Cold air, frigid winds and dry, overheated rooms take their toll on your epidermis in winter, regardless of whether you have oily, dry or combination skin. How can you fight back? Try these strategies:
First, switch to a milder cleanser and use it conservatively, says D’Anne Kleinsmith, a dermatologist in West Bloomfield, Mich. “If you’re accustomed to using deodorant soap, I would go to a milder soap, maybe a superfatted soap or one that has cleansing cream added,” says Kleinsmith. “Even milder soaps are still drying,” she says. A good gentle cleanser is Cetaphil.
Bathe and shower in lukewarm, not hot, water, which can be drying. Once you step out of the shower or bath, apply moisturizer while skin is still damp. And layer it-apply a thin coat to damp skin, then reapply another five minutes later-to help seal in moisture.
You may also want to switch from a lotion to a cream moisturizer or oil, says Kleinsmith. Nonetheless, “people who have acne-prone skin have to make sure they’re not using a product that’s too rich or too oily, because it could cause your skin to break out.”
During the day you’ll need a moisturizer that contains sunscreen. “Although the sun is less intense (in winter) it still has an effect, and it’s still cumulative,” she warns. Some good choices: Oil of Olay Daily UV Protectant Moisture Replenishing Cream SPF 15 and Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 13.
At night, moisturizers that contain alpha-hydroxy acids help slough off dead, dry cells. Look for products with such inredients as glycolic, lactic or citric acid. For the face, try Estee Lauder’s Fruition ReActivating Complex; for the body, try Eucerin Plus. Avon also makes AHA moisturizers with facial and body formulations.
New combination foundations also can help moisturize. They contain humectants (that attract and hold water) and occlusive ingredients (that prevent evaporation) to help skin stay moist. Biotherm BioClimat is a light foundation with an SPF 8 sunscreen designed to be weatherproof.
Because the major cause of dryness is plunging humidity, Kleinsmith suggests using a cool mist humidifier and cleaning it daily to prevent breeding bacteria and mold. Pans of water on radiators also are effective.
Some other ways to put more moisture in your life: Put warm-water compresses on your face; get a mini facial via the steam from your dishwasher; drink lots of water; eat lots of vegetables and fruits, which contain water; steam up the bathroom with a shower, then stay there to soak up the excess. Adding fish tanks and plants are a natural way to increase humidity at home and at work.
Feed your skin with these masks
– For pure moisturizing, combine an egg yolk and a tablespoon of honey.
– To slough skin and to moisturize, apply avocado that has been mashed.
– To freshen, combine just enough water to powdered milk to form a paste.
– To speed cell renewal, combine one tablespoon of buttermilk, an egg yolk, half a teaspoon of honey and one teaspoon of mayonnaise.
– To stop facial flakiness, put half a teaspoon of baby or olive oil in your hand and add enough baking soda to form a paste.
Sources: “The Doctor’s Beauty Hotline” (Holt, $18.95), by Dr. Frederic Haberman and Margaret Danbrot, and “The New Medically Based No-Nonsense Beauty Book” (Holt, $19.95), by Deborah Chase.
