Common skincare mistakes your making in the wintertime
Most people don’t realize this one important thing about our skin in different seasons.
Our skin changes from season to season, often getting much oilier and greasier during the summertime and more irritated and dry during the winter. No surprise there, the climate, wind, humidity, dryness and temperature all affect our skin.
What that means for you is that as the weather changes, so should your skincare routine to meet the needs of your skin during the season.
Here are common mistakes you could be making, that are depleting your skin cells, causing redness, dryness, windburn, and flaky skin during the winter time and how to avoid and instead keep your skin balanced and healthy!
Over exfoliating
Many clients I work with often have a compromised skin barrier, which means they have compromised external skin protection from the external environment. When this happens I often ask about their skin routine and what i tend to hear is that they are using a physical exfoliant plus all these products that have active ingredients. Here’s the thing!, Our skin does not need to be scrubbed on every single day in fact this is how you will make your skin inflamed, agitated, red, warm and swollen. This is especially true in the winter time because as soon as sensitive skin comes into contact with wind and brisk air, you can be sure that irritation will increase. The correct amount you should be exfoliating is 1-2x per week. No more than that and following up with a moisturizer. My favorite exfoliants are the gentle clean zyme cleanser that is gentle enough to be used every day and the skinzyme exfoliating mask that can be used 1-2x per week!
2. using soap to wash your skin
I cannot express how many times clients will tell me they are using a basic body soap on their face. This is something you should never do whether in the summertime or winter time but especially in the winter because soaps pull out needed oils from the skin. Each of the billions of skin cells on your skin are protected by a phospholipid(oil) layer to protect it and keep skin supple and smooth. When you use soap on your face you are taking that oil out of your skin cells and that’s why your skin will feel tight and dry after using a soap on it. Use a professional cleanser instead. Our Age intervention cleanser is perfect and gentle for the winter season. It will cleanse the skin and keep moisture inside
*3. Under hydrating and nourishing*
During this time its important to hydrate and nourish your skin, as your skin will need it the most when its not producing as much hormones involved in skin repair and health that are produced from the sun. Also, wind is the skins enemy as it steals water from our skin, causing that dryness and irritation we experience and in some cases windburn. Hydrating and giving the skin essential peptides, vitamins is crucial for balanced skin in the winter time. Also following up with a moisturizer is key to sealing in that hydration so you don’t loose it to the environment. Here are my top picks when it comes to vitamins, peptides, hydrators, and moisturizers to use during the winter season.
PRO TIPS
Always follow up with a moisturizer
Always wear an SPF no matter what season
If your prone to wind burn or skin damage created by the environment use occlusive moisturizers over your skin (example: unscented petroleum jelly)
Priscilla Hanna Registered Nurse, Licensed Esthetician
“your provider in aesthetics excellence”
