WINTER SKIN CARE TIPS

Ahhh yes, winter wisdom. Grab a cup of tea and listen up... Skin is challenged during the winter months regardless of where you live. No matter what climate you might find yourself. Your skin actually adjusts moment by moment to the always changing environment, be it inside or out. During the winter months we turn on the furnace, light a fire in the fireplace. Although it feels wonderful to feel the warmth on our skin, underneath all of that our skin is being depleted of moisture rapidly by the lack of moisture in the air. It's true, heaters and fires pull oxygen out of the room and destroy the moisture in the air that our skin, eyes, sinus's, tissues, and even joints so badly need on a continuous basis. We often hear about the need to drink more fluids in the summer, which is true. But actually we need even more fluids in the winter than we would imagine. In the summer we become thirsty more easily than in the winter. So remember to drink water throughout each and every day regardless of the temperature outside.

Being in the cold also causes more chapping, dryness and irritation which clues us into the fact that we need to use more moisturizer and possibly a heavier cream than we use in the summer months. Lip protection is also advisable during the winter or when travelling to higher altitudes. Less air, less oxygen equals less moisture which always equals drier skin. People often confuse dehydration with being the same as dry skin, which isn't true. Dehydration is a lack of moisture, dry skin is a lack of moisture and sebum (the oil our body produces to lubricate our skin). You can have oily skin (which is your body over producing sebum) and have dehydrated skin at the same time (lack of moisture). This skin condition is very common and is exacerbated in the winter months. Environmental conditions are challenging our skin on a moment to moment basis. Our skin changes with each of the passing seasons as well. This is when most aestheticians encourage their clients to get a facial to treat the upcoming changes in the season and address the results of the ending season....summer to fall and fall to winter and so forth.

So with winter skin....

Drink more fluids

Use perhaps a heavier moisturizer than the summer, or apply more of the same.

Use sun protection on the slopes...which is a time you can burn even faster than in the summer due to the reflection of the white surface of the snow.

Lip protection day and night

Omega 3 and 9 oils

EFA's (essential fatty acids)

Plenty of antioxidants – especially since fresh fruits and vegetables aren't as plentiful in some parts of the country

If you have peels or use an acid based exfoliator definitely back off during the winter months. They can be much to harsh on a skin.

That's the basics!