1. Moisturize
Skin gets dry, flaky, and chapped during the dry, cold winter months due to blood vessels shrinking to conserve heat. This shrinking causes less fluid to travel up to the surface. To prevent and treat dryness (yes, this is obvious but we forget it all too often), put moisture back into your skin! The thicker the cream does NOT necessarily mean better hydration. Thick, ineffective creams can actually trap dead skin cells and leave your skin looking dull. For optimal moisture, try using a serum under your daily moisturizer. Serums are light and formulated to absorb the emollient deeper into the skin. Dryness is caused by a lack of water in your skin-not oil. It is a myth that those with oily skin should avoid moisturizers. For oily skin, opt for a gel or lotion (look for oil-free and non-comedogenic) and for combination skin types, mix it up. Use a light formula on your T-zone and a richer cream for your cheeks where dry patches generally pop up. Hands, in particular, can get painfully dry and cracked from repeated washing and the increased use of anti-bacterial hand sanitizers. Try this right before bed: drench your hands with a rich emollient, slip a pair of clean socks over them, and wake up with renewed hands. If your skin is really driving you crazy, don’t scratch! You can use a cold pack or compress to relieve itchy spots. Look for hyaluronic acid (it is not a true acid but a molecule that works like a sponge to pull water in), shea butter, lactic acid and dimethicone on the ingredients list for the best moisture.
*Just as you switch up your closet from season to season, switch up your skin care routine. Use gel- like products in the summer; creamier products in the winter.
2. Exfoliate
Those dry, dead flakes aren’t going to come off no matter how much lotion you layer on. Your skin is constantly turning over, and the dead skin needs to go or you will look dull and lack luster. Exfoliating causes a burst of cell renewal, so you're helping new moisture-rich cells move to the surface. Slough off dry skin with a manual exfoliator, such as the Clarisonic or St.Ives apricot scrub (it is considered a manual exfoliator because you are actively and physically removing the skin), or with a chemical exfoliator like glycolic acids or lactic acids which gently melt away the dead skin. Look for a manual exfoliant that contains smooth beads and a chemical exfoliant with fruit enzymes. This will promote skin cell turnover, revealing a layer of new, soft, silky skin. Using a loofah in the shower is also considered a form of exfoliation. This will rid your entire body of the excess flaky skin.
Rule of thumb: Exfoliate 2-3 times a week.
3. Sunscreen
Just because you’re not having as much fun in the sun as you do in the summer doesn’t mean you don’t have to wear SPF. UVA rays are the same year round! Anytime you expose your skin to the sun, you want to have some form of sunscreen on, preferably 30. Winter is also a great time to repair your skin from the summertime damage it withstood. Treat dark spots overnight with vitamin c, vitamin e or koji acid.
4. Choose the RIGHT Lip Balm
Many lip balms are loaded with mineral oil which actually tells your skin to stop making lipids while layering your lips with a greasy film. We end up being so dependent on these chap sticks while we think we are treating the problem, when we are, in fact, only making it worse. Instead, look for lip balms with shea and coco butter. In the meantime, to get rid of the flaky patches, use a lip exfoliator or damp a toothbrush and gently scrub your problem area.
5. Ditch the hot showers and baths
Hot water strips the skin of natural oils and causes blood-vessel dilation which results in water loss in the epidermis so it’s best to use warm water instead. Try to keep the hot showers under five minutes to prevent drying out skin. Moisturize while your skin is still damp (within two minutes of getting out of the shower) to help your moisturizer penetrate into your skin. If you can, soak in a lukewarm bath for about fifteen minutes to let your skin soak in the water. Avoid using harsh soaps. Use a gentle cleanser or shower gel with a moisturizer that is unscented, dye free and soap free.
6. Humidify
The heated air circulating in our homes can reduce the humidity level in your home up to 10%. Having a low humidity level in your home not only puts your skin at risk for excess dryness but also makes your skin more susceptible to other allergens and bacteria. Put a humidifier in your bedroom at night and close your bedroom door to keep the moisture in a more condensed area. A humidifier may help with dry or cracked hands and feet, flaky skin, excessively dry scalp and worsened psoriasis or eczema. Avoid sitting directly in front of heaters or the fireplace as the heat will dry your skin out.
7. Try a Hydrating Mask
A good, water-based hydrating facial mask is ideal for excessive dryness as it helps retain the moisture from the skin and prevent further moisture loss. Look for natural oils because they are more similar to the skin's own. Avoid mineral oils and petroleum. The excess grease can contribute to pimple formation. If you use a hydrating facial mask every two weeks, you are giving your skin a moisturizing bonus which is great in such dry months. Plus, if it contains the right ingredients, you may see an improvement in firmness, an evening out of the skin's pigmentation and a reduction in blemishes. This will become a regular part of your skincare routine that you really enjoy.
Check out my Facebook page!
