10 TIPS TO WINTER-PROOF YOUR SKIN
Brrrr…baby it’s cold outside. And your skin, hair and nails feel it too. BITB asked a panel of leading beauty experts and dermatologists for their best tips to winterize your skin and hair when the temperature dips below freezing.
1 – Terese Linke, Global Education and Spa Training Director of Amala Natural Skincare:
“Start body brushing for three minutes prior to bathing. Brushing stimulates the lymphatic system, which reduces the appearance of cellulite. Simply wet the brush and use in the bath or shower with Amala’s Body Polish. After you shower, you have less than five minutes to add moisture back into the skin. Try Amala’s Detoxifying Body Oil to reverse moisture loss.”
2 – Zein Obagi, MD, Dermatologist, Obagi Skin Health Institute, Beverly Hills:
“You can take years off your look by regularly exfoliating, protecting and hydrating the backs of your hands that are most susceptible to the signs of aging. For cracked winter hands, try this at-home treatment at bedtime. Apply ZO Skin Health Oraser Overnight Hand Recovery and wear cotton gloves overnight to wake to softer, younger hands. And to protect your delicate hands during the day, use ZO Skin Health Oraser® Daily Hand Repair SPF 20.”
3 – Kim Kelder, Miraval Resort & Spa’s Lead Aesthetician and Skin Care Specialist:
“Change your cleanser to a cream or milk cleanser. Cleansing gels and bars can sometimes be drying for your winter skin. Also make sure you are washing with cooler water; hot water can also be drying for your skin. And don’t forget to wear sunscreen. Just because the sun isn’t shining all the time doesn’t mean you aren’t getting sun damage. Did you know that 78% of solar damage is from incidental sun exposure, like walking to and from your car each day?”
4 – Dr. Christine Sindt, Optometrist and Lens Specialist, Clinical Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics:
“Before blaming seasonal changes on itchy, red eyes it is important for consumers to consider the last time they replaced or properly cleaned their contact lenses. Only about 4% of allergy sufferers can say eye allergies are their primary allergy but a whopping 96% of Americans admit to frequently reusing or topping-off yesterday’s cleaning solution. Dirty lenses are a major cause of dryness. For bright, healthy, moist eyes it is important to start with fresh contact solution each and every day.”
5 – Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd, Dermatologist in Miami:
“As winter weather brings in the cold air, the lack of humidity will start to dry out our skin and make it more difficult to keep skin hydrated. Now, more than ever, it’s important to focus on keeping your skin moisturized and healthy. Wear sunscreen with an antioxidant daily. Even if it’s the middle of winter you can’t skimp on skin protection! In the winter your face is even more vulnerable to the sun’s rays due to the combination of sun and wind. Use a sunscreen to protect yourself and to help keep your skin tone even. Try Specific Beauty Dermatologist Strength Ultra Clear Daily Sun Shield. This invisible, pure physical UVA/UVB sunscreen with SPF 50+ delivers a weightless, residue-free transparent finish with along wtih antioxidants Coenzyme-Q10, Green Tea.”
6 – Teresa Probst, Colorist, Varin Salon, New York City:
“Use hot oil to fight the effects of the cold on your hair. Hot oil treatments are effective conditioners that can help rehydrate your hair from heating systems and windy conditions. Try a natural hot oil solution like jojoba oil for cold weather hair help. L’Oreal Professional Mythic Oil Huile Nutritive Nourishing Oil is perfect for all hair types during winter.”
7 – Dr. Debra Jaliman, Dermatologist/Author, Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist, New York City:
“Moisturize your body and face while your skin is still damp from the bath and shower. In over-the-counter moisturizers or lotions, look for these ingredients: humectants, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin; lipids, such as ceramides; and emollients, such as lanolin and propylene glycol.”
8 – Patrick Melville, Celebrity Hair Stylist, New York City:
“In the cold months hair tends to get a little flatter. Shampoo and condition with AVEENO® Nourish+ Moisturize Shampoo and Conditioner, and after styling use the AVEENO® Pure Renewal® Dry Shampoo to create texture that will last. After the hot summer, it’s normal to want to cut off those frizzy ends. Shampoo and condition hair with AVEENO® Nourish+ Strengthen to restore vitality, elasticity, and replenish lost moisture.”
9 – Dr. Michael Taylor, Dermatologist, Portland, Maine:
“Just as our hair tends to gray as we mature, our skin begins to lose its ability to hold water. This is true for all of us, though some of us are drier than others, depending upon our genetic make-up. There are also certain conditions that contribute to dryness such as a dry climate, winter in Maine, and the desert in the Southwest, hot showers, heavily chlorinated pools, and occupations that cause the skin to become dry, raw, and cracked such as hair stylists and nurses. People with skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis lack the ability to hold water effectively as part of their condition. If your skin is really dry, you might look for moisturizers that have lactic acid or urea.”
