The ABurrC's of Winterizing Your Skin

Baby its getting cold outside, and what does that mean for your skin?  Its time to Winterize!

We hear the term “Winterize” your skin thrown around alot this time of year but what does that mean? Do you need to change all of your products?  Do you begin a whole new skin regimen ?  Is there a difference between winter and summer products?  So many questions!  Luckily I know where to get the answers.

I sat down with skincare expert Kate Somerville to get the ABurrC’s of winterizing your skin!

Q: What exactly is winterizing your skin?

KS: As the winter month approach, it’s important to tweak your skin care regimen to balance the harsh temperatures and your skin’s confusion to the drastic changes in environment. Use a gel or cream cleanser that is sulfate-free. Exfoliate, hydrate and moisturize. It’s especially important to exfoliate to encourage healthy skin turnover. Use glycolic acids and retinols for this reason as well. For dry skin, sleep with a humidifier on, and add a few drops of essential oils to the water. Feed you skin with foods high in omega-3 and essential fatty acids, such as salmon and avocado, and limit caffeine, which is dehydrating. Making sure to get those omegas in your diet is important to boost your skin hydration. Hyaluronic acid is also an extremely important ingredient that keeps your skin hydrated. It is a substance found naturally in the human body that cushions and lubricates joints, eyes and heart valves.

The winter is also a great time to get peels or laser work done. It’s easier to avoid sun exposure post-treatment, and you can turn over any sun damage done during the warmer months.

Q: Many people think that because summer is over and the heat is gone that their skin gets a break.  But the winter elements can be even more harsh on the skin!   What is the best way to protect against the elements?

KS: The key to best protect against the elements of winter weather, as well as for a great complexion are, as I mentioned above, to exfoliate, hydrate and moisturize. You should exfoliate one to three times a week depending on your skin. Look for a product that contains both physical and chemical exfoliators, but avoid natural physical exfoliants like pits or seeds-they are rough and can damage the skin; look for a smooth bead. To hydrate the skin externally, look for products that contain hyaluronic acid-this ingredient can carry 1000 times its weight in water and bind it to the skin.

Q: What is the best way to keep your skin moist in the winter?

KS: Because the weather can be so damaging to your face and body, you need to adjust your winter skin care to accommodate the changing climate. Although you don’t necessarily need to throw away your current moisturizers, exfoliators, creams, masks, toners and pore reducers, you might need to add a few things to your winter skin care arsenal. When shopping for skin care products, you should look for lotions and creams that provide intensive moisture that can help shield your skin from the damaging wind and cold. You should also regularly use sunscreen products that have a high SPF in them (just because you can’t see the sun doesn’t mean that its rays aren’t reaching your skin!). Skin need not be dry, dull and tight!

Q: For the winter what is best: BB cream, mineral makeup OR foundation?

KS: Actually, I really like mineral makeup and it is one of my favorite forms of sun protection. I use the Jane Iredale brand; Jane pioneered the concept, but there are many other good ones out there, including Bare Escentuals.

Q: With winter winds whipping and snow falling what is the best way to take care of dry chapped lips this winter?

KS: Use a lip balm that doesn’t contain peppermint essential oils or petroleum, as both can actually dry out lips. Be sure to moisturize your lips during your evening cleanse routine for a smoother, plumper pout in the morning.


Q: Many skin care experts advise staying away from alcohols, spicy foods and caffeine and long hot showers in the winter to avoid dry skin.  But come on, Its the holiday season what else can we do?  I need a hot shower and an Irish Coffee?  LOL

KS: The overall goal is to eat a wide variety of fresh, healthy foods, in order to obtain the breadth and depth of the nutrients we need. There are some foods that are powerhouses of nutrition and you should try to fit them into your diet on a regular basis. I try and follow the 80/20 rule. That means you eat your healthy best 80 percent of the time, and then allow for foods that aren’t so great (but you really enjoy) the other 20 percent. Your entire body will benefit from a better diet: a fitter figure, increased energy, improved brain function and of course, radiant skin.

