This winter we have been inundated with queries related to winter dryness. So with this in mind we have devoted our Q & A this week to helping you and your skin survive the cold.
Dry, dehydrated skin ages faster, showing fine lines earlier, pigmentation, redness and sensitivity with pimples healing more slowly, leaving more red marks for longer, and is more likely to be associated with a congested skin. Plus it often feels awful with makeup not sitting right and staying where it should! Whether you feel tight, look dull, have breakouts for the first time ever or your acne turns full blown, at this time of year there a few things you can do to help yourself and your skin.
For you all this week we’ve taken the basis of peoples queries, linking them together and then answered them as one.
We’d also love to hear your successes with combating dry skin. What works and doesn’t work for people helps us all.
Common Questions – Winter Dryness
I have combination skin, oily t-tone, dry cheeks and forehead. My skin feels really tight all day and is really uncomfortable. I’ve tried so many serums and creams to help, but nothing has been helping!
I’m also having worse stress related breakouts.
Emma | QLD | age 27
- Emma’s skin is dehydrated deep down with the oil being a re-bound from the dehydration. The increase in breakouts is due to her skin being so impaired and simply not being able to cope. Stress affects gut health which influences the production of the hormones which can play havoc with our skin.
My skin is quite dry or dehydrated especially now with this cold Weather. I don’t usually get any pimples but am now. I feel like most skincare usually doesn’t sink into my skin to really hydrate it – it just feels like it sits on the surface.
Catrina | WA | age 34
- Catrina’s skin has both surface and lower dehydration. She has a build up of dry skin on the surface which is inhibiting absorption of all her products. Her pores are clogging from this with resultant breakouts.
My skin this winter has become very dry and red with fine wrinkles and I’ve lost my healthy summer, and usual glow. I drink 2 liters of water a day and eat healthily – why is this happening?
Sue | VIC | age 46
- Sue is entering a change a time in her life when hormones begin to change with her estrogen levels most likely dropping. This causes a decrease in the water retention abilities of the skin, a slowing of her cell turnover rate and an acceleration of collagen breakdown deep in her skin. Combined these are causing all her concerns. Sounds dreadful however its not all bad – read on below.
Common Answers – Winter Dryness
The winter cold combined with all our methods of heating tend to suck the water out of our skin. By the time a normal skin feels dry on the surface it is certainly dehydrated deeper down. At this point it doesn’t matter how much water you drink, and yes this helps, however your cells are not capable of retaining the water. You need to heal the cell walls and repair and protect the top layers of your skin.
Lifestyle changes
Start with ensuring you have a diet rich in good veggies and proteins.- Avoid hot air blowing directly on your face.
- Keep all clothing around your face (hats and scarves) clean.
- Eat foods high in oils – deep sea fish, nuts and avocados.
- Avoid (like the plague) refined sugars and processed foods.
- Decrease, if you can’t cut out, coffee and alcohol.
- Humidify the air around you;
- Keep bowls of water in rooms, especially your bedroom, consider;
- Flowers, floating candles, wet towels close to heaters.
- Use a heavy water spray whenever you feel dry – such as;
- CosMedix Mystic, Organic Nation Rose Water Spray, Osmosis MD Boost.
- Keep bowls of water in rooms, especially your bedroom, consider;
- Keep drinking 2 litres of water.
Start with ensuring you have a diet rich in good veggies and proteins.
Skin Care
Choose only nasties free, effective products and beware your makeup. Makeup needs to be mineral with added antioxidants – why not treat your skin and look gorgeous covering up at the same time.
Did you know we can help you with your makeup choices – check out our Osmosis Colour and Colorescience ranges!
You will need to make some changes to your skin care regime for winter dryness and it may be a time when you need to overhaul your entire regime. Our skin, like life, undergoes its “phases” – these tend to be the times when you look in the mirror and see your mum!!! Changes that become more prominent and will happen earlier when and if your skin is dehydrated. So if you care how you look, and I assume you do, then lets work on fixing it.
- Change to a gentler cleanser.
- Change to a more hydrating, richer, protective moisturiser;
- CosMedix Rescue Balm or Osmosis MD Immerse used straight, layered over serums or mixed with your usual moisturiser will really help.
- If sensitive, you may need to back off a little on your active serums. This includes your Vitamin A and possibly your C serums and add in an antioxidant oil.
- Aspect Dr Redless is marvellous – an is anti-inflammatory so is effective on dry skin breakouts and acne.
- Add some growth factors to your regime in Osmosis MD StemFactor (serum) daily.
- Use a speciality mask once or twice a week. Masks can really help you through a hard patch with your skin.
Choosing your mask
You can sleep in these – let’s make life easy and wake feeling refreshed and not tight from winter dryness!
If your skin is dull, products are not absorbing and you’ve lost your “glow” – you need a little stimulation with a gentle enzyme exfoliant *note it needs to be gentle!* A mask which hydrates and exfoliates is perfect.
- CosMedix Glow or Pure Enzymes if you are not sensitive.
You’ve developed fine lines and you feel really dry skin has lost its mojo with brown spots showing thru.
Treating your Acne
It may seem counter productive to treat pimples with dry skin remedies, however it is what you need to do.
- CosMedix Detox Mask – it is gentle.
- Aspect Fruit Enzyme Mask.
Skin which feels really oily, but is also dehydrated will look a little red, be sensitive and is likely to be congested with blackheads, whiteheads and breakouts.
A great combo for these skins;
- Cleanse – CosMedix Purity Detox Scrub with CosMedix Purity Solution
- Serum Morning – Aspect Dr Redless Serum
- Serum Night – Osmosis MD Rescue serum
- Spot Treat – with Osmosis MD Clarify
- Moisturise – with Aspect Dr Resveratrol or Osmosis MD Hydrate
Rich Moisturisers for dry skins
- Aspect SMC
- Osmosis MD Hydrate
- CosMedix Humidify
- Organic Nation Hydration Day Cream
The products above are full of active ingredients such as fatty acids and growth factors to which both repair the skin. The first more on the surface and the latter deep down. A combo of each, especially for older skins is perfect.
If your body is also suffering check out the Organic Nation range – their body creams and cleanser are divine.
We’d also love to hear your successes with combating winter dryness. What works and doesn’t work for people helps us all.
I hope we have helped you survive the winter cold.
Gaye
If you would like to have your skin concerns discussed when we have our Q & A feature please email us.
We will select the most appropriate and common questions to answer as a feature, however will answer all that are sent to us and relevant. We will not be able to say which month yours might feature in, if selected.
Still not sure?
If you need more help or would like personalised advice on what skincare products are best for you, book now for your consultation with a skin care advisor:
Book Your In-Clinic Consultation.
Or fill in the Online Skin Consultation and Gaye, our registered nurse, will happily help you to choose the right treatments and products for your skin type or concern.
Check out our latest Specials!
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