There is no doubt that the winter months can be tough on our skin. From the blisteringly cold temperatures to the arctic-like winds, winter’s aggressors are notorious for wreaking havoc on even the most robust of skin types.
Winter simply doesn’t care what type of skin you have – it doesn’t discriminate. The extreme conditions can be especially unforgiving, inflicting a whole host of unwanted skin conditions on our poor faces. From mild to severe skin dehydration, poor circulation, an increase in fine lines, rough texture, dry or flakey patches, or even itchy skin, just to name a few, at times it can feel like a rollercoaster when trying to keep up with what our skin is throwing at us.
The colder weather can also cause our skin can also look dull and lifeless. Whilst this may be in part due to the sad fact that our social lives have depressingly dwindled down to practically non-existent – it is more likely the effects of our poor skin lacking in two crucial things: hydration and exfoliation.
Our skin cannot survive without either, and although our bodies do both naturally to a point, it is more important than ever to ensure these remain a priority throughout the colder months. By giving your skin helping hand and ensuring your skin stays sufficiently hydrated AND exfoliated, then your skin will have a much smoother ride throughout the colder months.
Hydration baby!
The harsh elements and chilly weather mean our bodies have a much harder time keeping hydrated throughout winter. Not to mention, going from one extreme condition to another will draw out much needed moisture from our skin as it fights to keep our hydration levels up. Lurching from the toasty warmth of our houses or workplaces straight into the barren, freezing temperatures outside – our poor skin can’t catch a break.
Because it is more difficult for our skin to retain moisture in the chillier months, our skin dries out much faster. This results in our skin becoming dehydrated, oftentimes becoming more sensitive and dry as a result.
Packing your skincare with super hydrating ingredients such hyaluronic acid, ceramides and squalene can help combat dry skin. If you don’t already, incorporating foods that are high in essential fatty acids such as fish, nuts and avocado into your diet can also mitigate and prevent potential dryness. The natural oils contained in these foods can help to keep our skin barrier moisturised and hydrated throughout the chillier months.
Exfoliation please
If there was ever a time for some exfoliation, its winter. Exfoliation is important all year round, but it becomes essential when the temperature dips. A combination of those freezing temperatures and indoor-heating mean our skin gets dry. Like Sahara-desert dry.
Not only will getting rid of all those flakey dry bits of skin mean your skin looks refreshed, it will also pave the way for all those hydrating skincare products you put on afterwards. Regular exfoliation also removes any excess any dirt or grime not removed by your cleanser as well as speeding up cellular turnover, which can help give our skin back is glow.
Polyhydroxy acids, or PHA for short, such as Lactic and Glycolic acids are brilliant exfoliators. The great thing about them is that whilst being chemical exfoliants, they are also humectants, meaning they help draw in much needed moisture to our skin. Obviously, they will not be your main source of hydration but along with removing dead skin cells and build-up they will also help to boost hydration levels that have been degraded by external aggressors at the same time. Lactic is the gentler of the two, and great for beginners just starting out.
It pays to keep in mind that the skin on your face is much thinner and more sensitive than elsewhere and this is especially true throughout winter. Whilst manual scrubs are great for sloughing off dead cells on your body and whilst we all love a good coffee scrub in the shower – skip the manual exfoliation when it comes to your face as they can cause microscopic tears and lead to inflammation.
Lastly, make sure you are always listening to your skin. Whilst exfoliation is great – over exfoliation is not and it can be easy to get carried away once you discover the joys of exfoliating on a regular basis. Chasing that “glow” can sometimes lead to over-exfoliating and starting out with a gentler exfoliant is a good idea, building up to stronger ingredients once your skin has acclimatised.
The big guns
Ok so aside from exfoliating your skin on a regular basis at home, for the ultimate in juicy luscious, luminous skin – you need to look toward investing in professional Hydrodermabrasion treatments. The older and cooler, more grown-up sister version to microdermabrasion, Hydrodermabrasion is the essentially exactly the same exfoliation treatment but with the added bonus of hydration, making it the perfect treatment to indulge in come winter.
Suitable for all skin types, Hydrodermabrasion is the ideal treatment to help deal with all the pesky skin ailments winter has thrown at you. Parched, thirsty, dehydrated skin? Sorted. Dry, flakey skin? Got you covered. Dull skin in need of some serious glow? No problem. Hydrodermabrasion treatments have you covered. Not only do they tick all these boxes, but regular treatments can also assist with sun-damaged skin, as well as fine lines and wrinkles.
Treatments with hydrodermabrasion machines deliver immediate visible results, whilst also providing long term benefits to the health of your skin. Not only does it remove surface damage whilst replenishing the skin with much needed moisture, treatments can also be extremely effective at improving the appearance of congested, acne-prone skin and helping to eliminate blackheads.
During the process, a diamond tip or crystalised applicator is used to buff away the top layer of surface skin whilst a gentle vacuum draws impurities out from your pores, sucking up everything from dirt, excess sebaceous oil, product build-up, dead skin cells in its wake. At the same time, your skin is being gently infused with a cocktail of targeted and hydrating ingredients. Hydrodermabrasion also triggers the bodies cellular turnover, boosting circulation and encouraging collagen production.
Gentle enough for even the most sensitive of skin types and with no downtime, Hydrodermabrasion is the perfect in-out exfoliation/hydration treatment for busy people as the service only takes 30-40 mins. You could easily schedule a treatment on your lunchbreak – then return to work with fabulously glowing, juicy, hydrated skin!
The after-effects of this treatment are accumulative too – so you can expect your skin to look better and better as the days progress. Be warned, these treatments are glow-worthy and leave you with the smoothest skin you can imagine, making them seriously addictive!
To learn more about Hydrodermabrasion, or find a treatment provider in your area, please contact beauty supplier, The Global Beauty Group on 1300 006 607.
This is brought to you by The Global Beauty Group
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