Time to Brace your Face!
In the same way we prepped our homes and bodies to get ready for summer, sun exposure and sensitivity during the summer months, it’s time to gear up now that the colder weather is coming Everything from frosty nights, Wellington Southerly winds to the office central heating can wreak havoc on your skin, which means adjusting your home-care regime accordingly.
The main issue
in autumn and winter is skin dehydration or lack of water. This is different to skin dryness, which refers to skin that lacks lipids or oil. Dehydration is when there is a lack of water in the stratum corneum or outer layer of the skin. It can result in anything from sensitive skin and red cracked lips to rough and flaky skin.
If you find yourself loading up on thick night creams or reaching for your lip balm throughout the day, chances are your skin is craving a hydration hit. Rather than slather on greasy and ineffective moisturisers, there are five steps you can take in order to ready your skin for the months ahead.
Hydrate with Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant, which means it draws water up from the deeper layers of the skin into the more superficial layers. It uses the water that you drink and the water in your body to deeply hydrate the skin. Puravida’s favourite products for this are Prologic Hydrating serum or the Prologic Hydrating Treatment Spray.
Avoid Long Baths
These both rob the skin of water and make dehydration worse. In addition, areas like Christchurch have lots of issues with hard water which contains high levels of dissolved minerals, like calcium and magnesium, which can dehydrate the skin. Stick to short showers and ensure they are not too hot if you want to maintain good water content in the skin. If you are going to have a long soak in the bath, make sure you have something nourishing in the bath as well as a luxurious body cream or souffle to put on afterwards.
Nourish While You Sleep
At night-time, the skin gets a chance to heal and recover from the cellular insults of the day, so a deeply nourishing and hydrating night products are a good investment in the winter months. Find ones that aren’t too heavy and congesting but delivers skin beneficial vitamins and antioxidants. Hyaluronic acid and Kiwi Seed oil are a great combination for hydration that are sebum neutral – so won’t cause any unwanted breakouts. Our Favourite night time boosters are the Environ Focus Care Moisture+ Hydrating oil Caps and Environ Focus Care Moisture+ Hydrating Serum.
Boost Skin with An Oil
Be aware that not all oils are created equal – some oils can be congesting. Boost your Omega-3 levels with an Omega-3 nutritional supplement to help target skin dryness from within. The skin’s barrier is made up of many types of fats (lipids) including phospholipids, cholesterol and free fatty acids. When the skin doesn’t have enough of these fats, as in the case of dry skin conditions such as eczema, then essential water can be lost through the barrier, causing skin dehydration. We recommend the Prologic Omega 3 Oil and the Advanced Nutrition Program Skin Omegas.
Get the Glow with Acids
Sometimes in the winter our skin can look lackluster or dull. Ingredients like Lactic Acid and Alpha-Hydroxy Acids are great for removing superficial cellular debris and can stimulate a brighter, more luminous complexion. Don’t overdo the “exfoliation” in the winter months, however, as it can lead to skin sensitivity and breakouts. “Well-exfoliated” skin will not only look brighter and dewier but will hold onto hydration and nutrients more easily. Try out the Environ Focus Care Youth+ Revival Masque or the Environ Focus Care Moisture+ Alpha Hydroxy Night Cream.
As winter comes,
we hope these five tips will help you brace your face for the cold. Don’t forget to also add in your regular facial at Puravida, we can warm away the winter blues and look after your skin, every season and for every reason!