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TwitterFIGHTING THE FROST: Amp up your routine for healthy skin all winter
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, facial cleansers and toners containing alcohol tend to strip the skin of its natural oils. Using dull blades, going against the grain, skipping shaving cream and applying too much pressure while shaving can irritate the skin, causing cuts, nicks and razor burn.
When the seasons change, so, too, should your skin care routines, said Niki Aberle, an esthetician at Salon Nefisa. Summertime regimens often focus on clearing away sweat and excess oil. Conversely, winter skin care should focus on retaining the skin's moisture.
Here are some tips for fighting dry winter skin:
Clean up gently: The products you use to cleanse your can either preserve your skin's moisture or wash it away. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, facial cleansers and toners containing alcohol tend to strip the skin of its natural oils. Similarly, shower gels and soaps with heavy fragrances can contribute to dry skin.
Look for moisturizing facial cleansers and mild, fragrance-free soaps or body washes.
Additionally, you'll want to keep baths or showers short and use warm -- not hot -- water. Exposure to hot water breaks down the skin's protective barrier, Aberle said, which allows natural oils to leave the skin.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends drying your skin thoroughly but gently, patting it dry with a towel rather than rubbing. Apply lotion within five to 10 minutes after bathing.
Choose a new moisturizer: To help lock in moisture in the winter, you'll want to switch to an oil-based moisturizer, Aberle said.
Even those with oily skin will want a light oil-based moisturizer. Those with dry skin should use a heavier oil-based moisturizer. Those with combination skin might need multiple products.
"You need a very oily moisturizer for the cheeks and a lighter one for the nose. Just buy smaller" -sized products "and treat each area of the face differently," Aberle said.
When choosing a new moisturizer, be sure to check labels for non-comedogenic ingredients, which don't cause acne. Aberle recommends moisturizers using jojoba oil, olive oil, almond oil or shea butter.
"You want to stay away from mineral oil because that will clog your pores," Aberle said.
After you've selected a moisturizer, use it at least twice a day -- in the morning and in the evening, Aberle said.
Exfoliate often: Sloughing off the dead skin cells at the surface of your skin is helpful because it allows moisturizer to go deeper into the epidermis, Aberle said. However, you don't want to over-exfoliate.
"If you over-exfoliate, you'll cause more problems," Aberle said.
Dry skin can get irritated, Aberle said, and oily skin will react by producing even more oil.
Aberle said microderm abrasion is a popular spa treatment for removing dead skin cells.
She recommends exfoliating at home no more than twice a week.
Shave carefully: Using dull blades, going against the grain, skipping shaving cream and applying too much pressure while shaving can irritate the skin, causing cuts, nicks and razor burn. To minimize the effects of shaving on already-dry skin, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends shaving after bathing, when the hairs are softest. Use a shaving cream or gel and allow it to sit on the skin about three minutes before starting. Shave in the direction the hair grows, and be sure to change your razor blades every five to six shaves.
Protect your hands: Your hands take a beating in the winter because the skin is thinner and has fewer oil glands. They're often exposed to cold weather and wind, and the threat of flu tends to make people wash their hands more frequently, Aberle said.
The key to happy hands in winter is reapplying moisturizer frequently.
"Every time you wash them, you want to put on moisturizer," Aberle said.
There also are spa treatments that can help get the hands into tiptop shape. Aberle said some clients ask for microderm abrasion treatments to rid their hands of dead skin. Others ask for exfoliating manicures. A paraffin wax treatment involves slathering the hands in a thick hand cream and then dipping them in the wax to help the moisturizer work its way deep into the skin.
Don't forget the SPF: You might not be basking in the sunshine for hours at a time, but the sun's rays can still have a harmful effect on your skin.
"You can sit by the window for eight minutes and get sundamage," Aberle said.
To protect your skin, apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to your face and hands 30 minutes before heading outdoors. Consider moisturizers and lip balms with sunscreen blended in.
When the seasons change, so, too, should your skin care routines, said Niki Aberle, an esthetician at Salon Nefisa. Summertime regimens often focus on clearing away sweat and excess oil. Conversely, winter skin care should focus on retaining the skin's moisture.
Here are some tips for fighting dry winter skin:
Clean up gently: The products you use to cleanse your can either preserve your skin's moisture or wash it away. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, facial cleansers and toners containing alcohol tend to strip the skin of its natural oils. Similarly, shower gels and soaps with heavy fragrances can contribute to dry skin.
Look for moisturizing facial cleansers and mild, fragrance-free soaps or body washes.
Additionally, you'll want to keep baths or showers short and use warm -- not hot -- water. Exposure to hot water breaks down the skin's protective barrier, Aberle said, which allows natural oils to leave the skin.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends drying your skin thoroughly but gently, patting it dry with a towel rather than rubbing. Apply lotion within five to 10 minutes after bathing.
Choose a new moisturizer: To help lock in moisture in the winter, you'll want to switch to an oil-based moisturizer, Aberle said.
Even those with oily skin will want a light oil-based moisturizer. Those with dry skin should use a heavier oil-based moisturizer. Those with combination skin might need multiple products.
"You need a very oily moisturizer for the cheeks and a lighter one for the nose. Just buy smaller" -sized products "and treat each area of the face differently," Aberle said.
When choosing a new moisturizer, be sure to check labels for non-comedogenic ingredients, which don't cause acne. Aberle recommends moisturizers using jojoba oil, olive oil, almond oil or shea butter.
"You want to stay away from mineral oil because that will clog your pores," Aberle said.
After you've selected a moisturizer, use it at least twice a day -- in the morning and in the evening, Aberle said.
Exfoliate often: Sloughing off the dead skin cells at the surface of your skin is helpful because it allows moisturizer to go deeper into the epidermis, Aberle said. However, you don't want to over-exfoliate.
"If you over-exfoliate, you'll cause more problems," Aberle said.
Dry skin can get irritated, Aberle said, and oily skin will react by producing even more oil.
Aberle said microderm abrasion is a popular spa treatment for removing dead skin cells.
She recommends exfoliating at home no more than twice a week.
Shave carefully: Using dull blades, going against the grain, skipping shaving cream and applying too much pressure while shaving can irritate the skin, causing cuts, nicks and razor burn. To minimize the effects of shaving on already-dry skin, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends shaving after bathing, when the hairs are softest. Use a shaving cream or gel and allow it to sit on the skin about three minutes before starting. Shave in the direction the hair grows, and be sure to change your razor blades every five to six shaves.
Protect your hands: Your hands take a beating in the winter because the skin is thinner and has fewer oil glands. They're often exposed to cold weather and wind, and the threat of flu tends to make people wash their hands more frequently, Aberle said.
The key to happy hands in winter is reapplying moisturizer frequently.
"Every time you wash them, you want to put on moisturizer," Aberle said.
There also are spa treatments that can help get the hands into tiptop shape. Aberle said some clients ask for microderm abrasion treatments to rid their hands of dead skin. Others ask for exfoliating manicures. A paraffin wax treatment involves slathering the hands in a thick hand cream and then dipping them in the wax to help the moisturizer work its way deep into the skin.
Don't forget the SPF: You might not be basking in the sunshine for hours at a time, but the sun's rays can still have a harmful effect on your skin.
"You can sit by the window for eight minutes and get sundamage," Aberle said.
To protect your skin, apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to your face and hands 30 minutes before heading outdoors. Consider moisturizers and lip balms with sunscreen blended in.
