Winterize your Skin
As I sit by the fireplace, a mug of comforting hot chocolate in hand, wrapped up in cozy knitted woolies, the buttery aroma of cinnamon cookies fresh from the oven lingering in the air, I happily wonder what's there to not love about winters.
I have to admit winter is my favorite out of all the seasons. The lights, the festivity, and the fact that there will be two weeks of doing nothing but spending time with family and loved ones put me in the true holiday spirit. However, this year winter is a bit milder but the heat and the constant shift in temperature is breaking havoc on our skins.
Being an esthetician, I do admit things get a tad bit crazy with all the pre-Christmas bookings. Who doesn't want to glam up before the festive season and look their best? From fibroblast skin tightening, to rejuvenating facials, to getting those brows and lips on point , the demand for my services hit an all-time high.
I love my work and customers and never mind the extra business this season brings. Having said that, I notice almost everyone coming in during this time has skin issues due to the harsh Colorado winter weather. High altitude and extreme cold weather hit our skins hard resulting in dryness, irritation, and inflammation.
Just like our wardrobe needs a shuffle in winters, so does our skincare regime. Our skin has to work extra hard during winters to preserve moisture and maintain elasticity. Factors like indoor heating and the freezing cold weather outside can deplete our skin’s protective barrier which leads to dry, tight, and irritable skin.
WHAT’S A SKIN BARRIER?
Our skin barrier is the protective outermost layer of the skin. Which is composed of lipids that bind the skin cells together. The skin barrier retains the moisture of our skin while keeping out the pollutants, irritants, and dirt. Many skin conditions arise when your skin barrier gets compromised. Common signs of a damaged skin barrier include redness, rosacea, dry, dehydrated skin that flakes, peels, and is easily irritated. Another big sign is burning and itching of the skin when a product is applied. Dry, patchy skin not only irritates the skin but also inhibits your skincare products from penetrating deeper into the skin. The good news is, with the help of correct products and treatments, one can restore and replenish your skin.
I always tell my clients to be attentive to their skin, their skincare routine, and their lifestyle. All these factors play an integral role in maintaining one’s moisture barrier. Here is my quick winter guide you can use for things to avoid and do in order to prep your skin for the winter months ahead:
OVER EXFOLIATION is the most common one
Using DRYING skincare products. (Alcohol-based toners and foaming cleansers are the worst)
Washing your face with HOT water
Using too many ACIDIC ingredients
Not applying the correct MOISTURIZER
Excessive SUN EXPOSURE
Overdoing on ALCOHOL
SMOKING
Extreme DRY/COLD weather
Indoor HEATING
GENETICS
AGING - (The moisture barrier becomes more susceptible after age 45.)
HOW TO REPAIR YOUR SKIN IF ITS MOISTURE BARRIER HAS BEEN COMPROMISED?
Your skin’s barrier can be fixed easily if you have been over-exfoliating, however, if you’ve been using harsh/wrong skincare products, smoking, drinking, and soaking in the sun without any protection for years it might be a longer road to recovery The good news is, it’s never too late to get your skin back to a better place. If you’re making positive changes, I can assure you that you’ll see an improvement.
Get rid of extra skincare activities - Keep everything simple and easy to follow for the time being. If your barrier is impaired cut out the active products which will include certain types of vitamin C, retinol, retinoids, and any ingredient that will dry out that skin.
Cut back on exfoliation - Exfoliation is one of the biggest contributors to an impaired skin barrier. With a lot of incorrect information about exfoliation out there along with an overwhelming array of choices, you are bound to make mistakes. Over-exfoliation can strip your skin’s protective layer, which helps the moisture escape leading to dry, patchy, irritated skin.
Foaming Cleansers - When fixing a damaged moisture barrier, you’ll want to switch from a foaming cleanser (even if it’s gentle and sulfate-free!) to a cleansing lotion. These cleansers are generally much milder, which is important, especially when it comes to cleansing dry, tight, or irritated skin.
Avoid Washing Your Face With Hot Water: Hot water dilates capillaries and raises the skin’s internal temperature. It can also impair your skin’s moisture barrier. That’s why it’s best to use lukewarm water to wash your face—especially in the winter months when the barrier is typically the most fragile.
Sunscreen is a MUST: Sunscreen is the ultimate product for defending your skin from one of the worst environmental stressors —the sun. The UVA and UVB rays that are given off by the sun will only contribute to a damaged moisture barrier. That’s why it’s so important to apply sunscreen generously and consistently, rain or shine.
Avoid Highly Fragranced skincare products: Before you start using a particular product I recommend taking a look at the ingredient list. Run far from the products if the ingredient list contains the words, “perfume,” “parfum,” or “fragrance.” I also recommend avoiding ingredients like menthol, camphor, peppermint essential oil, spearmint oil, and eucalyptus essential oil. That’s because high amounts of any type of natural essential oil can be irritating to your skin. Sometimes they are used to provide a specific skin benefit. Other times they are used simply to mask another ingredient that doesn’t smell very pleasant.
**NOTE** a general rule of the thumb, smell the product before you purchase it. If it smells too strong, it’s not going to be right for irritated skin.
Using The right moisturizer: Using the right moisturizer with the right ingredients is huge in repairing a damaged skin barrier. Look out for specific ingredients including those natural lipid-mimicking oils such as borage, evening primrose, cranberry, sunflower, soybean, safflower, jojoba & sweet almond oil. You can also look for ingredients such as niacinamide, ceramides, phospholipids, squalane, vitamin E, phytosterols & shea butter, all of these help support a damaged moisture barrier.
Using the correct toner: My favorite toner is Ultra HYDRAting Facial Toner by Exquisite Skincare & Vita-Peptide Toner by Environ. It doesn’t matter if you’re using a traditional toner or an essence, apply it within 60 seconds after cleansing. Doing so will prevent water loss.
Facial Oil: Whenever my clients require a serious fix, I always recommend that they use a well-formulated facial oil, like the Q-FLAVONOID OIL by Rejuvi.It is a unique oil that is packed with powerful nutrients to heal and feed the skin. It is packed with vitamin K. and grapeseed oil. It calms the redness and strengthens the vessel walls.
The most important step Listen to your skin. When fixing your moisture barrier, you want to avoid anything that makes your skin sting or feel dry, tight, or irritated. Women have a common belief that if it stings and tingles it must be working. Always remember, when your moisture barrier is compromised, it will make things that normally wouldn’t sting cause an irritating sensation. Pay attention to the products that cause unnecessary irritation.
Investing in the correct skin care products and eliminating the barrier compromising products will help your skin replenish the impaired skin barrier. Being mindful about the products that you are using is the key.
I truly hope that you all enjoyed reading this and will benefit from it. Book here if you have more skincare concerns or want to schedule an appointment for the services I offer, I would love to help you.
xoxo
Amna Rafiq