Its that time of year again in Minnesota, when the weather changes and so does the needs of your skin. If you notice this time of year your body becomes a snowglobe itself due to shedding, dry skin, well I have some excellent recommendations to help remedy the situation.
The three main important things to keep your skin in tip top shape during the winter are protect, hydrate, and exfoliate. To protect your skin from harsh wind and extremes in temperature make sure to wear a scarf or other protective covering over your face. Not only with it block on coming forces of nature such as cold wind, snow, and UVA/UVB light, the moisture from your own breath and body heat will help to keep your skin from irritation and drying out. It is important to remember to wear your sunscreen, especially in the winter when there is snow on the ground that provides a reflective surface for UVA/UVB light to bounce off of and land on your face if exposed. An SPF 15 lotion will help protect as well as hydrate your skin.
Hydrating is another important factor to keeping your skin soft, supple, and flake free. One way to make sure this occurs is by drinking plenty of water. Recommendations from the National Institute of Health state that getting at least 8-8oz glasses of water a day is appropriate for water intake. However, this is not necessarily prudent. The most important part of consuming enough liquids to stay hydrated is based on each individual and their particular body needs. Some individuals need more or less fluids depending on their activity levels and health status. Overall, you will know you are getting enough water if you had satisfied your thirst and you are urinating approximately 1.5 liters (6.3) cups of clear, yellow urine a day (http://www.mayoclinic.com, retrieved October 29th, 2012). It is important to note that the fluids you drink don't necessarily have to be water and can be from various other sources such as juices, sports drinks, teas, milk, etc.
Another good way to hydrate and protect the skin is by eating foods that contain whats called "good fats" otherwise known as monounsaturated fatty acids. These types of fats can be found in foods such as salmon, walnuts, olive oil, black olives, peanuts, and avocados. You can find a more extensive list through Google or try the website http://www.livestrong.com/ I have also had good luck with incorporating supplements into my skincare regimen and found that daily supplementation with Vitamin E and C has helped my skin stay healthy. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that protects cells and tissues from damage by free radicals generated by chemicals and oxidized fats. It is best when taken with Vitamin C. The two vitamins work together and both are vitamins that are well researched and most widely accepted supplements in the medical community. Vitamin C is not only good for a strong immunity and antioxidant properties, it also aids the skin in rebuilding collagen and elastin and helps maintain a youthful supple appearance.
Finally, the last recommendations for keeping your skin at its best in a winter climate are to exfoliate and moisturize. It is easiest to exfoliate when you are taking a shower or a bath. Make sure you do not have the water too hot, as this can cause you to have dryer skin. Using a loofa or body brush in the shower with some moisturizing body wash will be the most efficient way to exfoliate the skin. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to try Vanicream body cleanser bars if you prefer a bar soap, or try Tena wash cream if you prefer a cream style wash. The Tena wash cream is especially good for dry skin, and it is pH balanced and although it doesn't have to be rinsed off, you can still use it in the shower as a buffer for when you are exfoliating. Both of these products may be purchased at Target, Walgreens, or via the internet. After showering and especially after exfoliating, you are going to want to protect your skin with a moisturizer. Sometimes, people have found that if the use the Tena cream, they either need to moisturize very little or not even at all, which is great and one less step to healthy moisturized skin! However, each individual is different and it is best to try things out and see what works best for you.
I have two lotions that I absolutely love and recommend, feel free to try them out for yourself. They both have great ingrediants and are very effective in protecting the skin's epidermis at a very reasonable price. The first one is called DML Moisturing Lotion and it is manufactures by Person & Covey. It comes in 8 oz. and 16 oz. and sells for $10.00 and $15.80 plus shipping and handling. When I first was introduced to this company I was skeptical because the overall packaging. It is now on of my favorite moisturizers and makes my skin look and feel great. It is non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, fragrance free, and fast absorbing. The ingrediants are safe, gentle, and effective for conditioning the skin and retaining moisture. You can purchase this product on the website http://personandcovey.com/ or talk to your local pharmacy to see if they carry it. Another great option to try is Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion. This lotion contains 93% natural ingredients that are all natural and/or plant-based natural ingredients. Some of the skin benefiting ingredients include Aloe, Vitamin E, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Comfrey, Yarrow, and Chamomile. What I absolutely love about this lotion and its company is that they list their ingredient and then give you an explanation of how each ingredient works. Brilliant! The icing on the cake is that it is fairly inexpensive for the quality of product you are receiving. Sizes and pricing ranges from 4 oz. to 1 gallon and $25.00 to $395.00 plus shipping. You may find out the full and detailed ingredient list and ordering details on on their website http://www.skinmdnatural.com/.
Feel free to send me a comment or an email about this or any other blogs at aspireskincare@gmail.com!
Beauty Come From Within~ But Let Me Help With Your Skin
Yours Truly,
Amanda Logan RN
No comments:
Post a Comment