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Winter Skin Rx

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February 29, 2012

Dry, heated indoor temperatures and cold outdoor air can wreak havoc on your skin. Add in rigorous hand washing and antibacterial cleansers (it is flu season after all) and you’ve got yourself a moisture emergency.  Even if you live in a climate with a mild winter, your skin care routine still needs to be switched up.

Brush up.
Dry air means parched skin. Help minimize flakiness and encourage cell turnover by exfoliating at least twice a week. If your skin is oily, you can use a mild exfoliant daily. For sensitive skin, stick to once a week.  As for the type of exfoliant – that’s a personal choice. You can use a physical scrub or a device that helps exfoliate even better like the Clarisonic.

Soak it in.
Cold weather conditions means your skin needs TLC. I recommend using a serum twice a day. After washing your face, apply a serum before your regular moisturizer and SPF. Serums contain more concentrated ingredients and will help give your skin the moisture boost it needs during the colder months.

Make the switch. 
You change wardrobe pieces for a new season so why aren’t you using a different moisturizer? For winter, choose one that is a bit heavier to give your skin the extra protection it needs. You can switch back to a lighter version in the spring. Remember to spot check before trying anything new.

Play it Safe.
No matter how overcast or snowy it is out there, you always need an SPF. Instead of adding another lotion to my skin care regimen, I use a moisturizer that already has SPF built in. Look for a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30. Don’t go below SPF 30 as you likely won’t apply enough to get proper protection. Wear it everyday. No exceptions.

Quench your thirst.
Lastly, make sure you guzzle at least 6-8 glasses of water daily. If you’re not a big water drinker, add a slice of lemon, cucumber, or mint to mix it up a bit and make the taste more enjoyable. On days that you work-out, add in a few more more glasses.

A little extra time and effort each day will keep your skin feeling moisturized – and you feeling a little less of the winter blahs. Keep it up until spring and your skin should stay glowing all winter long.

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