Fall Into Beauty-Top 5 Cool-Weather Skin Care Tips
If you are like me, you may be in disbelief that summer has come and gone. As warmer weather transforms into cooler days ahead, you may find that your skin care routine needs some seasonal adjusting. Perhaps you may start to notice your skin is feeling dry, tight, flaky, maybe you have noticed fine lines or blemishes pop up out of nowhere.
Just as seasons change so may our skin care needs. This is not to say we must throw out our current product regime. If you are happy with your current skin care practice stick with it. Only if you start to notice negative effects due to fluctuations in weather would it be recommended to make adjustments. Below are a few suggestions on how we may "Winterize" our skin care protocol. Additionally, I have listed a few product suggestions with price points to fit into nearly every budget.
1. Make the switch to a gentler cleanser
For many gentle cleaners are recommended for colder months, because foaming cleansers can diminish natural oils in the skin. Unless you fall into the oily and some combination skin categories, switching to a gentle, non-stripping cleanser will be beneficial, especially during the cooler drier months.
Tip: When cleansing your face, always wash your hands first. Be sure you are cleansing twice in a row. The first cleanse will remove dirt and/or makeup, while the second cleanse will be a more thorough deep-pore cleaning.
Tip: When cleansing your face, always wash your hands first. Be sure you are cleansing twice in a row. The first cleanse will remove dirt and/or makeup, while the second cleanse will be a more thorough deep-pore cleaning.
Pevonia RS2 Gentle Cleanser ($37.50)
Obagi NuDerm Gentle Cleanser ($33.70)
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser ($19.50)
Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Cream Cleanser ($18.99)
Neutrogena Gentle Daily Cleanser ($6.49)
Neutrogena Gentle Daily Cleanser ($6.49)
2. Add a high-quality facial serum to your routine
Many wonder why it is advantageous to include a serum into their skin care routine. This step is important for a few reasons. The number one reason is that serums are concentrated forms of highly active and effective ingredients (ex: antioxidants, peptides, vitamins, growth factors). Most serums are designed to contain smaller molecules which enable deeper delivery into the skin's epidermis. Why not just moisturize? Many moisturizers contain fillers and preservatives which provides minimal skin infiltration. Moisturizers act more as a protective barrier sitting atop the skin's surface, whereas serums are designed to be absorbed by the uppermost layers of the skin.
NeoCutis Bio-serum ($210)
Skinseuticals CE Ferulic ($153)
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules ($72)
Kate Somerville Hydrating Face Serum ($65)
Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum ($21.99)
3. Choose an appropriate exfoliant
Regular exfoliation can speed up the sloughing away of dead skin cells. Dehydrated skin may start showing noticeable signs of sluggish cell turnover, leading to breakouts or worsening of fine lines and wrinkles. If you choose to add Tretinoin, Retinol, BHA or AHA to your skin care routine, be sure to wear sunscreen as these ingredients can increase sun sensitivity. Due to the propensity for sun reactivity, Tretinoin, retinol, BHA and AHA, should be applied during your nightly routine.
Tretinoin is wonderful exfoliant, derived from vitamin A. It's normal to experience slight redness and skin flaking when using retinoid creams. If side effects persist or do not subside after two to three weeks of daily use, you may want to dial back your usage until a more desirable result is obtained. Retinol products are a gentler version of the retinoid family, which may be used for more moderate results with less undesirable reactions than prescription strength Tretinoin.
Tip: To lessen the reaction from tretinoin, and lighten dark spots or sun damage, mix a pea-sized amount of Tretinoin with a pea-sized drop of Obagi NuDerm Blender together and then apply onto skin.
Tip: To lessen the reaction from tretinoin, and lighten dark spots or sun damage, mix a pea-sized amount of Tretinoin with a pea-sized drop of Obagi NuDerm Blender together and then apply onto skin.
Obagi Tretinoin Cream ($72)
Generic Branded Tretinoin Cream (approximately $40)
Skin Medica Tri-Retinol Complex ES ($75)
Roc Wrinkle Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum [Retinol] ($19.99)
BHA is recommended for blemish-prone, combination and oily skin types. The most effective BHAs should fall between 1-2% concentration with a pH balance of 3-4. Salicylic Acid is the most commonly used BHA. Salicylic Acid is oil soluble, which enables deeper pore penetration, further assisting with clearing skin congestion.
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Exfoliating Treatment ($65)
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Treatment (6.99)
AHAs are wonderful exfoliants as well. The most recognized AHAs include, Glycolic, Malic, Mandelic, lactic and Tartaric acid. To be effective, AHA should have at least 5-10% concentration with a pH level between 3-4. An additional gauge of effectiveness is to be sure that AHAs are listed within the top 3 product ingredients. AHAs are recommended for normal, combination or dry skin types. Due to its water soluble nature, AHA are excellent for treating surface lines, wrinkles and sun damage.
