The winter months, with the harsh wind, cold rain and lack of sun can affect our skin condition, making it look dull, old and lifeless. To prepare our skin for the nicer weather ahead, there are some basic things that we can do to make sure it will look the best it can, and now is the best time freshen up the skin and revive our complexion.
First of all you need to sort out your creams and lotions. Get out all of your bottles, tubes and jars and review them one by one and any creams or lotions that are past their expiry date or you no longer use or want, then throw them out. If any creams are old, or past their best, then they could actually be harbouring harmful bacteria, and this can lead to clogged pores and dull skin. Skin care products have a certain shelf life, so if you don’t use them, throw them away.
Ideally, you should also review your daily skin care products. In the warmer months you tend to use moisturisers and creams that are lighter in texture, than those that you wear in the winter months. Lots of people tend to buy the same items every year, but what worked for your skin in your twenties, won’t necessarily work for you in your thirties or forties. Makeup brushes should also be regularly cleaned as they can store unwanted germs and viruses, so you should ideally wash your brushes weekly with hand soap and dry them out with a hair-dryer.
Exfoliating your skin will get rid of the dead skin cells, and this will help to stimulate cell turnover, making your skin smoother, healthier and ready to absorb your moisturiser and face creams. Spring isn’t the time for harsh facial scrubs, it’s time for a gentle exfoliation routine using a soft cleansing cloth.
Once the winter is over you can change your skin care routine to suit the kinder months, you must remember to keep using lip balm. You can change the thicker winter balm for a lighter one, but hydration for the lips is essential. If you stop using it, you might end up with dry, chapped lips that will take longer to repair, than to prevent.
If you feel that your skin is looking dull and tired, you can visit a professional skin care professional and get a deep cleansing facial treatment. A deep exfoliation will help strip away your dull, tired skin, revealing the new fresh skin underneath. Removing the outer skin cells which are dead and damaged, will show the new skin, just in time for spring.
Chemical peels and microdermabrasion will strip back the skin’s dead layers, targeting sun-damaged skin, blocked pores and fine lines, getting your skin ready for creams and lotions to penetrate deeper, as well as giving your skin a revitalising treatment, and leaving you looking rejuvenated.