To The Rescue For Winter Skin!
Author: Shannon Miller
Hello, again, Winter Wonderland Women!
It’s Lauren the Intern to help out with your dry, cold bitten skin.
Did you know our bodies are composed of nearly 70% water and the water in the body (and skin) is constantly being rebalanced based upon environmental conditions?
Dry-cold air will steal water molecules from the skin while a moist/hot environment will cause water to move from deeper layers in the skin to the surface in order to readjust the body’s temperature. In winter, dry cold winds and indoor forced hot air can make even the most radiant skin look ashy and dull.
Anything can cause drier skin:
- from cleansing in too hot water (notice that washing a skillet after cooking bacon how the hot water gets rid of oils better than cold)
- to not moisturizing right after a shower when your skin is still damp.
There are ointments and creams versus lotions and gels to help keep the moisture in longer but both kinds add hydration.
Luckily there is no shortage of fantastic options when it comes to protecting your skin.
Here are some favorites from the SML Intern Team.
Bobbi Brown’s new Hydrating lineis perfect for this winter in which we are seeing some record lows. For most, a cream will suffice or a gel based one for people who have oiler skin like me. The gel based one is thick enough to fool you into being a cream, but it’s actually much lighter.
The tropical grass extract in it increases the skin’s natural ability to hold on to moisture.
Another line we checked out was Youth Corridor’s prevention, maintenance, and correction line with their Soothe and Defend Moisturizer with SPF30 ($45). This lotion is a bit light, though, if you have severely dry skin, however it does have the all natural antioxidant green tea extract.
TIP: REMEMBER: Even though it doesn’t feel like it when it’s 10 degrees outside, the sun is still out to damage your skin. Skiers and snow-bunnies should be even more careful; the UV rays in the glare reflecting off the snow can age the skin quickly!
The other product that our SML intern team totally likes is the Youth Corridor Antioxidant Boost Skin Serum with 10% Vitamin C,E, and Melatonin. I’ve never used droplets like this one before, and it kind of reminded me of a type of medicine, with ingredients like the melatonin that have been reported to increase collagen synthesis. It’s said to reverse sun damage, which you again will encounter playing in the snow, but it’s a bit pricey at $125.
So, all in all, it’s clear that we need to adjust our beauty regimen in the winter months, but what if certain products are a little more than we can splurge on right now? Well, save up over time for at least one of these when you’re craving luxury.
TIP: But for daily use, look for key ingredients that the pricier brands have such as vitamin E, green tea, and SPF30 (brands you can find at your local drugstore) until you can afford the ones with things like melatonin and tropical grass extract.
–Lauren