By Erin Lukas, Instyle
As we change our wardrobes according to the season, our skincare
routines also need to make the transition. To deal with frigid winter
climates, our cotton and silk tops don’t quite cut it, so we layer up
with cozy cashmere and wool. Our complexions also need backup since some
of the products in our regular lineups are too light to shield our skin
from harsh winds and unpredictable temperatures.
If your skin is still dry and cracked despite
slathering on richer creams, you don’t have to give up and hibernate
until the first day of spring. But, it might be time to think outside
the beauty aisle to effectively treat seasonal skin woes. InStyle turned to Lauren Abramowitz, founder of New York City’s Park Avenue Skin Solutions
for five treatment suggestions you can do in-office and at home that
will help combat dehydrated winter skin, and also target year-long
problem areas.
1) Boost Your Products’ Effectiveness With Ultrasound Therapy
If
you’re still experiencing excessive dryness even though you’ve been
using rich, hydrating creams throughout the cold weather, it doesn’t
mean your products aren’t working. “Our skin has a protective function
that only allows a small amount of active ingredients to reach the upper
and deeper dermal layers,” explains Abramowitz. To ensure your skin
gets a proper delivery of your products’ active ingredients, like
hyaluronic acid (a plumping and hydrating humectant), an in-office
ultrasound therapy treatment enhances skin penetration. The treatment,
which harnesses sonic waves above the limit of human hearing, is
non-invasive and safe—especially for cold weather months.
2) Add Squalane Into Your Daily Skincare Routine
Moisture
is the key to healthy, glowing skin but your regular products sometimes
aren’t enough during winter, and you need a stronger hydrating
ingredient. Enter squalane: It’s one of the many natural lipids your
body produces to lubricate and protect skin. The powerhouse ingredient
is also commonly sourced from plants like olives and wheat bran.
Since it’s a natural emollient and antioxidant,
squalane is a highly effective hydrator and makes a great moisturizer
during the winter months when your skin is extra parched. Abramowitz
suggests incorporating squalane into your winter skincare regimen by
applying it to your face twice daily to lock in moisture and heal dry
patches. Replace your moisturizer during colder months with Dr. Peter
Thomas Roth’s Oilless Oil 100 Percent Purified Squalane ($38; anthropologie.com).
Although it has an oil-like consistency, this squalane product rapidly
absorbs into skin, so you can quickly apply makeup afterwards.
3) Try a Customized Laser Therapy
No
one’s skin is completely alike, so a complexion-boosting laser
treatment shouldn’t be either. Fractora laser therapy is highly
customizable and the depth of the laser and products used can be
adjusted based on your skin’s needs. This treatment punctures the skin
to create micro-channels that helps serums infuse deeper layers of the
skin for a healthier, hydrated complexion. The treatment isn’t just
limited to easing winter dryness but can also improve firmness,
wrinkles, scars, and photo damage.
4) Target Problem Areas with a Bio-Therapy Formula
Treat
fine lines and wrinkles while fighting dry cold-weather skin by using
bio-therapy moisturizer. Packed with ingredients found in your skin’s
natural chemistry, these multitaskers will help restore your winter-worn
complexion’s glow while fighting common signs of aging.
Abramowitz recommends Replenix Enriched Nighttime Bio-Therapy ($84; dermstore.com)
for its all-star ingredients including ceramides, hyaluronic acid,
green tea, and peptides. Apply it in the evening following cleansing,
and let the cream work its magic while you’re sleeping.
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