'Tis the Season for Winter Skincare
Posted by Kristen Woodson, Delasco on April 29, 2022, 11:48 am
DO SEASONAL CHANGES AFFECT YOUR SKIN?
YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT DOES!
WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLDER, WE NEED TO EDIT OUR DAILY SKINCARE REGIMEN TO MAINTAIN BALANCED, HEALTHY SKIN.
Fall and Winter seasons bring a lot of environmental changes, including lower outside temperatures, less humidity and very windy conditions. In response, we turn our heaters on inside, tend to take hotter showers and baths, and do whatever we can to keep warm. So, what should we do to edit our skincare regimens for winter? Well, let’s first talk about what is happening in the skin during these seasons…
WINTER=DRY SKIN
While this is very much true, you may be suffering from dehydrated skin, not dry skin. Dehydrated and dry skin can look very similar - they both present things like flaky, scaly or tight skin, but do you know the difference? True dry skin types are dry ALL OVER their body ALL YEAR LONG. Dehydrated skin is dry in areas, but it also overproduces sebum in areas like the T-zone on our face. This happens when we are not hydrating our skin with the right kind of moisturizers, not drinking/eating enough water, over exfoliating and using harsh ingredients. If you feel thirsty, that’s a sign your body is already dehydrated and it will all come out in your skin!
Go have some water right now!
T.E.W.L.
This is something all licensed professionals learned about in school, however let’s do a recap for those who need a refresher: Trans Epidermal Water Loss - water loss caused by evaporation on the skin’s surface. The acid mantel is part of the skin’s natural barrier function (the mechanism that protects us from irritation & T.E.W.L.) and when that acid mantel is out of balance of oils and water, our skin is more susceptible to premature aging and environmental factors like allergens, viruses, mites, etc. EW DAVID! T.E.W.L. can happen when we are not drinking/eating enough water and not using a balance of lipid-based products and water-based products together.
So, are you saying we need to slather ourselves in oils and we can call it a day? Nope. There’s a balance! Our skin cells are approximately 50-70% water, and the sebaceous (oil) coating helps slow down the evaporation of that water to maintain appropriate hydration levels in the cells.
Prolonged dehydration & increased T.E.W.L. can be seen in the skin through premature aging, redness (intermittent or chronic) stinging or burning sensations when topicals are applied to the skin’s surface, unexpected heat sensation and even pain when the skin is touched (and in extreme situations, pain when the skin isn’t being touched.) Simply applying moisturizers to the skin when the barrier is this impaired will never be enough.
OK, SO NOW THAT YOU GET WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE SKIN, LET’S TALK INGREDIENTS & PRODUCTS THAT ARE BEST FOR THE COLDER MONTHS.
Antioxidants like vitamin C are anti-aging superstars! It stimulates collagen, smooths texture, brightening and evening out skin tone, reducing inflammation and enhances protection against UV exposure.
A complex of extracts that include chamomile, cucumber, blackcurrant, tamarind are mixed with vitamins B, A & E…Hydraluxe is an excellent day time moisturizer to help control oil levels on the skin while stimulating skin repair. The first ingredient is Aloe Vera, which is why it totally makes my list for cold weather skincare.
One of my favorite ingredients is in this formula - Vitamin B5! It converts to pantothenic acid in the skin, which has natural abilities to deeply hydrate, soothe, heal and regenerate the skin. HA-B5 also includes hyaluronic acid, which, as we all probably know, is one of the best hydrophilic water-binding antioxidants found in our skin. This ingredient boosts skin’s moisture content, soothes the skin, and defend against moisture loss by holding up to 1000 times its molecular weight in water!
If I had to chose a few products for the rest of my life, Argan Oil makes the cut. This oil is cold pressed, twice certified organic & noncomedogenic! A great source of vitamin E and antioxidants, Argan Oil contains several beneficial lipid and fatty acids for the skin.
Squalane is a natural lubricant and humectant to help prevent moisture loss in the skin. Another one in this formula is aurasphere, which is such an interesting ingredient! This small particle size allows for deep penetration to fill in fine lines & wrinkles and optically scatters light to veil wrinkles. Personally, I use this as a primer for my makeup everyday and on my decollate before bed at night.
Vitafuse Lotion & SerumThese two are pretty awesome when it comes to anti-aging, but they make the list because they are excellent hydrators, improving blood circulation in skin cells, powerful antioxidative properties and counteracts damage caused by free radicals. These two are seriously vitamin packed, which is essential for our skin during the winter months.
SPF - it’s always necessary
Yep. You read that right. It’s ALWAYS necessary, even in the winter time! Winter sun and snow glare can cause burns just as easily. Slather it on daily!
THIS WINTER, TAKE TIME TO REASSESS YOUR SKINCARE REGIMEN. AMP UP THE MOISTURIZING AND DON’T FORGET TO HYDRATE! IT’S PEEL SEASON, SO INCORPORATE LACTIC PEELS INTO YOUR TREATMENTS TO BRING YOUR MOST GLOWING FACE INTO THE NEW YEAR.