It's finally feeling a little like spring... As I look out the window, roll my eyes, and see flurries of snow. But seriously, it's coming and we have had a few beautiful days that glimpse into our near future. Warmer weather, spring flowers, bright colors; I want it all. I'm one of those people that enjoy the first snow of the year and then I am absolutely finished with that vibe. On to spring I say! My skin is ready for the change in weather, too. Cold weather can wreak havoc on your skin. The low humidity combined with indoor heating depletes the skin of moisture which leads to a laundry list of issues. With the change in season, you should consider making some moves to update your skin routine.
Exfoliation
This may be the most important step and I'm giving it away right up front because I don't want you to miss this. Removing any dead, lingering winter skin is absolutely going to be the first step in intensifying your glow. Proper, regular exfoliation both with at home and professional treatments can transform the skin. It ensures that any serums you may be using to target concerns is working with optimal efficacy. So, let's first discuss some of my favorite skin treatments you can book with your favorite Esthy Bestie [a licensed esthetician and also forever friend].
First up, the Dermaplane Treatment. Trendy for a good reason. When I chat with people, I usually don't have to explain this one. They already know. This is one of those treatments that gives you instant gratification. Using a medical grade scalpel at a specific 45° angle, your skin therapist will remove the top layer of dead skin cells to expose a brighter, smoother complexion. Scalpel sounds scary, but I promise with a well trained esthetician there is absolutely nothing to fear. In fact, you should be pee your pants excited for this treatment and even more excited to see how perfectly your make up will lay after this experience. This is an absolutely IDEAL treatment to receive prior to events. [Brides. I'm looking at you.]. This treatment will definitely make you forget about winter.
Another amazing exfoliation treatment to receive by a professional is Enzyme Therapy. Enzyme therapy stimulates your capillaries by dilating the channels to allow fresh oxygen and blood flow to the face. This treatment is a form of chemical exfoliation and when I say the types of enzyme treatments out there are vast... I mean, there's really a lot going on there. The pH of our skin is roughly 4.5-5.0 and enzyme therapy intentionally introduces acids to the skin in varying degrees off of our natural pH. Meaning, some enzyme treatments are at a pH of 3.8 and you will barely feel it and some are closer to a pH of 2 and you will most definitely feel it. You should be able to speak with your skin therapist and formulate a plan that is best for your skin. With my clients, I typically like to start with a very mild enzyme treatment and work our way up. Protecting the integrity of the skin during chemical treatments should be of the utmost importance to your skin professional.
This therapy, like dermaplaning, will remove any lingering dead skin cells, but in addition, it will also strengthen the skin, detoxify, rejuvenate, brighten, and tighten, while helping revise many skin conditions. This is an ideal therapy for acne sufferers. Introducing oxygen into the dermis will help alleviate any acne condition.
If you can't get to your favorite esthetician, let me help you with a few professional products that can help you exfoliate into spring from the comfort of your own home. Hale and Hush is the only professional grade product line that solely focuses on sensitive skin. The risk of any reaction from their product line is so low and the efficacy is still outstanding. This refine polish is the perfect scrub to help exfoliate those winter skin cells right into spring, but gentle enough for all skin types and conditions.
Please, don't forget your lips or your body. All our skin deserves a little extra exfoliating after a long winter. I recommend Lip Luxe by Mizzi™ Cosmetics and am so excited to be able to offer their products in Nik'd Beauty Studio soon. No, you can't get it from Amazon. It is special, exclusive and effective. For the skin, I have met few products that rival my love for First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA. I was suffering tremendously from KP [Keratosis Pilaris] after my second pregnancy. Hormones can do absolutely wild things to your skin, and mine needed the extra love. I was so impressed with this product, honestly. It isn't often I will rave about over the counter products, but this one deserves it. For my entire body as a whole, I am all for a homemade sugar scrub and dry brush routine. I've been a long time fan of Simply You Candle Co. and their sugar scrubs for years. They're one of my favorite small businesses in our town.
Now let me introduce you to your new favorite at home enzyme treatment.
This product can be used 2-3 times a month. Straight from Glymed, "YOUTH Firm® Age Defying Peel harnesses an exclusive formulation with a 30% Protease Enzyme engineered to mimic the skin’s own naturally occurring Cathepsin-D. This aids in the facilitating AHA peel results without the wounding. A great peel year round as it has been proven in-clinic to produce less than 5% photosensitivity." The fact that you can use this product year round and it produces so little photosensitivity is actually insanely impressive.
Photosensitivity is a promise whenever you use chemical exfoliates. So, proper sun care is extremely important.
Now that we have that covered, the UV rays are going to begin to get a little stronger in our hemisphere. So, again, if you never learn anything from me, learn to protect your skin from the sun. It truly is the most important thing. I suggest adding this into your daily routine regardless of your daily plans. UV rays penetrate windows seamlessly, and making it a habit will ensure you always stay protected. Do not start using exfoliators at home until you are consistent with you SPF routine. You will absolutely cause more harm than good in the long run.
Hydration
The lack of humidity in the winter forces our skin to ask for more. We tend to lean towards heavier lotions and creams in dry months, but with spring on the horizon, it's time to switch to something a little bit lighter. Acne can also naturally pop up with the change in the seasons due to high humidity and warmer weather triggering the skin to sweat and produce more oil. Failing to switch to lighter, more season-appropriate products will increases your chances of experiencing blemishes.
Antioxidants
These should be a staple year round truth be told, but since spring and summer months naturally just bring more sun exposure, I feel it's necessary to mention their importance. Vitamin C can help to decrease sun damage when paired with daily SPF by stabilizing the free radicals generated from UV exposure. Owning a good Vitamin C is like taking out an insurance policy on your sunscreen. Vitamin C and SPF are certainly one of the most iconic skin duos out there. Now, choosing a Vitamin C worth your time and money, that's an entire blog post on it's own. Let's just say, this is one product that is worth the splurge.
Spring clean your beauty stash
I am guilty. I can't even get into this without saying that I am full on, Catherine Zeta Jones in Chicago, guilty of keeping products and make up past their prime. I absolutely take pride in my beauty arsenal, and diminishing it for any reason feels wrong. However, it is necessary and even though it pulls at my heart strings, I do it.
Check expiration dates and deep clean every brush you own. You can check expiration dates by looking for a little open jar symbol and the letter "m" with a number next to it to indicate the number of months a product will last after opening it. Even if the product has not been opened, it can lose efficacy and stability over time. Holding onto to old products and applicators is literally a breeding ground for bacteria, yeast and mold. As you can imagine, this can cause irritation to our skin and contribute to breakouts and a less than glowy glow.
To recap, book a skin treatment or/and invest in amazing exfoliators for at home use, upgrade your SPF routine, switch up how you hydrate your skin, incorporate antioxidants into your regimen, and do some spring cleaning of your beauty goods. I'm ready for warmer weather and I know most of you are, too. Don't forget about yourself when you are getting your home and family ready for a season shift and your skin will absolutely pay you back in a beautiful glow.
