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As the nights start drawing in, chances are it's more than just your body clock that's being thrown off-kilter. Tight skin, rough knuckles, chapped lips? Say hello to Winter, about to wreak havoc from head-to-toe.
Happily, there are many ways to combat the causes of dry skin and keep yourself moist and supple all season long, including some easy changes to your everyday routine.
Consider professional skin treatments during the Winter months.
Winter is a great time of year for skin treatments. We always worry about peels and laser treatments in the Summer months. With sun exposure before or after such procedures there is a higher risk of unwanted post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Autumn and Winter therefore represents an opportunity. A course of micro needling treatments can help to stimulate new collagen and restore skin glow. Likewise, rather than waiting for Summer, now is the time to start tackling unwanted hair with a course of hair laser removal treatments.
Top Tips for Healthy Winter Skin
1. Lower Water Temperatures for Showering and Hand-Washing
Long, steamy showers may sound like a great idea when it’s cold and blustery, but very hot water can dry out the skin. A 5- to 10-minute warm shower (or bath) is less likely to worsen dry skin than a hot one.
2. Opt for Gentle, Fragrance-Free Cleansers
During the Winter months, avoid harsh cleansers on the face. As a rule of thumb, any cleanser that leaves you ‘squeaky clean,’ is stripping the skin of natural moisture. Use gentle, hydrating, fragrance-free cleansers for daily cleansing and to remove makeup.
"Unscented" products may actually contain chemicals that neutralize scent and can cause irritation.
3. Modify Your Skin-Care Regimen for the Season
At night, use a richer moisturizer on your body, including your arms, legs, and midsection. These can seal in moisture by forming a protective seal over the skin. We also recommend seeking out a product with moisturizing humectants, such as HA nd glycerin. These are great ingredients for the face, as they allow the skin to breathe and are unlikely to contribute to acne.
4. Exfoliate for Smooth, Supple Skin
Dry skin will stay dry without light exfoliation. Avoid harsh scrubs and opt for moisturizers with lactic acid which acts as an exfoliant and a humectant, sloughing off dead skin and drawing moisture into skin simultaneously.
5. Limit Alcohol Intake and Hydrate Well
Alcohol can dehydrate you. Make sure to limit these beverages and hydrate well with water throughout the day. Humidifiers at night can help regulate the moisture levels in your home and further combat dryness, promoting a dewy complexion.
6. Carry Lip Balm
Keep dry lips from getting chapped and sunburned during winter fun by using a hydrating lip balm with SPF every morning and throughout the day to seal in moisture.
7. Be Aware of Irritating Skincare Products
Be aware of potentially irritating ingredients such as retinoids and exfoliating acids. You may need to dial back on the potency of these topicals to be able to use them consistently through winter without causing excess irritation.
Vitamin C taken internally as a supplement as well as Vitamin C facials or serums are a great option to brighten Winter Skin but don’t over do it.
You are more than welcome to book a beauty consultation and skin analysis with one of our therapists to discuss your skin concerns and we can work with you to address these.