10 – Dr. Susan Resnick, Optometrist, New York City:
“During the winter months the most common complaint is dry, irritated eyes which is influenced by the decrease in humidity, forced air heating, and time spent in front of computer screens. These all contribute to rapid evaporation of the tear film. To help preserve a healthy tear layer and reduce the sensation of dryness, I recommend oil based artificial tears, warm moist compresses, and frequent breaks from computer use. Investing in a room humidifier and avoiding direct exposure to heat vents and dust are also helpful. If contact lens wear is the problem, I recommend talking to your doctor about switching to a contact lens that provides moisture to the eye like ACUVUE® OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses.”
THE ALLURE OF THE AFRICAN BAOBAB
The African Baobab, also known as the “Tree of Life,” is having a beauty moment. Defying botanical mortality, it can live up to 1,000 years (some are 5,000 years old). Found in Africa and Australia, the tree produces fruit called “monkey bread” that is rich in antioxidants, and is now being tapped by beauty companies for use in hair care and skincare.
The reason? Antioxidants. Scientists look for plants that tend to live long or those that live in harsh environmental conditions, and usually these types of plants have high levels of antioxidants or other ingredients that protect them from damage.
Here are three new products to try that contain baobab.
Phyto Baobab Oil ($40)
Photo Credit: Sephora.com
Use this hydrating oil to nourish and moisturize the hair, scalp, and body, the company advises. Ideal for brittle-as-matches hair, this can be used as a pre-shampoo treatment or a leave-in indulgence for increased softness and shine.
Aura Cacia Nighttime Baobab Facial Oil Serum ($15.39)
Photo Credit: Vitacost.com
This night-time facial serum refreshes tired skin, and rejuvenates it after a long day. The baobab in this serum serves to replenish the skin’s natural protective moisture barrier that is lost during the day, with 67% unsaturated essential fatty acids. Ideal after a nighttime cleansing routine, this rich serum is about letting your skin glow after a dose of natural actives.
Shea Moisture Yucca and Baobab Anti-Breakage Masque ($9.99)
Photo Credit: Shea Moisture
Skinny hair, watch out! According to the packaging, this thick treatment is ideal for increasing the girth and volume of fine or limp hair. Leave the masque on for five minutes weekly and apply from roots to hair ends.
COLORED LOCKS GET FALL TREATMENT
As the weather chills and we settle into fall, there’s no reason to settle for hum drum. Changing seasons is the perfect time to amp up the glamour quotient of your hair color.
You can match the colors of the season with a deep, rich hue or keep the summer spirit alive with face-framing highlights. But whatever you choose, colored hair needs extra care. The chemicals—ammonia and peroxide—used to alter color affect the integrity of hair by making it more porous and prone to dryness and breaking.
That’s why it is essential to use products designed for colored hair to maintain it’s structural integrity as well as extend the life of your new color. In addition to using gentler shampoos and conditioners, such as formulas free of sodium laurel sulfate (http://www.beautyinthebag.com/wordpress/?s=sodium+laurel+sulfate&x=47&y=13) daily, you should also incorporate a weekly hair treatment into your regimen.
Here are a few of our favorite hair treatments to repair, strengthen, and protect color-treated locks to guarantee you will rock your new gorgeous hue all season long.
Joico K-Pak Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor ($17)
Photo Credit: joico.com
The Joico K-Pak Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor ($17) incorporates powerful reconstructive technologies to rebuild and strengthen stressed and chemically treated hair. It is formulated with Bio-Advanced Peptide and Quadramine Complex, which help replace lost or depleted amino acids in order to restore hair to its original strength and condition. At first, I was extremely skeptical about the treatment because of its thin, runny consistency, but after a few uses, my extremely stressed and over-bleached hair is softer, shinier, and experiencing less breakage.
Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment ($31)
Photo Caption: aveda.com
I love Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment because it produces results. The formula has a thick, creamy consistency and is packed full of natural quinoa protein as well as phellodendron and barley to repair, seal, and smooth damaged hair from inside out. This weekly treatment with castor, jojoba, and meadowfoam seed oil not only leaves my hair feeling silky smooth but also smells amazingly!
Klorane Leave-In Cream with Desert Date ($14)
Photo Credit: Klorane
Perfect for fortifying hair in a jiffy, the new Klorane Leave-In Cream with Desert Date will help detangle a wet or dry web of unruly hair. Desert date extract is the secret weapon here thanks to its abundance of fatty acids, protein, and polysaccharides that work to stop breakage while repairing dry, damage, brittle, and colored hair. For best results, try the leave-in cream with the Desert Date shampoo and conditioner.
Kerastase Resistance Masque Force Architecte ($62)
Photo Credit: kerastase-usa.com
Kerastase Resistance Masque Force contains Intra-Cylane, Pro-Keratin and Ceramides to fortify hair where it tends to break, fill in gaps found in the core of hair strands, and build a protective barrier to smooth the hair cuticle. While the treatment is a bit on the pricier side, only a small amount of product is needed to help restructure and seal hair for smooth, glossy, and bouncy look.
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