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads ($28)
Derma-e Evenly Radiant Overnight Peel ($17)
C) Mechanical Scrub
Manual scrubs are not recommended for those who have active/uncontrolled diabetes, broken blood vessels, sunburned, rosacea or sensitive skin, or if you are experiencing redness, irritation or severe dryness. Depending on the scrub ingredients, some can be abrasive and cause irritation. Recommended usage is one to three times a week, depending on skin type and individual needs.
Tip:It's best to avoid abrasive scrubs that have irregular edges containing walnut husks or apricot seeks. These types of scrubs may cause micro-tears in the skin, potentially inviting harmful bacteria which may lead to infection, irritation or breakouts.
Tip:It's best to avoid abrasive scrubs that have irregular edges containing walnut husks or apricot seeks. These types of scrubs may cause micro-tears in the skin, potentially inviting harmful bacteria which may lead to infection, irritation or breakouts.
Alegenist Triple-Action Micropolish Peel ($58)
Clinique Exfoliating Scrub ($19.50)
4. Adjust your moisturizer to suit cooler and drier weather
Not everybody will need to adjust their moisturizer during cooler months. My personal thoughts are moisturizers are one of the areas of skin care that we do not need to spend a lot of money. To add, if we are already investing in a quality serum and a good sunscreen, there really is no need to buy an expensive moisturizer. Since moisturizers act as a protective barrier, it is best to apply products after cleansing in the following sequence; toner, serum, moisturizer and sunscreen.
-Oily skin; perhaps a good serum and sunscreen will do the trick in providing hydration, and protection from the elements of cold weather. However, there are great options for light-weight moisturizers, if extra hydration is needed.
-Combination skin; application of moisturizer on your dry patches may suffice or you may opt for all over coverage.
-Dry skin; typically is the skin type which suffers the most during cold, dry weather fluctuations. Therefore, if you fall into the dry skin category, an upgraded moisturizer may be a good option.
-Oily skin; perhaps a good serum and sunscreen will do the trick in providing hydration, and protection from the elements of cold weather. However, there are great options for light-weight moisturizers, if extra hydration is needed.
-Combination skin; application of moisturizer on your dry patches may suffice or you may opt for all over coverage.
-Dry skin; typically is the skin type which suffers the most during cold, dry weather fluctuations. Therefore, if you fall into the dry skin category, an upgraded moisturizer may be a good option.
Tip: Apply moisturizer while skin is still damp. This will help preserve moisture in your skin and save on product usage.
Normal Skin
Ama la Hydrating Face Cream ($68)
Aveda Tourmaline Charged Hydrating Creme ($40)
CeraVe Facial Moisture Lotion ($12.99)
Oily and Combination Skin
Algenist Anti-Aging Lotion ($75)
Clinique Super Rescue Anti-oxident Moisturizer ($45)
Neutrogena Oil Free Combination Skin Moisture ($10.99)
Dry Skin
SkinMedica Rejuvenative Moisture ($54)
Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Moisturizer ($22.99)
Neutrogena Healthy Anti-Wrinkle Cream (12.99)
Sunscreen is a must anytime of the year. My belief is when it comes to anti-aging, and good skin care in general, sunscreen will always be your best friend. There is no sense in paying top dollar for the best serums, creams or gels, if we are undoing their benefits by leaving skin unprotected from the oxidative stress of UV radiation. In my opinion, SPF 20 or higher is recommended to provide optimal protection.
Tip: Make your own tinted SPF moisturizer by adding your favorite liquid makeup to your sunscreen.
Obagi NuDerm UV Block SPF 32 ($46)
Revision Skincare [Tinted] Intellishade SPF 45 ($45)
Olay Regenerist Regenerating Lotion with Sunscreen SPF 50 ($27.99)
Neutrogena [Tinted] Healthy Glow Sheers SPF 30 ($12.99)
All costs provided on the above products are suggested retail value. Many products can be purchased for less online. However, when purchasing products online, be sure that you are purchasing from a reputable company. Some online website may be able to offer rock-bottom-pricing because the products are either counterfeit, expired or nearing expiration date. Be sure to do your homework, to ensure you are not wasting your money.
The products listed are personal suggestions, based on experience over the years with each product line. I have recently decided to cut toxic chemicals out of my own beauty routine, if you are aiming to do the same, some products listed above may not be suitable. Read the ingredients labels and decide for yourself which chemicals are acceptable. There are many fantastic skin care product lines on the market, if you are looking to avoid toxic chemicals, Tata Harper Skin Care is excellent!. My philosophy is to try experimenting with several different product lines to find your ideal regimen. Be sure to seek advice from a trained professional to determine which products will address your concerns and be best for your skin type.
CeraVe Skin Care
Hylunia Skin Care
Acure Organics
Simple Skin Care
