Have you noticed that your skin suffers in winter? You’re not alone. The good news is, you can begin preparing your skin now for the harsh environmental conditions that winter brings. Let’s look at just how winter weather affects your skin and what you can do to have healthy skin all winter long.
Dry skin
The number one skin complaint in winter is dryness. According to the American Skin Association, the conditions of winter reduce the amount of moisture in the outermost layer of the skin (stratum corneum). These conditions include:
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Low temperature
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Low humidity
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Use of internal heating
These environmental conditions draw natural moisture out of the skin, leaving it dry, rough and flaky.
Facial flushing
As well as dryness, you could also find you are prone to facial flushing in winter. According to the International Rosacea Foundation, sudden changes in temperatures can cause this. For example, if you enter a warmly heated building after being outside in very cold air, the blood vessels that had constricted to conserve energy are now overwhelmed by the heat and so your face flushes.
Sensitive skin
Facial skin is very delicate, and this makes it more sensitive than the skin on most other areas of the body. Winter can make susceptible skin more prone to outbreaks of skin conditions like dermatitis because the skin barrier is weakened by a lack of moisture.
What can you do to prepare your skin?
As we approach and then enter winter, there is a lot you can do to help your skin retain its natural moisture levels and give it some extra nourishment.
Adjust your showers
The American Skin Association suggests you use only warm, not hot, water for showers. Short showers are better than longer baths. That’s because prolonged contact with water, and hot water particularly, saps the skin of natural oils very quickly, which contributes to dryness. After showering, apply a moisturizer to seal in hydration and prevent the loss of any further natural oils.
Itchy clothing
Although the tendency is to cover up as the weather cools, it’s important to wear clothing which is gentle on the skin. Synthetic fibres can often be itchy to the already-sensitive dry skin. Look for natural fibers such as cotton and knitted silk when keeping warm this winter.
Use gentle cleansers
Harsh soaps and chemicals strip natural oils from the skin’s surface. Not only does this dry the skin out, but leaves it exposed to unfavourable environmental conditions. Use cleansing products which are mild and with a non-soap base.
Product highlights
Ensure your skin is in optimum condition before winter hits by indulging in this facial treatment which works on multiple levels. As we stimulate collagen production and strengthen the skin barrier, skin hydration is heightened and sealed in, making it more resistant to environmental conditions.
Moisturize your skin several times each day with safe ingredients like organic aloe vera and sodium hyaluronate which penetrate the skin for intense moisturization. You’ll see long-term benefits by reinforcing the skin against winter’s moisture-sapping tendencies.
Find out more about our exciting new Skin Booster Facial here.
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