There are many ways to save your skin

  • 2009-11-04
  • By Ella Karapetyan

TALLINN - According to skin care specialists, there are several things that can contribute to the health of your skin. One of the most important factors is weather. The climate which you experience may play a big part in the health of your skin. The weather should also help you to determine how to take care of your skin.

People associate skin problems with the summer months, when heat rash and sunburn strike, and sweat can lead to skin breakouts. But many people are not aware that the driving rain, harsh winds and cold spells that signal the start of winter can play havoc with our skin as well.
Another common skin complaint in winter is caused by temperature changes: from the frosty outdoors to centrally heated buildings. The regular transition from warm buses and cars to the cold weather outside can play havoc with your skin.

Here are some tips from Tiina Paal, (skin care specialist, cosmetologist and make-up designer who has been working for many years at Chanel in Estonia), on how to keep your skin beautiful and healthy during winter in Estonia.
"As the Estonian autumn and winter time is especially fickle and uncertain, causing the skin to flame and dry, I would suggest to start the skin treatment with multiple products. What is especially important is skin purification and makeup removal; cleansing lotion, cleansing milk and in our climate definitely exfoliating cream and a good mask," Paal told The Baltic Times.

 "I would highly recommend to use facial masks, use serums under creams to intensify the effect of the cream and what is even more important, to find an appropriate and comfortable facial cream. But it is in no way less important to take care of the skin of your body. Almost half of the year our body is covered in warm clothes, which often results in dry skin that tends to flake off, so I would recommend to exfoliate and mask the skin a couple of times a week," she explained.

Say No to Chapped Lips and Dry Hands
Skin care specialists say that lips and hands usually suffer most during the winter season. Lips get sore and chapped and hands get dry and flaky. For your lips it is recommended to choose a thicker moisturizer with jojoba or avocado oil and apply it every time before going outside as well as before going to bed.

Some protective and moisturizing lip care products are available as tinted glosses or balms.
It is also very important to take special care of your hands since skin on the hands is thinner than on the rest of the body.

In addition, hands are often exposed to stressful or stripping factors like soaps, wind, water, etc. And finally, it is a known fact that hands are among the first to show signs of aging. Choose a rich emollient-based hand care product and treat your hands to a mask two times a week.
According to some doctors, home or office environments in winter can get very dry due to heating. Your skin starts to feel tight and burning from dehydration. So doctors advise to increase the humidity level indoors by using a humidifier. Alternatively, several house plants can balance out the humidity level in the environment.

Vitamins and Antioxidants
Another method to help your skin to regain its energy and strength in winter is to take an antioxidant supplement. Important antioxidants for the skin are vitamins C, B, E, zinc and magnesium.

Stay Active
It is also desirable not to give in to winter blues, but to do your daily fitness routine! This keeps you fit and stimulates blood circulation in your whole body, and of course your skin.

Hot bubbly Escapes
It is not recommended to have prolonged hot showers or long hot baths in winter. The fact is that the latter do not add to the moisture level of our skin but on the contrary take away the protecting lipid and fat layers and contribute to skin's dehydration.
When you shower make sure the water is not too hot and use shower milk that contains oils and emollients. If you are a fan of bubble baths as a way to escape the winter blues make sure to add moisturizing oils to the bath and apply a moisturizing body product afterwards.

Peel Deal
If you are a fan of daily peeling products, it is advisable to change your routine for winter and to do a maximum of 2-3 peelings per week. Peeling your skin surface on a daily basis does not let it restore its protective lipid barrier and balance itself. It becomes more susceptible to free radical damage and even to break-outs. If you notice that your skin has become very dry, sensitive or even starts flaking, exclude moisturizers or serums containing peeling ingredients.