WINTERS COMING…
Time to start thinking about how the change in weather affects more than just our wardrobe. Our skin needs some TLC during the winter months and what better way to get it than by treating your lovely skin to some professional treatments by your skincare specialist who will be able to talk you through any changes you need to make to your home skincare routine and why.
The transition from the summer heat to the coldness of winter can be quite a challenge for your dermis, the combination of the cold air outside and the dry heat from central heating inside can leave your skin dehydrated, inflamed and dull. Getting advice and expert treatments is a must to help guide you through the cooler months.
As ever with the ever growing skin care industry it can be overwhelming with the vast amount of products and treatments available to know exactly where to start, the most important thing to remember is your skin is going to need TLC to come out looking and feeling great.
Why should I adapt my skin home care routine?
It’s simple really your skin is a living, breathing organ and just like any organ it sometimes needs help adapting to the elements surrounding it. For example when your skin is surrounded by heat and humidity it doesn’t want heavy moisturisers and oils as they can clog and block pores causing inflammation and acne.
When the temperature drops it means colder air outside and of course dry heating inside and this all affects your skin. To keep your skin fresh and primed you need to increase the hydration level.
What should I do?
Key steps to give your skin that extra TLC this winter ( you should be doing most of these within your current skin care routine),
Cleanse
This is an absolute MUST in all seasons and is the first step in any skin care routine.
Moisturise & Serums
An intensive moisturiser is essential and serums are also an important part of a good skin care regime as they support the skin’s protective barrier and make it more resistant to colder temperatures and dry indoor heating. The main aim is to attract the moisture to your DERMIS layer of the skin (the second layer) and keep it there.
HOW?
It is all in the ingredients of your products,
HUMECTANTS
Hyaluronic acid and Glycerin are two key humectants that specialise in extracting water from deeper layers of your skin and move them up to your Stratum Corneum within the Epidermis which is the outer layer of your skin.
EMOLLIENTS
Like oils soften the skin by filling spaces between flakes of skin to create a smooth surface.
OCCLUSIVES
Form a protective barrier on the skin which prevents or slows down transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and keeps the moisture locked in so your skin can drink it.
EXFOLIATION
We’ve already established the combination of cold air and indoor dry heat will dry and dehydrate your skin cells, so you need to remove the dead skin cells more often than you would normally in warmer months and to do this you need to exfoliate!
By increasing your exfoliating routine to twice a week this will keep the dull complexion at bay.
Finally…. SUN PROTECTION
Yes sun protection an SPF should be used 365 days of the year! It is a vital step in your skin care routine which will help protect your skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun with a broad spectrum sunscreen.
Questions to ask your Skin Care Professional
How can I make my skin look less dull?
Your skin can appear dull during the winter months due to a slower cell turnover rate, where dead skin cells hang around longer than they should. Regular chemical peels will help to speed up sluggish skin as they will exfoliate the dead dull layer revealing a more glowing layer of skin underneath.
Exfoliating at home twice weekly post your professional peel will help to prolong the results from the peel and also help keep your cell turnover at a healthy rate.
How can I hydrate my skin?
Hyaluronic acid and Glycerin are examples of ingredients which are excellent for retaining water leaving your skin hydrated and plump. If you are having treatment to address other skin concerns by adding on a moisturizing mask you will give your skin a much needed hydration boost.
Do I need to change / adapt my home skin care routine during the winter months?
In a word YES you will need to tweak your home routine along with adding some professional treatments to accommodate for the change in your skin due to the colder temperatures this will maximise your results.
I have oily skin should I be worried about hydration?
Oily skin doesn’t mean that your skin doesn’t need hydration during the winter months. Your skincare specialist will know exactly which treatments and homecare products to recommend to ensure your skin gets the right balance of water it needs.
My skin is red and irritated. How can I calm this down?
We’ve already established the combination of cold air and indoor dry heat will dry and dehydrate your skin cells, so you need to remove the dead skin cells more often than you would normally in warmer months and to do this you need to exfoliate!
By increasing your exfoliating routine to twice a week this will keep the dull complexion at bay.
Oily skin doesn’t mean that your skin doesn’t need hydration during the winter months. Your skincare specialist will know exactly which treatments and homecare products to recommend to ensure your skin gets the right balance of water it needs.
My skin is red and irritated. How can I calm this down?
Redness and irritation are classic key signs that your skin is suffering some trauma from over dryness. Being exposed to cold air and sharp winds and then to dry heating will cause such signs. Professional treatments and complementary homecare products which focus on calming your skin are key for decreasing irritation.
Alumier homecare products we recommend to help soothe redness and irritation from dehydration:
HydraCalm – Sensitive redness prone / dry skin type
A rich moisturiser which is also a restorative hydrator packed with natural calming ingredients specifically formulated to relieve and soothe redness prone and sensitive skin.
Sea Whip
Boswellia
Aloe
Honey
Low molecular weight.
Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide provide intense moisture to all layers of the skin.
Copper Peptide – Strengthens and rehabilitates the look of the skin.
Antioxidants – Provide protection from free radical damage.
Ultimate Boost Serum – All skin types
A lightweight serum that boosts hydration and enhances the skin’s natural hydrolipid barrier (protective barrier) with Sodium Hyaluronate and Niacinamide.
