Your skin and your skin care needs change with the seasons. When I last blogged, about changing weather, we were heading into the summer months. Today, I am going to give you all the tips you need so your glowing skin doesn’t surrender to New York City’s cold, dry weather.
First, you need to establish your skin type. If you don’t know or you’re not sure, ask your skin care specialist. If you don’t have one, Skin Bar NYC offers a complimentary Fit-Skin-Analysis to new clients. If you are a “Skinber”- you are due for a Fit-Skin-Analysis. Skin Bar NYC members (Skinbers) should schedule a Fit-Skin-Analysis every 3-4 months, to review your progress, adjust your services, expand your goals and align them with the season.
There is also a simple test anyone can do at home. Cleanse you face and dry your skin thoroughly. Before you apply any product stand in front of the mirror. Smile because you’re beautiful! Now, look for any redness around the cheeks, chin and jawline. If your skin is flushed in this area your skin is dry. Next, focus your attention to your forehead and frown. Your eyebrows should be pulling down on your forehead and creating elevens between your eyebrows. If your skin feels like it’s tight or stretching then this is another sign of dryness. If there is no evidence of redness or flushing, and your skin doesn’t feel dry when you frown, congratulations your skin is not dry! Here’s how to keep it that way.
Switch up your cleanser. This is especially true for dry skin clients. It is a great idea to swap your warmer weather gel cleanser for a cream based cleanser like SkinCetuicals Gentle Cleanser. If you have oily or combination skin it’s okay to stick with your usual daily cleanser. Wether you’re skin is dry, oily or combination you should use a toner to balance your skin’s PH level right after cleansing. Oh, and keep whatever you have left of your lighter weight products to use when the warmer months return. The shelf life on products kept in a dark cool place is nice and long.
Put on some weight. It’s time to switch up your products. If your skin tends to be on the drier side you should use a heavier moisturizer to keep your skin soft and supple. The key is hydration. We love the Vital C Intense Moisturizer. Vitamin C is a super hydrating anti-oxidant. Clients with oily skin beware in the winter months. The common mistake is to stop moisturizing to take advantage of the drier conditions in the air. The problem is that your skin thinks it’s dry, kicking the production of oil into over drive. The result is the opposite of what you are trying to achieve. So, rather than starve your skin of needed moisture, try a lighter hydrating product like Vital C hydrating anti-aging serum. This serum is packed with Vitamin C protecting against free radical damage, but it is also creamy and can be used as a lightweight moisturizer- perfect for drier skin clients.
Exfoliate. Always in style, ridding your skin of old dead cells makes you glow. But more than that, exfoliation reduces clogged pores, reveals new healthy skin and allows for better penetration of products that moisturize. At Skin Bar we use professional tools like diamondermabrasion and professional chemical peels to exfoliate.
You can exfoliate at home too. Add 1 tsp. of cane sugar or granuated sugar, 2 drops of water and 2 drops of lemon juice to a small bowl. Mix with your fingers and gently apply to your face using small circular motions. Be careful not to get close to the eyes. Rinse with cold water and pat dry. Do this once a week for a simple exfoliation.
Apply sunscreen. I know you have heard me say this before. But, sunscreen is the single biggest favor you can do for your skin and your future self. Sunscreen is scientifically proven to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays that lead to the early signs of aging. Many people assume that cold weather means the sun’s rays are weaker. Wrong. The rays of the sun even in the winter can still cause damage to your skin. And they can be more dangerous when they reflect off the snow. So, please wear sunscreen. Always! My personal favorite is Elta MD, UV clear 46 SPF. When my wife and I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro we were the only ones in our team that didn’t suffer from serious sun burns and chapped lips. Since that trip I have been a true believer.
Your skin is in a constant state of change, whether influenced by the seasons, stress or our body chemistry. So, it’s important to have someone you trust to educate you on the best tips to achieve radiant skin. I tell clients at Skin Bar NYC all the time that everyone should have a trainer for their skin. After all we have trainers for our bodies. Your skin is the largest organ you have so you’d better take good care of it.
If you are in need of a skin care specialist that can train you in the latest and most advanced methods of skin care give Skin Bar NYC a call 212-889-1171. We will give you all the tips you need to keep your skin looking great no matter what the season.