Any discussion of winter skin care begins with moisturizing. Winter’s cold, dry air challenges the skin’s natural modes of hydration and requires you to go the extra mile to prevent unsightly flaking and painful cracking.
There are plenty of great moisturizers at a variety of price points, but before shopping for one, schedule a consultation with an aesthetician at a medical spa. A skin care specialist can identify your specific skin type and recommend a range of products that will work best for you during the winter and year-round.
Moisturizers, however, are only a part of a well-stocked winter skin care arsenal. There are other concerns that can be addressed through your daily skin care regimen or with specialized treatments available from a med spa. With winter in full swing, let’s take a look at some of the steps you should be taking to keep your skin smooth and supple:
1. Water Isn’t Enough
You’ve probably heard that drinking anywhere from 8 to 12 glasses of water a day is important to keep your skin hydrated. While intake is important, drinking water alone isn’t reliable enough to avoid dry skin. “The average person’s skin does not reflect the amount of water being drunk,” Dr. Kenneth Bielinski, a dermatologist in Oak Lawn, Ill., told WebMD. “It’s a very common misconception.”
2. Speaking of Water … Some Shower Rules
There’s nothing like a nice, hot bath to take the chill off a winter’s day. But taking hot baths comes with a cost. A hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. It may sound less inviting, but keep the water lukewarm and then snuggle in a warm towel. Oh, and keep in mind that the best time to apply moisturizer is after a bath or shower, while the skin remains damp.
3. Sunscreen No Matter the Weather
All those overcast winter days suggests that it’s fine to take a break from the strict daily application of sunscreen you perform in other parts of the year. Not true. It’s just as easy to get sunburned in the winter as in the summer. In fact, snow reflects the sun’s rays and you could end up with a burn even when you’re cold. Sunscreen in the winter will help your facial skin remain youthful for years. One of the most advanced and effective products available is Total Defense + Repair from SkinMedica®, which is a featured special on the Facebook page of Des Moines plastic surgery practice Koch Facial Plastic Surgery & Spa.
4. Learn to Love Humidity
It can be the bane of our existence during hot summer days, but in the winter your skin craves humidity. Dermatologists and aestheticians recommend that patients especially susceptible to dry skin use a humidifier to increase the moisture in the air of their homes. Experts recommend keeping the humidity level between 30% and 50%.
5. Indulge Your Lips
Winter requires more than an everyday lip balm. Keeping your lips soft and smooth in the winter requires a buttery lip balm designed to provide extra nourishment that isn’t needed during the summer. Check out something like the Ultra Rich Lip Balm from Clark’s Botanicals, which combines shea butter, aloe leaf extract, jojoba, and sweet almond oil.
