hen the winter rolls around and the temperature drops, everyone winterizes their wardrobes, homes and even their makeup. But it seems people often neglect their most important shield from the icy months of winter – their skin! Skin is a natural barrier from harmful agents in the air and it should be treated with the care it deserves. The combination of exposure to cold, windy air outdoors and the dry heat indoors can leave skin looking scaly and blotchy. However, tweaking your daily skin care rules with a few simple steps can prepare your skin for the upcoming winter weather. Dr. Milton Moore, Houston Dermatologist and creator of Moore Unique skin care products, lends his expertise on how to beat winter skin damage.
Wash Your Face With Lukewarm Water: Cold winter nights can make hot bubble baths sound very appealing, but you should avoid soaking very long in water that's steaming hot. Water can wreak havoc on your skin by stripping it of its natural oils. The hotter the water, the more the skin loses moisture, thus leaving skin flaky and easily cracked. Instead use lukewarm or cool water when washing your face and showering, and avoid extreme hot or cold. Also, keep showers at a maximum of 10 minutes, and then pat yourself dry with a towel rather than rubbing, as it will leave some water on your skin for added hydration.
Apply More Moisturizer: It seems obvious, but many people neglect this step of their daily skin care regimen. To repair or prevent dry skin, use a moisturizer with a lot of emollient, such as petroleum, cocoa butter, shea butter or mineral oil. For best results, apply moisturizer within a few minutes of showering to seal in the water before it's lost.
Exfoliate Once A Week: It's nearly impossible to look flawless in the winter without exfoliating. Slathering on extra moisturizer will work effectively only if you get rid of the dead cells on the dermis, or top layer of your skin. Otherwise the cream will not penetrate the skin for maximum hydration. Because the winter cold leaves skin dryer than usual, the flaky build-up on the surface of the skin causes skin to appear dull. Exfoliating with a non-abrasive product once or twice a week will allow moisture to penetrate the skin more easliy, yielding more supple and radiant skin.
Change Your Face Wash: The change to drier, colder air calls for milder skin products. In the winter your skin craves more nourishment when it's cold out, so skip products with alcohol or antibacterial soaps, as they tend to strip moisture from the skin and opt for milder, soap-free products. Change from a gel/foam cleanser to a richer milk cleanser and from a light summery moisturizer to a thicker nourishing cream.
Sleep Easy: If you've been losing sleep lately, your skin will surely show it. Getting plenty of restful sleep can benefit your skin far more than a slew of expensive products. Skimping on sleep can leave your usually rosy skin looking dull and sallow, not to mention the dark circles that will develop under your eyes. To keep your skin looking radiant, get at least eight hours of sleep a night.
Keep Using Sunscreen: One of the greatest misconceptions about winter is that the sun isn't as strong, and thus won't damage your skin. The sun may not feel as strong in the winter because of the cold air, but the harmful UVA rays are still in full effect. UVA light is the main culprit responsible for long-term skin damage and premature aging of the skin. Make sure the sunscreen you're using protects against UVA rays, especially if you ski, snowboard or engage in other outdoor activities for extended periods of time
For more information and for a list of Dr. Moore's products please visit: www.mooreunique.com
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