Winter Skin Care Tips
As I write this it is a very cold January day. Outside it is sleeting with an occasional snow flurry thrown in for effect. Winter is here! But I do not have to step outside to know winter has arrived; instead I need only to look at the skin care products sitting on my bath counter, or listen to my co- workers complain about their chapped lips, dry skin and fly away hair. With the advent of the winter season, the attention we pay to our skin care regime becomes more important. We can’t just fly out the door in the morning, but we need to take some precautionary measures first.
The outer layer of the skin produces lipids. These oily substances control the skin’s moisture levels. The more lipids there are in the outer layer of skin, the better retention of water. Low lipids levels allow water to escape from the skin eventually causing dry, chapped skin. Lipid production decreases with age, especially after menopause; the skin dries out, wrinkles, droops and sags.
Here are some basic reminder tips to help you pamper your winter skin:
- The heating system of your home as well as the ones in the public buildings you frequent will dry out the air. This dry, low humidity air causes the moisture that is in our skin to be released into that air thus drying out your skin even more. That coupled with the drying effect of the cold and wind on our skin Using a humidifier in your home can help immensely.
- Reduce the number of baths and/or showers that you take. Bathe with lukewarm water instead of hot water. Harsh soaps will break down the lipids in the skin and cause moisture loss, therefore minimize the use of soap and change to a lotion based soap for when you feel you must use soap. Put away your loofas and washcloths. Heat, chemicals and friction on your skin will increase the drying out.
- A milk based cleanser instead of your normal soap will clean the skin without stripping it of its essential oils.
- Wear layered clothes that are not tight. If practical apply lotion to your skin before getting dressed. Try to cover up exposed skin areas– i.e., wear gloves and scarves or mufflers to protect as much of your skin as possible. Keep scratchy clothes away from your skin.
- Up your moisture protective coverage. Based on your skin type, you may want to switch to a heavier moisturizer that is jelly or silicon based with oils and butters as ingredients. Pick non-clogging oils – check the ingredients for almond oils, primrose oil and avocado oils. Some skin types can get by without applying moisturizer to their skin 2-3 seasons of the year but find that in the winter a daily or twice daily application of moisturizer is critical.
- Consider using a humectant at night. These are compounds which pull in available moisture and keep it on your skin- alpha hydroxyl acid, and glycerin are two of the main players here.
After cleansing your skin at night, massage it with an almond oil or olive oil based lotion.
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