To help avoid dry skin and deliver hydration deep into the skin cells, external hydration must be complemented with internal hydration. Healthy internal hydration is also about making sure that you don’t dehydrate yourself with caffeine or alcohol. Keep in mind that many beverages and even medications contain caffeine, although the source may be listed as guarana or kola nut. Coffee dehydrates the skin, so you should limit your intake to no more than two cups a day. However, it is said that one cup a day is good for you, as coffee has antioxidant benefits. Try drinking an eight-ounce glass of water with the juice of half a lemon squeezed in it before you have your cup of joe – this will help neutralize the coffee’s acid and is better for your skin. You should limit your alcohol intake to one to two drinks per day. If you want to enjoy a drink, opt for red wine, which contains the protective anti-aging compound called resveratrol.

Q: A big winter problem many women face is “the Snow Fall”.  You know, its that moment when you take off your jeans, leggings or pants and a snow flurry falls from your dry legs.  What is your advice on how to combat this?

KS: Flaky skin is the worst during the long, cold months of winter. Chilly weather dries out the outer layers of your skin making skin feel tight. The only way to treat surface dryness it is with exfoliation. Look for a product that contains both physical and chemical exfoliators, but avoid natural physical exfoliants like pits or seeds, as they are rough and can damage the skin. Look for a formula that contains smooth beads. ExfoliKate Body uses enzymes, acids and beads to get rid of dead skin cells and polish and perfect. Follow with my Goat Milk Body Lotion, which has a naturally occurring lactic acid that gently helps turn skin cells over, while the amino acids and proteins from the milk support the overall health of the skin.

For very dry or highly sensitive skin, when getting out of the shower or bath, pat dry – do not rub or towel off completely, as this can aggravate the skin. Immediately apply Curel original lotion, which seals in the moisture and allows skin to recover.

(Exfolikate Body treatment)

(Goat Milk Body Lotion)

Q: Any tips on how to keep your skin glowing throughout the winter?

KS: Exfoliate and hydrate for glowing skin! My favorite exfoliant is Exfolikate, a product in my line that uses natural fruit enzymes, gentle acids and microbeads to do the job. Then, hydrate: look for a serum with sodium hyaluronate to put hydration and moisture back in skin. I find that so many of my clients know to moisturize their skin and to drink water, both of which are important – but they aren’t hydrating their skin, which is something totally different.  Hydration means getting water into the skin cells; moisturizing means locking it there by applying a cream or lotion on top of the hydrated skin.  Both hydration and moisturization are truly necessary because more-hydrated cells are healthier cells; they look and function better. My new DermalQuench Liquid Lift is an at-home product inspired by the Clinic treatment that only takes seconds and is used twice a day to deliver deep hydration to improve the look of elasticity and tone, rejuvenate the skin and immediately reveal a gorgeous glow.

(Dermal Quench Liquid Lift)

Click here to shop more AMAZING products from Kate Somerville:

 

This week one lucky winner will receive my TOP rated product from 2012: Kate Somerville’s Dermal Quench Liquid Lift.  This product is a life changer, not only does it minimize fine lines..seriously it works, it also help to prevent breakouts and “aggressively combats the visible signs of aging: wrinkles, sagging skin, uneven tone, and dryness.”  HOT HOT HOT!

To Enter:

First, if you haven’t already- subscribe VIA email to this blog OR “LIKE” us on Facebook.  Links to both are in the upper right of sidebar.

Then, leave a comment on this post between Nov. 12 and Nov. 17th telling me which of Kate’s tips for Winterizing your skin you will be trying this winter.

Good Luck and Thanks for Reading.

Last Weeks Lucky Winner is: Krystle!  Congrats!

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8 Comments

  1. Exfoliate and Hydrate! I LOVE Kate Somerville products! Fingers crossed! (I am a subscriber and like you on fb) Thanks!

  2. Wow! They all sound perfect! I just relocated back to ‘FREEZING’ Michigan for the Holidays from Las Vegas and my skin has been upset with me ever since! I would love to try the Dermal Quench Liquid Lift, but all the products look amazing and would be happy with any of them!

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