Ladies, your skin is talking to you! I consulted with esthetician and laser technician Tracey Tierney (who has some of the most gorgeous skin I’ve ever seen) for some advice and tips on winter skin care. Here’s what she has to say…
New York City winters are brutal – With temperatures dipping down and wind chills spiking up, we flee for the comfort and warmth of the indoors. These cold winds and dry air also rob the skin of its natural emollients leading to stressed, dry, and often chapped skin.
- Keep yourself hydrated. Consume plenty of water and foods that contain water. The skin is a window into the health and well-being of your body. Though surface dehydration of the skin and systemic dehydration are not the same, if you guzzle wine with the ladies, load up on caffeine throughout the day and lug your kids around all day without having a drop of water, your skin will show it.
- Running a cool mist humidifier not only lubricates your sinuses, preventing and alleviating respiratory illnesses in the dry winter months, it will also help prevent moisture loss on the skin. For work and travel, keeping a bottle of skin refresher will help to give your skin and makeup a boost of moisture when you need it. Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist contains Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, and extracts of rose and clove. It smells really good.
- What feels better than a hot shower or bath after braving the elements? Unfortunately if you battle dry skin, hot water breaks down valuable lipids on the skin. Keep your temp tepid- just slightly above body temperature and your skin will thank you. Applying raw coconut oil to your body after bathing is an excellent way to moisturize and protect your skin from head to toe. Shea Moisture Baby Healing Lotion with Raw Shea Chamomile & Argan Oil is also awesome, smells amazing and is gentle enough for the whole family. (the pump sucks on this – the cream is too thick for the pump FYI).
- Tweak your moisturizing routine. What works for you when it is hot and humid will not apply during the harsh winter months. You’ll need to assess your regimen, but often all it takes is amping up your daytime and nighttime moisturizers. For daytime, layer an oil free hydrating serum before applying your moisturizer with SPF. Look for hydrating serums containing Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic acid retains moisture in the skin, working with your skin’s natural lipids to prevent moisture loss and a breakdown of its barrier function. SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel Moisture Enhancing Gel gives your moisturizer a big boost with pro-vitamin B5 and Hyaluronic acid. Combine with a daily Vitamin C serum and SPF for a super-charged anti-aging arsenal. Winter is no time to forget the SPF.
- Night is a time of repair and renewal. If you hope to make any meaningful changes to your skin, you need to select an appropriate and effective night cream. To amp up your nighttime moisture no matter what skin type, you will want to switch to a heavier moisturizer. Over-dryness can lead to a broken barrier function on the skin. Skin becomes dry, chapped, red, even painful. Using a cream that mimics the lipids will repair that skin. PCA Silkcoat Balm is formulated with hydrolyzed silk protein, antioxidants and soothing ingredients is a great choice for broken barrier functions, or even just dry skin in cold, harsh climates.
- All that moisture cannot be absorbed if you have an excess of dead, dry cells soaking it up. Exfoliation is necessary to help stimulate the turnover of new cells. There are many different options from traditional scrubs, to Retinol, Hydroxy acids and enzymes. Lactic acid is gentle, slow penetrating, and has the additional benefit of hydration. Salicylic acid (derived from aspirin) is an excellent choice for acneic skin because it is anti-inflammatory. Natural plant enzymes from rice bran, papaya and pineapple are also used to consume the glue that holds dead skin cells together. Exfoliate 2-3 times a week using a skin-type appropriate exfoliator after cleansing at night before applying your night cream. Often exfoliators are a combination of scrub and either AHA or plant enzyme. Eminence Yam & Pumpkin Enzyme Peel 5% is an excellent home exfoliant for all skin types. It contains a powerful combination of plant enzymes, AHA’s and BHA’s, as well as poor minimizing and, skin brightening and anti-oxidant-rich plant extracts. Eminence is a great line of product for those who love results oriented skin care, but are looking for an organic, sustainable option.
Tracey Tierney is a Brooklyn mother, an esthetician, and a laser technician at the Skin Spa New York- Murray Hill Location.
Rebecca Conroy is an artist, stylist, and Editor of A Child Grows in Brooklyn. She is from New York City, and has an MFA from Columbia University in screenwriting. Rebecca often finds herself on film and photography sets making things run or look better, and is the mom of two outrageously wonderful kids.