Winterproof Your Skin

Vow to end the itchy dryness you’ve endured in seasons past, and make this the year your skin survives winter well nourished and healthy. Luckily, many nurturing products exist to protect skin during the harsh, cold months that strip skin of its moisture. Look for the ingredients listed below and try our tips for skin survival!

Be a Daytime Diva

• Ditch harsh soaps and replace them with gentle cleansers made from goat’s milk, vegetable glycerin, and olive or coconut oils.
• Look for a facial moisturizer with soy. Research shows that soy stimulates the production of elastin and collagen, the connective tissue that keeps skin firm. It can also improve blotchiness, dullness, fine lines, and overall tone and texture.
• Hyaluronic acid and aloe vera are both humectants—substances that promote moisture retention—so they make great ingredients during winter.
• For an effective, all-over body lotion, look for products containing shea butter.
• Be sure to eat fatty fish like salmon or sardines. If you don’t like fish, take fish oil supplements, which contain the omega-3 fatty acids that help skin and hair retain moisture.

Nighttime Survival Kit

• Ante up with antioxidants to help prevent oxidative stress, eliminate free radicals, and increase skin smoothness. Invest in repair creams that contain antioxidants such as green tea and vitamins A, E, and C, which stimulates older skin to produce more collagen. When it comes to antioxidants, remember that the more the merrier. For example, the antioxidant alpha lipoic acid appears to help other antioxidants work more effectively. Creams containing several antioxidants possess increased potency, and combinations like vitamins C and E work better together than alone.
• Look for a serum that contains peptides, which are amino acids that entice the skin into producing more collagen. Recent research suggests that some serums made with peptides and antioxidants can improve wrinkles, texture, tone, and resiliency beginning after one month of use.
• Consider a soothing facial night cream containing aloe or lavender extracts.
• Invest in a humidifier to increase the levels of moisture in the air. Your skin—not to mention your throat—will appreciate the dewier home environment.

Botanical Boosters
Primrose, borage, and jojoba oils effectively refresh dry skin. The herbs calendula and chamomile also offer nourishment.