Changes in weather can create skin care challenges
Changes in diet and stress can impact the appearance and health of your skin. Did you know a change in weather could also be a factor when considering the most appropriate skin care options? Just as we change our wardrobes with the seasons, it is best that our skin care regimen changes as well.
A serum might not be needed in the summer, but adding one during the winter months can make a significant difference. Likewise, during the holiday season when eating habits are different, and stress is higher, your skin can become dehydrated, leaving it dull and tired looking.
Want to get your skin glowing? Follow these four general steps for care.
Cleanse
Use a clean facial sponge or washcloth to cleanse each day. Be gentle with warm water, and do a double cleanse technique in the evening. Because we are often more active during the day, and may have make-up on, it is best to cleanse twice at night. Cleanse, rinse, then repeat.
Exfoliate
Choosing the right exfoliator for your skin type can be tricky. Some skin types are more sensitive than others, so it can become irritating. However, promoting cell renewal is key to having healthy, glowing skin.
Using a manual exfoliator twice a week will help slough off any dead skin cells revealing healthy skin. Once your skin is well exfoliated, the products you put on to correct and protect are able to penetrate deeper into the skin, giving a better result.
Correct
Different skin types have specific concerns, whether it is aging, acne, hyperpigmentation, or rosacea. Choose the best serum for your skin type to help correct individual concerns. Serums are different from moisturizers that may be filled with creams. Serums have higher percentage of active ingredients that penetrate deeper and are a nice cocktail packed with different antioxidants, peptides, and growth factors.
Protect
Moisturizers create a barrier, protecting the skin as well as hydrating the surface. Ingredients like glycerin, grape seed oil, or shea butter are excellent for keeping the skin moisturized. But don’t stop there. A daily SPF is important for protecting skin from UV rays that can cause damage. Use a moisturizer with an SPF greater than 30 daily under your make-up every morning. Remember, the number is not the strength of the sunscreen, but the time period that it’s effective. Multiply the minutes it takes for you to get red from the sun without sunscreen, with the SPF number. The answer is the total minutes it will protect you from the sun.
The best skin care is a customized regimen created specifically for you. Meeting with your skin care expert to speak about your lifestyle, diet, and preferences will enhance your skin care experience to meet your specific needs.
–By Kim Chang, aesthetician at the Baylor Facial Plastic Surgery Center
Thanks these are helpful tips to keep skin ready for any weather. Love that sun protection and wearing a daily SPF is on this list. UV rays from the sun are a leading cause of skin damage and premature skin aging and UV rays are present throughout the year. Thus sun protection should be practiced year-round. Finally in addition to finding the right SPF – look out for a broad spectrum SPF product. A broad spectrum SPF product will protect against both UVB and UVA rays. SPF is only a measure of protection against UVB rays. In general UVB rays cause sunburn and skin cancer while UVA rays cause skin aging and skin cancer.
Yes, you’re so right! Choosing a sunscreen that provides protection for both UVA and UVB rays is very important. Thanks for your feedback and additional information!