Hydration is Key – Especially in Winter

Drinking water hydrates the body’s cells, reaching as deep as the dermis layer of the skin via blood vessels. However, the outer skin layer (epidermis) requires external hydration to stay moisturized. Harsh winter weather can dehydrate the skin, emphasizing the need for topical hydration.

3 Tips to keep your skin happy and hydrated:

  1. Leave your toner damp on your skin. Use an alcohol-free toner and let your skin enjoy the benefits of humectants and water in the toner. Skin becomes soft and dewy.
  2. Use a serum under the moisturizer. This will take moisturizing to another level. Look for hyaluronic acid, glycerin and panthenol.
  3. Try a gel based mask. Any moisturizing mask will do.

Hydration is imperative to both dry and oily skins. Dry skin needs an oil based moisturizer, while oily skin will benefit from a water based moisturizer. Before deciding on a moisturizer, make sure you know your skin type.

If you are not sure, don’t hesitate to ask for a free virtual consultation.

How do I Choose the Right Moisturizer for My Skin?

Our skin contains both water and sebum (oil). Lack of adequate amount of water leads to dehydration, regardless of the oil content of the skin. Dehydration causes fine lines and wrinkles, flakiness and irritation.

Oily skin can be dehydrated just as much as dry or normal skin. This is why dehydrated oily skin may exhibit fine lines and flakiness, both caused by dehydration.

When choosing a moisturizer we need to consider the skin type.

Oily Skin needs a hydrator. Hydrators are hygroscopic compounds that attract and bind water. An occlusive moisturizer is also needed in conjunction with the hydrator to protect against water loss. A good example that combines both hydrator and moisturizer is France Laure Balance Sebo-Control AM/PM Gel

Dry Skin can use both hydrators and moisturizers. A combination of both can help to lock in moisture and prevent dryness. A good example is Gernetic Tropo Plus Day Cream

Normal Skin can use either or both, depending on personal preference.

Sensitive Skin will benefit from gentle ingredients, like hyaluronic acid to deliver moisture without irritation. A good example is France Laure Calm Harmonizing Cream.

In order to enhance the hydrating results of any cream we suggest using a serum in conjuction with the cream of your choice. There are several serums that will work very well to that end. For example: Sothys Hydrating Serum, or Hyaluronic Time Erase Complex Serum by Ilike Organics.

Hydrating our skin becomes even more important now, as the cold days are upon us. I already pulled out the humidifier from storage in anticipation. It is also a good time to take stock of our skin care products and adjust the daily regime for winter.

Do’s and Dont’s about Blackheads

Our skin produces sebum (oil) for protection against the elements. Too much sebum results in oily skin, while too little results dry skin.

When sebum comes in contact with air and pollution it oxidizes and the top becomes dark hence the blackhead. The dark, visible part is like a lid on a pot, while the pore below is full of sebum that cannot come out because the top is now hard. Oily and combination skin will have more blackheads, while dry skin has almost none.

Here are some suggestions on how to deal with pesky blackheads:

Don’t try to squeeze them out. You may bruise the skin and the blackhead will still be there, mocking you.

Don’t resort to removal strips. The ingredients on these may irritate the skin and they only remove the top layer, leaving the pore full of sebum.

Don’t use harsh cleansers containing alcohol and avoid rough, grainy exfoliants that may irritate or scratch the skin.

Do cleanse at night with a gentle milk cleanser AND toner or a special face wash. You may use a good facial brush on the areas with blackheads.

Do use a moisturizer suitable for your skin type. Dehydrated oily skin will produce even more oil to compensate for lack of water.

Do visit your esthetician once a month for a thorough cleansing facial.

Do use a face mask once a week.

 

Moisturizers for Oily Skin

Summer is splendid, but oily skin finds it difficult to handle, what with moisturizers and sunscreen, plus make up. It can be very stressing, trying to tone down the shine.

Over the years I had many clients complain that their oily skin became even oilier once they used a moisturizer. The problem is not the skin, just that the product they use is not designed for their skin type, which is oily.

A little anatomy here will help understanding this topic.

Our skin contains a lot of water, which is needed for keeping the skin molecules plump and the interstitial fluid (the “soupy” liquid which surrounds the molecules) at a liquid consistency. We lose water content through moving and generally functioning as living beings. For the body to function well we need to replace the water content. Since water is vital to normal life, the famous 8 glasses we drink are going to go everywhere in the body and the skin is last on the destination list, which means the skin does not necessarily get enough for its needs. This is the reason for using topical moisturizers.

The second important ingredient in the skin beside water is sebum (oil). Sebum is produced by glands located in the skin and its job is to protect the skin from environmental elements, such as dust, bacteria, pollen, etc.

Sebum creates a very thin film on the skin and gives it its “dewy” look.

The sebaceous glands sometimes produce too much sebum and this results in an “oily skin”.

Having an oily skin does not mean the skin needs no water.

When choosing a moisturizer we need to pay attention to which type of skin the moisturizer is for.

Moisturizing cream for oily skin is water based.The moisturizing cream for oily skin is light in texture and will penetrate easily, leaving no film on the skin.

Choosing the right moisturizing cream for oily skin ensures your skin gets hydrated without any negative side effect.

Allowing oily skin to become dehydrated will only result in premature wrinkles, not a very desirable result.

Here are a few Oily Skin Moisturizers we like:

Tropo by Gernetic, Mixed & Oily by Gernetic, Hydra-Matt Fluid by Sothys, Sulphuric Whip Moisturizer by Ilike Organic Skin Care, Oil-Free Moisturizer by Peter Thomas Roth and Clariphase Day/Night Cream by France Laure.

 

 

Moisturizers – We All Need Them

 

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Our skin is a complicated structure, but today we’re only focusing on two basic components : oil and water.

Oil, otherwise known as “sebum” is produced by tiny sebaceous glands. The job of the sebum is to cover the skin like a protective wrap against outside harmful elements, like bacteria, dust, pollution.

Too little oil results in dry skin, while too much oil results in oily skin.

Water is necessary for most of the body functions and is a very large component of every cell. Even if we drink enough for our body, the first organ to lose water content is the skin. This is why we need to moisturize in addition to drinking.

Too little water results in dehydrated skin. This is skin that shows tiny scratches, almost like  they were made by a fine needle, going in all directions. Chronically dehydrated skin will develop wrinkles regardless of age.

OIly skin is very often dehydrated because of harsh, cheap cleansing products which strip the skin not only of too much oil, but also of precious water.

Moisturizers are formulated to respectively suit oily and dry skin and using the wrong moisturizer can result in break outs (oily skin) or diminished but still present dehydration (dry skin).

It is customary to use a moisturizer for day time because our various activities will invariably result in water loss. In addition to replacing water, moisturizers are also protecting the skin against water loss.

Many moisturizers contain SPF, which saves us the use of 2 products instead of just one. The problem here is that SPF needs to be re-applied during the day and no one I know is ready to take off their make up in mid-day, just to re-apply moisturizer!!

The solution is to use mineral powders with SPF and apply this several times a day.

I look forward to your comments and questions. Have a great week!