True or false: Dry skin is the result of not drinking enough water. Not necessarily true, says Dr. Karen Dover, a laser and cosmetic medicine specialist in Ottawa. “We get dry skin in winter in part because the relative humidity is diminished, “she says. “Lower humidity, added to your sun and wind exposure, will alter the skin’s barrier function and its ability to protect the body.” Here are Dover’s tips for ensuring you have smooth, moist and healthy skin throughout the winter to decrease skin’s moisture loss.
• Run a humidifier in your home throughout the winter.
• Unless you have oily skin, take warm rather than hot showers.
• Apply a good moisturizer within three minutes of bathing or
showering. “It maximizes the absorption of the moisturizer and
ultimately the protective benefit,” she says. “The moisturizer
also wears off with exfoliation, so reapply it throughout the
day.”
• Buy a top-quality moisturizer. “A good moisturizer should have
the three essential components. First it should have an occlusive,
such as petrolatum, silicone or lanolin, depending on your skin
type. This significantly decreases the loss of moisture from the
skin,” she says. “There should also be a humectant, such as propylene
glycol, which draws fluid from your body up to the skin’s surface,
giving your skin that plump feeling, while diminishing wrinkles.
Finally, an emollient, such as jojoba, fills in the crevices and
creates that smooth and silky textural sensation.”
The healthier your skin as you head into winter, the better your chances of the season with comfortable, beautiful skin. For very dry skin on arms and legs, Dover recommends Cetaphil Daily Advance. To keep your face well moisturized, she suggests Moisturizing Soufflé from Skin Effects (with SPF 30) or creams by Vivier, Jouviance, La Roche-Posay or Aveeno.