Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Winter Skin


These first questions are great for us to start with. We are deep into winter now, and these are things we all need to know.


Q: Dear Adriana, I just moved to Portland from Southern California in October and my skin is so dry, I was hoping you could recommend a good moisturizer that works with your Oregon climate.

A: Yes, it is true you will need to slightly adjust your regimen to fit our Pacific Northwest climate, but before we talk moisturizers, I would like to address the reason I believe your skin is dry in the first place.
During the summer months, even if we wear sunscreen, our skin tans and we develop a thick layer of dead skin cells. If we don’t effectively get rid of this dead skin, any moisturizer we use will simply lay on top of the dead skin, doing nothing and wasting your product!
So, before purchasing a new moisturizer, I would recommend purchasing a new exfoliant. It always comes back to exfoliation, ladies! As I mentioned before, enzymes are my favorite, because they are so gentle and effective. Hopefully you will find that once you get rid of that yucky dry skin left over from the summer, you may not need to buy a new moisturizer, the one you already have could be enough. If, though, you find it isn’t, I would recommend using the one you already have for daytime and investing in a good, rich night cream. You can always ask for samples at skincare counters and spas, then you can try them at home before investing. To find out if the product is right for your skin type, try this test: cleanse your skin and apply the moisturizer. Wait 10 minutes. Now open you’re your mouth as wide as it will go. Notice if your skin is pulling uncomfortably or if it is stretching easily. If it is uncomfortable, you need to get a moisturizer that is oil based (as opposed to water based.) and includes ingredients such as shea butter, hyaluronic acid, or glycerin. Try Jan Marini Skin Research’s Recover -E or PCA Skin’s PHaze 20 Silkcoat Balm. These moisturizers are very rich and should be enough to help your skin adjust to its new climate.








Q: Dear Adriana, Do I really have to wear sunscreen in the winter? There is no sun! And it clogs my skin up when I put it on, so what’s the point?



A: Yes. Most definitely you need to wear sunscreen in the winter. In the winter months the sun’s rotation is closer to the earth, creating stronger UV rays. “But our region is cloudy!” You say. Those pesky UV rays penetrate clouds, as well as glass, so even on a day of just driving around in your car; you must remember to protect yourself. Always, always, always.
This might blow your mind: the skin cancer rate in the Pacific Northwest is about on par with those of the rest of the country, so this proves that even though we don’t have as many months of intense sunshine as other states, we are just as exposed and the risks are the same.
Simply having an SPF factor in your make-up is not enough. The major reason being, we tend not to apply make-up on our necks and chests, which are incredibly important areas to protect.
Look for a sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These minerals are “physical blockers,” which means they reflect the UV rays away. They are also very good for the skin and won’t clog pores.
The moisturizers these days that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as its sun protection ingredient are quite good, and if you get one in a moisturizer that is oil free you shouldn’t have any problems with pore clogging. Remember, too, that just like the summer months, you want to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours.
Even better than sunscreen in a moisturizer, my favorite sunscreen products are Sun Defense from Eminence Organics and Instant Mineral Powder Sunscreen from Peter Thomas Roth. They are both mineral powders that are applied on top of your make-up, have a sun protection factor of 30, and their handy brush and powder all-in-one tube can be thrown in your purse for super easy re-application throughout the day! Everyone needs to be carrying these. Put ‘em in your purse ladies and use ‘em!












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