Winter Skin 101

By Marji Soofi

As we change our clothes season to season, we should change our skin care regiment too. For some, winter brings uncomfortable dryness to the skin of the face and body. This can lead to cracks in the outer layer of skin, loss of hydration, and ultimately, inflammation.

For some people, the problem is even worse; their skin gets so dry it results in flaking, cracking, even eczema (in which the skin becomes inflamed).

You change your light summer top to a heavy thick sweater, but having thick heavy creams is not always the answer for dry winter skin. There are certain ingredients that are immensely hydrating with a light texture.

Cleanser: Gentler, creamy, milky textured cleansers with no surfactants
Toner: This hydrates and accelerates results with your skin care products. Alcohol free toners with soothing ingredients such as aloe, panthenol, and/or allantoin.

Exfoliates
Physical: like Himalayan salt, sugar, enzymes, oriza sativa( rice powder). Always use any scrub with the most gentle pressure and add lots of luke warm water.
Chemical: Salicylic acid and Micro Retinol, to exfoliate dead cells and promote healthy skin.

Moisturizer

Always remember this general rule ” thinner to thicker or lighter to heavier”.
* Serums /Emulsions – are lighter and penetrate easier, hydrate and repair. Look for Hyaluronic Acid, Peptides, Matrixyl, L-Ascorbic Acid.
* Creams – Use thicker moisturizers equipped to help protect the skin’s barrier. These seal in the serums/emulsions. They are nourishing, hydrating, and protect against external aggressions. Look for Lipids, ceremides, avocado oil, primrose oil, almond oil, and argon oil.

General Care Tips
Avoid deodorant bars, antibacterial soaps, perfumed soaps, and skin care and hand cleansers containing alcohol. Instead, use warm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap or moisturizing body wash. Limit your showers or baths to no more than 10 minutes, pat dry, and moisturize while your skin is still damp.

To soften stubborn dry patches on rough elbows and knees, opt for a rich, hydrating scrub. use a simple mix of: Himalayan salt and cultured yogurt, or honey, sugar and lemon. When applied topically these reduce inflammation, increases circulation, as well as having a brightening effect on the skin. This mixture can be used on the face too but with a more diluted consistency.