Camas, WA
Cold weather can be unkind to skin. Between the colder temperatures outside and the heaters running inside, our skin can’t catch a break. The result? Drier air = drier skin.
Dry skin can feel tight, irritated, and inflamed, and can appear flaky, red, or rough in texture.
I know it’s tempting to immediately grab your thickest, richest moisturizer, which will definitely work for some, but for others may break them out causing acne in addition to their dry, irritated skin.
Because winter skin can be extremely tricky to navigate, I’ve put together my 3 easy to follow winter skin tips.
As this is not to be taken as medical advice. I suggest consulting with your dermatologist if you have extremely dry skin or a skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea.
Exfoliation is a game-changer for dry skin. Exfoliation is meant to gently polish dead skin cells away. We don’t want to create more harm to irritated skin with harsh exfoliators!
There are two types of exfoliation: physical and chemical.
Physical exfoliation includes something that physically buffs skin, such as beads, or can be achieved with the use of a cloth or material.
Chemical exfoliation refers to the use of acids to remove dead skin cells, such as alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids. You’ll most likely see “AHA” and/or “BHA” on products that contain these types of ingredients.
My suggestion for exfoliation is to take your skin type into mind. If you have easily irritated, sensitive skin, you may need to take it very slow with any type of chemical exfoliation— or skip it altogether if your winter skin is extremely inflamed already.
For sensitive skin types, I love The Body Deli’s Radiance Enzyme Superfood Peel ($48). This product can be used like a mask and contains probiotics and plant enzymes to gently exfoliate the skin. This delicious product also contains Manuka Honey which is immensely soothing and hydrating.
I suggest starting to use this product once a week and building up to 2x a week. To remove, wet a nonabrasive washcloth and gently wipe the product away. You will be GLOWING and refreshed!
For skin types that aren’t overly sensitized, my team and I love SkinMedica’s AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser ($47).
It’s perfect for those of you that like to ‘feel’ your cleansers work (aka physical exfoliation) because it also contains Jojoba spheres in addition to alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, and Salicylic Acid.
I suggest using this product at night and building up your tolerance as needed.
As we age, our bodies gradually lose hyaluronic acid, a molecule that has a plumping affect in our skin. You most likely have heard about hyaluronic acid in two capacities, #1 as in the main ingredient in dermal fillers, and #2 as a hydrating skincare ingredient.
For this blog, I’ll be focusing on hyaluronic acid in skincare. If you have questions about hyaluronic acid in dermal fillers, be sure to check out our other blog Getting to Know Dermal Fillers.
Hyaluronic acid is amazing in that it holds and retains water. This is why I suggest everyone incorporate HA into their winter skincare routine. Even if you don’t live in a cold winter climate, this ingredient can benefit everyone— especially if you live somewhere dry like Los Angeles.
A Skin by Lovely staff favorite is NeoCutis Skincare’s Hyalis+ ($120). It is great for all skin types, easily incorporates into existing routines, and can be used morning and night. This product helps to seal in hydration while cutting down on the skin’s moisture evaporation. It is also perfect for post-procedure skin that was recently treated. Another popular option is SkinMedica’s HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator ($178).
Hydrated, plump skin also gives the appearance of fewer fine lines and wrinkles. Hydrated skin is happy skin.
Apply your hyaluronic acid to clean skin before your moisturizer and SPF.
Okay, that may be a little dramatic— but I stand by that statement.
This winter skin tip will be especially impactful if you incorporate my 2nd skin tip and add a high quality hyaluronic acid product into your skincare routine, such as Hyalis+.
Indoor heating systems can wreak havoc on our skin by sucking the humidity out of the air.
So we go from dry air outside to a different type of dry air inside. This creates an unideal environment for skin health resulting in dull, dehydrated skin.
A way around this, though, is to use a humidifier!
Place the humidifier near your bed at night time, and wake up to dewy, gorgeous skin in the morning. It’s like getting a facial while you sleep! If you work somewhere that has central heat, you can also get a portable sized humidifier to take to the office with you!
This one is especially cute as it comes in our signature Skin by Lovely pink. Just be sure to keep it clean, lovelies!
I hope these three skin tips help to alleviate your skin troubles this winter season. As always, if you ever have any questions about your skincare routine or need help with personalized product selections, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my team at Skin by Lovely.
We offer complimentary skincare consults at all three of our Skin by Lovely locations.
About Skin by Lovely™
Skin by Lovely, the number one Botox® clinic in Oregon, specializes in FDA-approved, natural-looking, non-surgical, medical facial aesthetics, and rejuvenation treatments. With practices in Santa Monica, CA, Portland, OR, and Lake Oswego, OR, Skin by Lovely is certified by Allergan, the makers of Botox® and Juvederm®, as a Top 10 facial aesthetic practice in the United States and the Top 25 account for Galderma, the makers of Dysport® and Restylane®. Get the treatment you deserve at Skin by Lovely.
Convenient online scheduling is available for all three Skin by Lovely locations.
*Skin by Lovely nor Lovely Laban are affiliated with any products mentioned in this blog.
