BEAUTY TIPS

By Eva Fydrych

10 Winter Skin Secrets

Photos courtesy of Surface Esthetics, iStockphoto, India Times, Getty Images

For many people, winter care may require measures that go beyond their normal routine. Lower humidity levels, extreme cold, varying indoor and outdoor environments can all cause damage to the skin's protective outer layer.

When dealing with dry skin, you should have two objectives in mind: first, getting moisture into the cells, and second, keeping it there. Try to include our 10 Steps for healthy skin into your daily routine and you should soon notice a positive difference in the way your skin looks and feels!

1. Keep Your Skin Hydrated

Hydration is important as it makes for a healthy functioning of the system and gives a boost to youthful-looking complexion. To help keep your skin in tip-top condition, you should use a moisturizer twice a day as part of your beauty regimen. Cleanse, tone and moisturize... it's a cliché for a reason.

Skin can be hydrated in two ways - internally by drinking an adequate amount of water and taking oil supplements, and externally, by using products that hydrate and moisturize.

Skin Hydrating Booster (Photo courtesy of Dermalogica)

It’s hard to think of drinking extensive amounts of water when you are cold, but your skin needs this water to maintain its health. During wintertime, you may try sipping some warm herbal tea throughout the day. Try to avoid black tea and coffee as caffeine will dehydrate you.

Increase the hydrating capacity of your moisturizer by adding a dose of Sodium Hyaluronate and Glycosaminoglycan's to the mix. A few drops of the Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster is a perfect way to help you avoid any dreaded seasonal dehydration.

2. Adjust Your Beauty Routine 

Always remember to use a good facial cleanser to wash your face and remove makeup before going to sleep. In the winter months, try taking a couple of minutes to massage the cleansing oil into your skin prior to removing it. The more time the better. This extra moisture will help to eliminate the dryness of your skin.

For instant brightening, try a Vitamin C facial, or use a deep hydrating mask. For lips, buy a balm that has moisturizing features and SPF15. It is also a good time to invest in a heavy-duty night cream.

Photo courtesy of India Times

Try using warm rather than hot water for showering. Frequent bathing and hot showers can strip your skin of natural oils. After showering, pat dry and while the skin is still moist, apply your lotion; especially a moisturizer with humectant properties. This can actually draw the moisture from the surface into the skin. You can also mix in a few drops of body oil into your lotion. 

3. Use Sunscreen

Even though it might be cold and cloudy outside, that doesn't mean that you don't have to wear sunscreen every day. UV light easily penetrates clouds and leads to sun damage as well as premature aging of your skin. The sun is very powerful in the winter as it has 80% strength off snow vs. 50% off sand. Do not forget to apply a daily amount of SPF of at least 15 to keep your skin protected and looking younger for years. Sunglasses are also a must.

90% of aging comes from the sun which is also one of the main trigger factors for hyperpigmentation on the skin. If you aren't keen on applying SPF on top of your makeup, try Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer SPF30, a perfect base for your skin with an SPF30 which will keep your skin safe; even through the winter!

Skin Perfect Primer SPF30 (Photo courtesy of Dermalogica)

4. Exfoliate Less

The skin is a little more sensitive in winter. If you exfoliate too often, it can make your current problems worse. Use exfoliating peels in moderation, especially if you already suffer from dry or sensitive skin.

5. Strengthen Your Skin’s Barrier

Your skin has natural enzymes that help slough away dead cells, but they become inefficient if your skin is dry. Winter’s harsh conditions can weaken the outer protective layer. Always choose moisturizers containing ceramides – a natural fat found in healthy skin. In addition to hydrating, they reinforce the natural moisture barrier.

Get your skin prepped now by incorporating a layer of barrier fortifying ingredients into your skin care program before that cold weather comes knocking. The Dermalogica Barrier Repair is the all-time barrier fortifying formula packed with powerhouse ingredients like Evening Primrose Oil and Borage Seed Oil which mimic your skin's own natural barrier lipids; naturally shielding you from the drier environmental conditions.

Barrier Repair (Photo courtesy of Dermalogica)

6. Turn Down the Heat

Both heat and air-conditioning artificially dry the air and suck moisture out of your skin. Turn down the heat to help keep your skin from dehydrating.

7. Use a Humidifier

Where your skin requires 30% humidity to maintain softness, a heavily heated room has a humidity level around 10%. Give your skin a relief from extreme winter conditions by using a humidifier. Place it in your bedroom to reap the benefits of the extra moisture it adds into the air. While you sleep, your skin will soak up its refreshing vapours. The next morning, a healthy looking complexion will bring a smile to your face.

8. Hide any Imperfections

Cheat your way to "flawless" skin with a few clever makeup tricks. Use a primer to help even out your skin. As well as keeping your makeup in place for longer, a good primer also helps minimize the appearance of pores and blemishes without being too heavy on your skin.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

9. Get Glowing

Finally, to look really healthy, you need an extra pop of colour in your cheeks. This means applying just a subtle hint of rose or apricot blush to your cheekbones to avoid a pale, washed-out look. You can also fake a glow with a highlighter. This useful product contains light-reflective pigments and is the secret weapon for a youthful, healthy glow. To achieve a more natural look, choose a subtle champagne shade.

10 . Eat Smarter, Drink Water & Get enough Sleep!

And last, but not least... If you are dehydrated, drinking more water can also help, and not getting enough water will certainly contribute to dry skin.

Regularly drinking alcohol and caffeine dehydrates the skin, and sugary foods slowly break down collagen and elastin, which contributes directly to wrinkles, sagging, and uneven skin tone. If cutting back on coffee seems like an impossible task to do, drink lots of water and eat more colourful vegetables. They help balance your body's pH levels which are responsible for a glowing complexion and an overall health of your skin.

Photo courtesy of The Style & Beauty Doctor

Consumption of right nutrients is also key for healthy skin. Essential fatty acids (that can be found in fish, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, leafy vegetables, and walnuts) have a beneficial effect on skin as they help combat moisture loss that would otherwise cause dryness, fine lines, and wrinkles.

And if all of that sounds like a lot of work, take a nap. Skin cells regenerate while you sleep, and getting enough rest makes a big difference. Sleep reduces the stress hormone, cortisol, which is responsible for thinning skin, discoloration, and stretch marks.

A good night's rest can also increase the efficiency of special growth hormones that repair collagen-producing cells responsible for skin's elasticity and tightness. Maintain a regular sleeping schedule for best results - no more late-night partying! ;)

Photo by Getty Images

Read more about Dermalogica here

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Source: Allure, Beautylish, Dermalogica, India Times, Kari Gran, The Style & Beauty Doctor, Total Beauty, To Your Health, Unovis Skin

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