When the weather turns cold and blustery, our skin becomes cracked,
flaky and irritated.
Today I’m going to address some winter skin problems, share
solutions and share key ingredients we should look for in skin care.
Do you have Dry Skin?
You can do a patch test by taking a piece of tissue and
pressing it on cleansed skin for a few seconds.
If the tissue comes away clean,
you are lacking some necessary oils that protect skin from dehydration.
If your skin starts feeling tight or looks flaky then you
need to change up your lotion or moisturizer to a heavier formula.
If your skin becomes shiny a few hours after applying your
moisturizer or if you've become more prone to breakouts, then you're most
likely using a moisturizer that is too rich for your skin type.
Ingredients to look for
When it comes to buying a moisturizer, there are two things
to look for - glycerin and/ or hyaluronic acid and plant oils
like Jojoba, rosehip, avocado and hazelnut.
Glycerin pulls water molecules from the environment and
holds it close to your skin and Hyaluronic acid can enhance moisture content,
and at the same time revitalize skin’s outer layers so they look and feel
softer, smoother and hydrated.
Products that have ingredients like plant oils that will help
seal in moisture.
Some products that can also help the skin’s hydration levels
are a nice creamy cleanser like Derma
E Natural Bodycare Hyaluronic Hydrating Cleanser.
It rinses away dirt, makeup, helps to unclog pores and uses
Vitamin E to leave skin feeling hydrated and refreshed.
Burts
Bees Renewal Cleanser uses a soap free formula to remove dirt, oil
and makeup while gently exfoliating.
Exfoliating
When you have dry flaky skin that doesn’t seem to get any
better, the only way to heal it is to do a combination of gentle exfoliation
and moisturizing.
There are two options when it comes to exfoliation: you can
use a gentle microbead scrub like Yes
to Grapefruit Exfoliating Body Wash or a skin care brush like Vanity
Planet “Spin for Perfect Skin” Cleansing Brush.
Both are gentle enough to use on sensitive skin and remove
dead skin cells on face and body to promote cellular rejuvenation at the same
time.
Chapped Skin
With dry, irritated skin use an oil-based moisturizer, this
will help restore the lipid balance to your skin.
I love using Jojoba Oil as a moisturizer in the winter, try Eden
Semilla 100% Pure Jojoba Oil.
Apply immediately after a bath or shower. Lightly pat your
skin dry – skin still a bit damp - then apply the moisturizer.
Chapped Lips
You can easily remove dry skin flakes from your lips by
gently buffing them with your own gentle Lip Scrub by combining Honey, Coconut
Oil and Sugar together.
Follow that with a generous amount of moisturizing lip balm,
preferably one with natural waxes, shea butter and plant oils like my favorite Honey
Trap Lip Balm by LUSH Cosmetics.
Cracked Skin
Cracked skin may be inflamed, itchy and irritated using cortisone
cream can help to soothe skin.
Aveeno
1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream uses finely ground oats to lock
in moisture and retain the soothing effects of the whole oat grain, relieving
dry or irritated skin.
If your skin is severely cracked and irritated, you probably
will need a prescription cortisone cream to find true relief.
You’ll need to seal the cracks with a thick ointment like Vaseline
Pure Petroleum Jelly or Eucerin
Aquaphor Healing Ointment.
Apply immediately after bathing, then if the cracks are on
your hands or feet, put socks or gloves on to trap in moisture.
Keeping Skin Hydrated
Increased water intake can help hydrate skin - drinking six
to eight glasses a day.
Vitamin E is very effective at supporting and repairing your
skin from within. Using products with Vitamin E is helpful but you can also
take capsules, look for capsules labeled "natural source" -they are
about three times more potent than synthetic versions.
Omega-3 fish oils and Gamma linolenic acid (found in evening
primrose and black currant oils) also benefit in the treatment of various skin
conditions, including dry skin, eczema, inflammation, wounds, and dermatitis.
I hope you find some skincare relief for the winter season :)
~Jennifer
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