Keeping your skin hydrated through the seasons…

September 22, 2012 by ArtsyArchitette 1 Comment

It is one of the most common questions and complaints I hear… your skin is getting dry, chapped, flaky, taught and irritated as the weather cools down.

The reason this happens is simple, the humidity drop or becomes non-existent. Your skin has to contend with the cool air and wind outside, and the dry air inside. When you’re outdoors/indoors the dry air is actually drawing the moisture out of your skin, attempting to hydrate the environment around you, but luckily there are plenty of ways you can fight off the parched skin feeling.

• Drink MORE water – Keep your body hydrated from the inside out.
• Avoid drying cleansers – Opt for cleansers that say cream, oil, gentle, extra moisturizing, hydrating and 24 hour moisture.
• Switch to a more gentle exfoliant – It is important to exfoliate regularly for healthy skin cell turnover and appearance, and while instinct may tell you to abandon your exfoliant, that would only make skin appear dull, and dead-dry skin more obvious. As always for exfoliation, ensure you follow up with proper moisturization.
• If you do not already, use an oil before your moisturizer at night – Apply the oil to your body while you are still in the shower or immediately after, without letting your skin dry. The same goes for your face, apply (a non-comedogenic (non-pore clogging) oil) after cleansing to slightly damp skin. Oils help lock in moisture. Follow up with your normal body and face moisturizers.
• Cool down your shower – I know, I know, who doesn’t love a hot shower in the Fall/Winter, but long showers in hot water are a serious no-no for your skin. The hot water, especially for extended periods of time, breaks down the lipid barrier in your skin – meaning it is damaging the fatty-moisture layer in your skin. Take a shorter warm shower and be sure to follow up with proper moisturization.
• Continue to apply SPF Moisturizer- Enough said. It does not matter that the sun is hiding behind the overcast or snow clouds.
• Embrace the scarf (and gloves) – They are fashionable and protect your skin from the cool wind.
• Consider adding a humidifier – As stated before, the humidity (moisture in the air outside and) indoors has dropped, so investing in a humidifier helps put that moisture back into the air.
• Switch to a thicker/heavier moisturizer – Try a body butter or cream, as opposed to lotion. If your face can handle a heavier non-comedogenic moisturizer, definitely try one. If it can’t, boost your current face moisturizer with a serum or oil.
• Use primer day AND night – Yes, as in foundation primer. It works great in cooler months too – not just when you want to avoid your make-up melting off. Using an oil-free foundation primer during the day adds a barrier sealing in the moisture in your skin from the cool air and wind outside. Using the primer at night, after cleansing and apply your facial oil/moisturizer, adds a barrier sealing in the moisture and products, from the dry air indoors.
• Use a nail treatment – Just as with your skin, your nails also have it rough in the cooler months. Use a nail oil, or vaseline, and a strengthening nail protein polish treatment or base coat.
• Pamper your feet – After your shower, apply a foot cream and your favorite socks, to keep your feet hydrated and soft.
• Find your Super Lip Balm – Enough said. Oh – lips need to be exfoliated too! Avoid licking your lips, the enzymes in your saliva that are used to breakdown food will only dry your lips more.
• Ditch products with alcohol – This should be done year around in my opinion. Opt for alcohol-free toners, treatments and cleansers.
• Bring out the foundation – No need to stick to the lightweight tinted moisturizer, unless you really want to. As always, allow your moisturizer to sink in for a few minutes and add a primer for more skin protection.
• Mist throughout the day – Try facial mists like MAC Fix + or Evian Spray Brumisateur Mineral Water. Spray throughout the day, it feels good and gives your skin a mini moisture boost.

♥