Regardless of skin type, a person’s skin reacts to the weather. So when cool temperatures come to town, it’s time for a change. To prepare for blustery days and nights, here’s a list of 10 strategies that help protect skin, restore its radiance and keep it healthy.
Sacramento, CA 10/15/2009 10:15 PM GMT (TransWorldNews) As the seasons change, it’s time to make adjustments to your skincare routine as well. After the heat and sun exposure of summer, cooler weather can trigger dry skin and reveal discoloration and dead skin cells. Skincare-News.com’s latest article, “Switch Up Your Skincare for Fall,” offers 10 helpful tips for healthy skin in colder climates.
-Choose creamier products. Whether a person’s skin is dry, combination or oily-prone, switching to a milder, moisturizing face wash helps prevent moisture loss. Cooler temps and low humidity rob all skin types of moisture, so it’s wise to consider using a non-water-based cleanser, rather than soap or foaming cleansers, which can strip the skin of essential lipids. Now is also the time to increase hydration with moisturizer, to help keep your complexion smooth and supple. Oily types may opt for lotion, but dry complexions should seek a cream or ointment. Also, keep in mind that moisturizer needn’t be applied to the entire face. For oily or combination complexions, use moisturizer on dry areas (usually the cheeks) and avoid greasy spots like the T-zone.
-Reach for a rich body cleanser and cream. The drier, cooler weather plucks moisture from the entire body. To retain moisture, look for a luxurious, creamy body wash and all-over moisturizer. After showering or bathing, apply cream to damp skin within three minutes to seal in moisture.
-Pick a gentler exfoliant. An exfoliant removes the skin’s lifeless outer layer and clears out the pores. If skin is oily and clogged, however, avoid overly abrasive scrubs and opt for a scrub with smooth, rounded particles that won’t irritate the skin.
-Go easy on self-tanner. Women can still enjoy self-tanner in the cooler months, but they should go for a subtler tone. Or they can skip self-tanner altogether and sweep on a touch of bronzer.
-See a dermatologist to evaluate skin. After all the sun exposure of summer, it’s time to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist for an annual skincare checkup. He or she will evaluate skin for any suspicious spots, growths or moles.
-Continue using sunscreen. Sun protection should be a mainstay in everyone’s routine year-round. For everyday exposure, sunscreen with SPF 15 is OK, but if it’s going to be a longer day outside, go with SPF 30 at a minimum (and reapply every one to two hours, depending on if activities involve sweating or swimming).
-Diminish discoloration. Being out in the sun can cause unsightly spots. To repair an uneven complexion, consider products with hydroquinone or kojic acid, which effectively reduces sun spots. Or consult a dermatologist about a prescription-strength product.
-Clear out summer products. To eliminate unnecessary clutter, peruse cupboards and drawers for expired products and toss any spoiled skincare immediately.
-Fix those feet. Spoil and rejuvenate post-summer feet with an at-home pedicure. Also, exfoliate feet once a week with a body or foot scrub and slather on a rich cream after washing.
-Adopt an antioxidant. If a woman isn’t using one already, a product with antioxidants helps shield skin from the elements by neutralizing free radicals, which can cause wrinkles and sun damage. Consider a serum with antioxidants; serums typically deliver higher concentrations of ingredients to deeper layers of skin. Potent antioxidants include vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, ferulic acid and alpha lipoic acid.