Be Comfortable In Your Own Skin This Winter

Published: 2011-10-13 by Ines Markovic in Skin Care

Winter can be tough – particularly on the skin as there seems to be no escape from dryness that occurs from both harsh outdoor weather conditions and indoor heating. So, what’s the best way to protect your skin this winter? Keep reading to find out.

Stick to the basics! “Maintaining a specific system that incorporates a few main ideas is your best defense against the skin ailments that plague you during the colder months,” says Dr. Ahmed Abdullah, board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Lexli skincare. Dr. Abdullah offers tips for keeping your skin looking and feeling its most supple even during the peak of winter.

MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE

Repeat this mantra daily. It may be obvious, but during the winter, skipping just a day of moisturizing is a mistake. “Sometimes, we’re too tired or busy that we are simply too lazy to moisturize. During the summer, when your body produces its own moisture due to excess sweat, this is not as much of an issue as it is during the winter months. Missing a day of moisturizing during the winter months can result in dry skin so severe that it can result in flaking, or worse, eczema, if your skin is particularly sensitive,” Dr. Abdullah warns.

Insider Tips:

Find a moisturizer that is aloe or oil-based. 99% of all moisturizers are water-based, which does less to lock in moisture and keep skin feeling fresh and smooth.
Develop a routine. Be sure to moisturize after bathing and before bed, and carry a travel-sized moisturizer in your makeup bag for dry skin emergencies.
Lexli offers a range of aloe-based products, but the day and night moisturizers are the ticket for surviving the winter: they contain humectants, which are molecules that hold more than their own weight of water. When applied to the skin, their concentration of water minimizes evaporation, increasing retention.

Dr. Abdullah recommends: Lexli Aloe-Based Day Moisturizer and Aloe-Based Night Moisturizer.

KEEP WATER IN, BUT NOT ON YOUR BODY

Resist the urge to indulge in long, hot showers during the winter. We know it’s tempting, but you’re not doing your skin any favors, says Dr. Abdullah. “While most people think that water is hydrating, it actually dries out your skin. Some of us consider bathing as a way to relax and unwind, and even warm up during the winter, but it’s important to realize that it actually robs skin of moisture.” Although the benefits of drinking water for your skin are up in the air, there is no doubt that water promotes overall health, so drink up!

Insider Tips:

Water does not penetrate tissue, and therefore, it cannot moisturize the way that an aloe or oil-based product can. Water actually dilutes natural ingredients present in some moisturizers, and is not absorbed by the skin.
Taking a long, hot shower or bath compromises lipid barriers, leading to a loss of moisture. Try to limit your time in the shower, and keep the water as cool as possible.
Is your skin unbearably itchy? Try the old home remedy for chicken pox, an oatmeal bath. This relieves dryness, but don’t forget to go heavy on the moisturizer after bathing.

Dr. Abdullah recommends: Lexli Aloe-Based Hand and Body Lotion.

Make Sunscreen Your Best Friend

During the winter, most of us put the sunscreen away and mourn the loss of summertime. But don’t be so hasty to discount this product; just because you’re not actively seeking the sun doesn’t mean that it will not affect your skin. “Many people have the idea that because they’re not sunbathing, sunscreen is not necessary. This line of thinking is damaging because the sun can be just as strong in the winter, and the glare from the snow can also pose problems,” says Dr. Abdullah.

Insider Tips:

Reach for a broad-spectrum sunscreen for exposed areas during the wintertime. Lexli offers a UVA and UVB aloe-based day moisturizer containing SPF-15 for normal to dry skin. Because it is aloe-based, it heals while it works.
Remember: sunscreen does not last all day. If you are outside for prolonged periods of time, be sure to reapply frequently and cover all exposed areas, taking particular care to make sure your face and hands are always protected.
Keep in mind, snow reflects up to 80% of the light that hits it. Make sure that your sunscreen covers both the UVA and UVB rays.

Dr. Abdullah recommends: Lexli Aloe-Based Day Moisturizer and Aloe-Based Sunscreen Spray.

For more information about Lexli skincare products and tips from Dr. Abdullah, visit www.Lexli.com.

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