Preparing Your Skin for Spring
By Kim Whittaker, Licensed Aesthetician
As winter is hopefully coming to a close and the anticipation of spring offers a glimmer of optimism, preparations begin to “renew” not only our spirits, but our skin as well. Centre Yourself medical spa offers some tips on how to shed the dead winter skin and prepare it for the spring thaw.
Dry, Chapped Lips: Avoid products like Carmex and Chapstick. These may protect lips from the elements, but they do not provide moisture. In fact, they can make your lips even drier. Choose a lip balm or lip moisturizer, such as Jane Iredale's Lip Drink. Also, avoid licking your lips.
Dry Skin (Body): Avoid hot showers and baths and abandon the harsh bar soap. Choose instead a creamy, moisturizing body wash or handmade soap, such as goat’s milk or “superfatted” soap. Exfoliate 1-2 times a week with a body scrub to remove dry, flaky skin. Do not use a loofah, as they can harbor bacteria after just one use.
Apply a hydrating body lotion or cream containing ingredients such as avocado oil, olive oil, or shea butter. Alternatively, a spray oil is an excellent option for hydrating dry skin. Look for a dry oil or sesame, jojoba, or evening primrose oil.
Dry Skin (Face): Body products are not interchangeable with products for the face. The skin in this area is very different and requires a specific set of products for the face only. Once or twice a week exfoliation is important to slough dry skin. Always use a scrub with perfectly round beads. Never use a scrub containing seeds or nut shells, as they can tear the skin.
Switch to a creamy cleanser such as Centre Yourself’s NeutraCleanse. You should never feel tight or dry after washing your face. Add a humectant serum to your regimen. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid attract water in the skin and keep it from drying out. Try Centre Yourself’s Hydrapeptide Gel. This can be applied underneath a thicker, richer, moisturizer that is oil based rather than water based. Centre Yourself’s Dermal Restore Cream is an excellent choice.
Treat yourself at Centre Yourself Medical Spa and opt for a chemical peel or microdermabrasion. Either of these treatments will remove surface cells and excess skin build up. A laser procedure such as Laser Genesis can rejuvenate the skin and offer improvement of diffuse redness, large pores and uneven skin texture. You will leave feeling smooth, radiant and ready for spring!
Hands & Feet: The harsh winter can really take its toll on our extremities; namely our hands and feet. At night, lather up feet and hands with a thick, rich moisturizer. Place white cotton gloves on hands and cotton socks on feet. This will keep the extremities moisturized all night long and you will awaken with soft smooth skin!
To prevent these areas from becoming dry and cracked moisturize regularly, wear gloves when cleaning and doing dishes. Use gentle, moisturizing soap to wash hands, and if you use a hand sanitizer, choose one with moisturizers.
If dry skin persists or worsens consult your skin care professional at Centre Yourself medical spa. We can thoroughly analyze your skin and make recommendations suitable for your needs.
Elkhart Office
RIVERPOINTE MEDICAL BUILDING500 ARCADE AVE., SUITE 300
ELKHART, IN 46514
PHONE: 574-296-9100
FAX: 574-293-1511
Mishawaka Office
611 East Douglas Road, Suite 108Mishawaka, IN 46545
PHONE: 574-968-9100
FAX: 574-243-1141
