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Friday, September 11, 2009
by Skincare-news.com team
Regardless of your skin type, your skin reacts to the weather, and when cool temperatures come to town, it’s time for a change. To prepare for the fall, here’s a list of 10 strategies that help protect your skin, restore its radiance and keep it healthy.
- Choose creamier products.
Whether your skin is dry, combo or oily-prone, switching to a milder, moisturizing face wash helps prevent moisture loss. Using soap or foaming cleansers can strip the skin of essential lipids, writes renowned dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., on her Yahoo! Health blog. More drying products might have been OK in the summer when your complexion was oilier, but they’ll likely be too harsh for your skin now. Cooler temps and low humidity rob all skin types of moisture. Consider using a non-water-based cleanser, suggests Real Simple.
Up the hydration with your moisturizer, too, because it can help keep your complexion smooth and supple. Oily types may find that lotions are still superior, but dry complexions should seek a cream or ointment. Ointments are oil-based moisturizers, which provide even more hydration than a cream; they envelope skin in a protective layer that helps to retain moisture, according to WebMD. When searching out the type of oil, WebMD suggests looking for the following: “avocado oil, mineral oil, primrose oil, or almond oil.” You can also use these oils by themselves. They’re usually available at health food stores and most grocery stores. If you have super-dry skin, try out extra virgin olive oil, but skip it if your skin is acneic.
Also, keep in mind that you don’t need to apply moisturizer to your entire face. If you have an oily or combination complexion, use moisturizer on dry areas (usually the cheeks) and avoid greasy spots like the T-zone.
- Reach for a rich body cleanser and cream. A highly hydrating product doesn’t just stop with the face. The drier, cooler weather plucks moisture from your entire body. To retain moisture, look for a luxurious, creamy body wash and all-over moisturizer. After your shower or bath, apply cream to damp skin within three minutes to seal in moisture. ATOPALM Body Wash maintains your skin’s pH balance and drenches it in moisture. Plus, it’s ideal for dry, sensitive skin. Follow with L’Occitane Shea Butter Body Lotion, which boasts 15 percent shea butter, natural honey and apricot oil, to nourish and hydrate the skin.
- Pick a gentler exfoliant. Your skin contends with a lot during the summer months: Heat and humidity churn out loads of oil, the sun leaves skin dull and sunscreen can clog pores. Fortunately, an exfoliant can help. It removes your skin’s lifeless outer layer and clears out the pores, notes Ladies’ Home Journal. Even if your skin is oily and clogged, however, avoid overly abrasive scrubs and opt for a scrub with smooth, rounded particles that won’t irritate the skin, such as Ole Henriksen New Beginning Scrub. Scrubbing too hard can also backfire, according to the magazine: It scratches the skin and creates a dull complexion.
- Go easy on self-tanner. Summer is the perfect time to fake a tan, but come the fall, your bronzed skin may look a little out of place. You can still enjoy your self-tanner, but don’t apply as much or pick a color that’s closer to your natural skin tone. Or skip self-tanner altogether, and sweep on a touch of bronzer. Here’s a how-to on applying self-tanner and bronzer so you get it right.
- See a dermatologist to evaluate your skin. With sunny days a staple in the summer, you’ve no doubt been out and about. Whether you’ve hit the beach, lounged by the pool or enjoyed a range of outdoor activities, you’ve exposed your skin to damaging UV rays. Schedule an appointment with a dermatologist for your annual skincare checkup. He or she will evaluate your skin for any suspicious spots, growths or moles. To keep skin safe, here’s what you need to know: the ABC’s of melanoma, applying sunscreen to neglected spots and avoiding indoor tanning.
- Continue using sunscreen. Just because the weather cools down and the sun isn’t as strong doesn’t mean you should put away your sunscreen. Sun protection is a mainstay in your routine year-round. For everyday exposure, sunscreen with SPF 15 is OK, but if you’re spending a longer day outside, go with SPF 30 at a minimum (and reapply every one to two hours, depending on if you’re sweating or swimming). To learn more about protecting your skin, take a detailed look at sunscreen.
- Diminish discoloration. Being out in the sun can give you your fair share of spots. To repair an uneven complexion, consider products with hydroquinone or kojic acid, which effectively reduces sun spots. PCA SKIN pHaze 13 Pigment Gel incorporates both ingredients along with alpha hydroxy acid to exfoliate the skin and hinder hyperpigmentation. You also may want to consult your dermatologist about a prescription-strength product. For more on lightening sun spots, see here.
- Clear out summer products. Got certain products that you only use in the summer? Or skincare that’s probably seen better days? Comb through your beauty bag and bathroom cabinets for any clutter. Fortunately, you don’t need a clean-up crew to get your space and face organized. Check out these easy steps for sorting out your skincare along with pointers on when to pitch products and how to prolong their life. For two steps you can do right now: Peruse your place for expired products and toss any spoiled skincare immediately.
- Fix your feet. After months of strolling along the shore and donning on flip-flops, your feet are long overdue for a session of pampering. Spoil and rejuvenate them with an at-home pedicure. Here’s a simple guide to keep feet looking and feeling fabulous. Also, exfoliate your feet once a week with a body or foot scrub and slather on a rich cream after washing.
- Adopt an antioxidant. If you aren’t using one already, a product with antioxidants helps shield your skin from the elements by neutralizing free radicals, which can cause wrinkles and sun damage. Consider a serum with antioxidants; serums typically deliver higher concentrations of ingredients to deeper layers of skin. Potent antioxidants include vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, ferulic acid and alpha lipoic acid. Janson Beckett Alpha Lipoic Day Cream fights and repairs free radical damage. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic features both vitamin C and ferulic acid to build collagen and protect against free radicals and premature aging.
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Bliss Ultimate Foot Duo
"This two-step lubing duo makes history of hardened heels, puts corns and calluses on recall, and makes tired feet feel fleet. Makes a great gift!"
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PCA SKIN pHaze 13 Pigment Gel
"Incorporates 2% Hydroquinone with Kojic Acid and Alpha Hydroxy Acid to effectively target bothersome facial brown spots. It simultaneously helps to exfoliate, bleach and inhibit hyperpigmentation."
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Caudalie Gentle Buffing Cream
"This rich scrub eliminates impurities, dead skin cells and excess oil while stimulating cellular renewal. Your complexion's radiance is gently restored and your skin is soft and clean."
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Kerstin Florian Rehydrating Neroli Cleansing Milk
"This moisture-replenishing milk cleanser with pure Neroli Oil, Green Tea and Aloe Vera gently removes impurities as it hydrates even the most sensitive skin. Excellent make-up remover."
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Sundari Gotu Kola and Carrageenan Body Cleanser
"This gentle and effective cleanser contains no sulfates. Infused with herbal extracts and oils, it soothes and increases hydration. This body cleanser is suitable for all skin types and is synthetic fragrance free and synthetic dye free. Scented only with essential oils."
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Caudalie Gentle Buffing Cream
"This rich scrub eliminates impurities, dead skin cells and excess oil while stimulating cellular renewal. Your complexion's radiance is gently restored and your skin is soft and clean."
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