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Compensating for seasonal changes can help skin stay healthy; ensure your skin not only survives, but thrives this fall and winter!

by Shannon Hall, Licensed Esthetician and Owner Anam Cara Day Spa & Beauty Bar

Our skin is our body’s largest living organ, and it bears the brunt of exposure to the outside world. Depending on the climate where you live, your skin changes as the weather changes. In the winter, electric heaters or gas furnaces keep our skin warm from cooler temperatures. However, dry heat can cause dehydration, causing the skin to become chapped and flaky, especially when coming in from the cold weather. This tendency for the skin to change starts in the fall and becomes more noticeable in the winter months. Awareness is the key to good skin care. Educate yourself on your skin type and needs as it changes with the seasons.

▼ drink more water.

Water keeps our skin hydrated in all seasons! It is the most effective way to flush out toxins that might otherwise be excreted by the skin. It also helps to elevate clogged pores and prevent acne, and it is great wrinkle prevention.

▼ wear sunscreen. Sunscreen is our best defence against the harmful effects

of UVA and UVB rays all year round. Sunscreens are found in moisturizer and foundations and should be used daily to guard against the harmful effects the sun has on our skin.

▼ exfoliate. Exfoliating allows the skin to renew itself and regenerate! This process helps the pores remain clean and clear. In the fall and winter it helps our moisturizers and other skin care products work better because it takes away the buildup of dead surface skin cells that create an unwanted barrier. ▼ moisturize. Day cream protects the skin from the elements, pollution and the overproduction of sebaceous oil production (yes, even if you have acne it is important to moisturize!). Night cream is designed to restore and repair the skin. Its molecular structure is smaller and this allows the cream to penetrate deeper into the dermal layer. In the winter, moisturizer can nourish and rehydrate the skin from the harsher winter climate. ▼ avoid hot showers.

Hot showers can dehydrate your body, and the hot water can be harmful to dry skin and especially acne prone skin. It is best to have a warm bath or shower during the winter season.

▼ seasonal facials. Visiting your Licenced Esthetician at least four times a year for a seasonal facial is one of the best ways to fight the stress the seasons put on the skin. A facial will restore the balance of what the skin requires. Estheticians are trained to analyze your skin and recommend products that will benefit your personal skin type.