3 tips for your snow day

• January 12, 2020

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…

While you could always stay inside when it’s snowing and sip hot cocoa by the fire, it’s a lot more fun to go outside and enjoy the winter wonderland! Whether you’re skiing, sledding or building a snowman, you might enjoy the refreshing cold that’s tantalizing to the senses. But remember that your skin must be prepared for all this fun, because the even though we love the cold, it can be very harmful to our complexion.

So while you’re packing your overnight bag, have a quick look at Dr. Costi’s 3 skin care tips for your snow day.

1. Before you go
Plump up and get ready!
On the night before you go, make sure to drink an extra glass of water, or two. The extra hydration will help with extra moisture for your skin, as well as with fatigue (in case of extreme cold).

Also, avoid exfoliating your skin, and opt for a gentle cleanser before you tone and hydrate.

Apply an overnight mask or serum that will repair and protect your skin’s barrier from the harmful effects of the cold, as well as the effects of the very hot heaters which can dry-out your face.

2. While you’re there
Beware the sunburn!
We love the cold but not only do we sometimes forget to hydrate when it’s cold, we also forget that we still need protection from the sun’s UV rays.
Apply and re-apply Sunscreen! UV rays are the biggest cause of aging skin and they are invisible! Whether in summer or winter, you have to wear sunscreen in order to protect your skin from their harmful effect.

And don’t forget to protect your lips which will crack very easily just like your hands. Whether you’ve washed your hands or your face, be extra sure to dry out completely before going back out in the cold because that’s how you will easily get cracks and flaky skin if the area is still damp. A good idea would be to apply a hand cream every time after washing your hands in extreme weather.

3. Once you get back
Restore the hydration!
Even if there’s nothing more tempting after a long cold day or a roll in the snow, the hot water will actually dehydrate your skin.

Avoid hot baths and very hot showers that can crack the skin causing what we call the “winter itch”. If you do fancy that hot shower after all, Dr. Costi recommends using an oil on your face to trap the moisture in, and then layering with a cream for extra hydration containing either Niacinamide or hyaluronic acid. This goes as well for your body.

If your skin is prone to acne, it is still important to moisturize with natural oils and the proper hydration for your skin type such as noncomedogenic products containing ceramides (check our blog about acne http://drcosti.com/treatment-for-acne-and-acne-scars/)

So hydrate,
hydrate,
hydrate and go have some fun!
And as usual, for any questions you can ask our favorite dermatologist Dr. Costi.