Follow @samanthafowler
Skin gets dry, flaky, and chapped during the dry, cold winter months due to blood vessels shrinking to conserve heat. This shrinking causes less fluid to travel up to the surface. To prevent and treat dryness (yes, this is obvious but we forget it all too often), put moisture back into your skin! The thicker the cream does NOT necessarily mean better hydration. Thick, ineffective creams can actually trap dead skin cells and leave your skin looking dull. For optimal moisture, try using a serum under your daily moisturizer. Serums are light and formulated to absorb the emollient deeper into the skin. Dryness is caused by a lack of water in your skin-not oil. It is a myth that those with oily skin should avoid moisturizers. For oily skin, opt for a gel or lotion (look for oil-free and non-comedogenic) and for combination skin types, mix it up. Use a light formula on your T-zone and a richer cream for your cheeks where dry patches generally pop up. Hands, in particular, can get painfully dry and cracked from repeated washing and the increased use of anti-bacterial hand sanitizers. Try this right before bed: drench your hands with a rich emollient, slip a pair of clean socks over them, and wake up with renewed hands. If your skin is really driving you crazy, don’t scratch! You can use a cold pack or compress to relieve itchy spots. Look for hyaluronic acid (it is not a true acid but a molecule that works like a sponge to pull water in), shea butter, lactic acid and dimethicone on the ingredients list for the best moisture.
*Just as you switch up your closet from season to season, switch up your skin care routine. Use gel- like products in the summer; creamier products in the winter.
2. Exfoliate
Those dry, dead flakes aren’t going to come off no matter how much lotion you layer on. Your skin is constantly turning over, and the dead skin needs to go or you will look dull and lack luster. Exfoliating causes a burst of cell renewal, so you're helping new moisture-rich cells move to the surface. Slough off dry skin with a manual exfoliator, such as the Clarisonic or St.Ives apricot scrub (it is considered a manual exfoliator because you are actively and physically removing the skin), or with a chemical exfoliator like glycolic acids or lactic acids which gently melt away the dead skin. Look for a manual exfoliant that contains smooth beads and a chemical exfoliant with fruit enzymes. This will promote skin cell turnover, revealing a layer of new, soft, silky skin. Using a loofah in the shower is also considered a form of exfoliation. This will rid your entire body of the excess flaky skin.
Rule of thumb: Exfoliate 2-3 times a week.
3. Sunscreen
Just because you’re not having as much fun in the sun as you do in the summer doesn’t mean you don’t have to wear SPF. UVA rays are the same year round! Anytime you expose your skin to the sun, you want to have some form of sunscreen on, preferably 30. Winter is also a great time to repair your skin from the summertime damage it withstood. Treat dark spots overnight with vitamin c, vitamin e or koji acid.
4. Choose the RIGHT Lip Balm
Many lip balms are loaded with mineral oil which actually tells your skin to stop making lipids while layering your lips with a greasy film. We end up being so dependent on these chap sticks while we think we are treating the problem, when we are, in fact, only making it worse. Instead, look for lip balms with shea and coco butter. In the meantime, to get rid of the flaky patches, use a lip exfoliator or damp a toothbrush and gently scrub your problem area.
5. Ditch the hot showers and baths
Hot water strips the skin of natural oils and causes blood-vessel dilation which results in water loss in the epidermis so it’s best to use warm water instead. Try to keep the hot showers under five minutes to prevent drying out skin. Moisturize while your skin is still damp (within two minutes of getting out of the shower) to help your moisturizer penetrate into your skin. If you can, soak in a lukewarm bath for about fifteen minutes to let your skin soak in the water. Avoid using harsh soaps. Use a gentle cleanser or shower gel with a moisturizer that is unscented, dye free and soap free.
6. Humidify
The heated air circulating in our homes can reduce the humidity level in your home up to 10%. Having a low humidity level in your home not only puts your skin at risk for excess dryness but also makes your skin more susceptible to other allergens and bacteria. Put a humidifier in your bedroom at night and close your bedroom door to keep the moisture in a more condensed area. A humidifier may help with dry or cracked hands and feet, flaky skin, excessively dry scalp and worsened psoriasis or eczema. Avoid sitting directly in front of heaters or the fireplace as the heat will dry your skin out.
7. Try a Hydrating Mask
A good, water-based hydrating facial mask is ideal for excessive dryness as it helps retain the moisture from the skin and prevent further moisture loss. Look for natural oils because they are more similar to the skin's own. Avoid mineral oils and petroleum. The excess grease can contribute to pimple formation. If you use a hydrating facial mask every two weeks, you are giving your skin a moisturizing bonus which is great in such dry months. Plus, if it contains the right ingredients, you may see an improvement in firmness, an evening out of the skin's pigmentation and a reduction in blemishes. This will become a regular part of your skincare routine that you really enjoy.
Check out my Facebook page!
Follow @samanthafowler
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