfoliant like Daily Microfoliant. When performing more intense exfoliation with Gentle Cream Exfoliant or MultiVitamin Thermofoliant, follow with Skin Hydrating Masque.

Myth: Hot, steamy showers are great for skin.

Fact: No – especially in winter! Hot water causes a stripping effect to delicate barrier lipids in-between the cells; when the lipids are removed, essential moisture below evaporates out. Combine hot showers with irritation caused by winter wardrobe made of synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester, and you’ve got an itchy, irritated skin situation!

Warm water is best for skin when used together with a soap-free body wash such as Conditioning Body Wash. Bar soap or high foam-producing, artificially perfumed shower gels will dry out the skin. Body exfoliation will help remove dry, winter skin, so use Conditioning Body Wash periodically with The Ultimate Buffing Cloth, or dry brush your skin before showering. After bathing, pat skin dry, then thoroughly moisturize immediately with Body Hydrating Cream or UltraRich Body Cream.

Myth: Oily skin types don’t need moisturizing.

Fact: You can have oily skin and still experience dehydration, which is a lack of water in skin. This means even the oiliest of skin conditions should moisturize.

Oil Control Lotion provides oil-free hydration while helping to minimize shine – giving oily skin conditions the best of both worlds. And Oil Free Matte Block SPF20 provides UV defense while maintaining an all-day matte finish. For extra mattifying benefits, apply Clearing Mattifier in the T-zone before applying a moisturizer.

Myth: For dry lips, just apply more lip balm.

Fact: Some lip balms create more bad than good. Mineral oil (petroleum jelly) creates an artificial film on the lips, and this gives the skin the illusion that it doesn’t need to produce lipids. These ingredients together with artificial flavors, colors, and fragrances can dry out the skin. Use lip healthy alternatives like Renewal Lip Complex, containing Shea Butter, Silicones, Cocoa Seed Butter, Avocado Oil, and Wheat Germ.

Lips can use a little exfoliation, too! Daily Microfoliant can be used over the lips as well. Another tip: stop use of lip plumpers and long-lasting stains for a few days.

Myth: Let your skin hibernate and cut back on treatments.

Fact: Winter is actually the best time to take care of your skin with professional treatments. Skin may need more help, especially dry, sensitive/sensitized, and Rosacea prone skins.

Professional oatmeal masques are wonderful during the winter season, as are paraffin dips for hands and feet. Nothing is better than a warm thermal back treatment (like the Power Recovery Back Treatment) if you have dry parched skin! As legs, underarms, and bikini aren’t as exposed, this is also a great time to perform laser hair removal.