Dry Winter Skin: What the pros do

Dry Winter Skin: What the pros do

By Mary Kelley

It’s the second full week of January: well past the beginning of our New England winter weather. Oddly enough, it wasn’t until last week’s single digits and snow squalls that I felt winter was finally upon us. Sure, I drove to Vermont on Thanksgiving Day in a snow storm to perform treatments on dear friends who wanted to know how to take care of their skin during the colder months. Both Dream Spa Medical locations have been busy with clients who also want to know the secrets to healthy skin during cold and dark days. Products were sold, treatments were performed, holidays were celebrated, and the temperatures were cursed often and with great emphasis. However, I didn’t really notice that winter was upon us until last week.

How is that possible you ask? There were snow squalls, there were frozen roads, sidewalks, and stairs, there were winter holidays, there was even homemade eggnog…but, I forgot about all of that. I was too busy taking care of my clients and advising friends and family on how to care for their winter skin, so busy, in fact, that I forgot to take care of my own skin. I did all of the wrong things: blasting the heater in my car, drinking too much coffee and not nearly enough water, luxuriating in steaming hot showers and putting my face directly in the spray, bedtimes came and went without removing my making (a cardinal sin!), and—horror of all horrors!—I forgot to change my own skincare routine.

I was not treating my body’s largest organ with respect and I was paying the price. My hands, elbows, and upper arms developed patches of dry, flaky skin. I was dehydrated inside and out. The worst part for me was my face. I have sensitive skin that skews towards dry/dehydrated on the best of days. At this point, my cheeks had turned to sandpaper, my forehead itched from lack of moisture, and my overall skin tone was dull instead of my normal glowing alabaster.

But what to do? I looked back at the advice I gave to my clients and friends and decided to take a bite out of the skincare gems I had been dishing out for 2 months. I knew I needed more hydration. The simple fact is that just drinking more water is not going to cut it; we need to hydrate our skin from the outside in. In order for my skin to accept hydration from serums, creams, and treatments, I had to first remove the dead skin that was causing flaking and dullness. Now, due to my sensitive skin issues, I knew I had to tread carefully. Contemplating my options for exfoliation (chemical peels, enzyme treatments, derma planning, exfoliating masques, etc.) I wisely chose a HydraFacial. A HydraFacial gently exfoliates and hydrates the skin with little to no irritation and would put me on the path to restoring my skin to its previously healthy and glowing state.

After removing my skin with a creamy cleanser (Image’s Vital C Hydrating Cleanser) using sponges and tepid water, I got down to business. 20 minutes later, this was my result (second photo above).

Disconcertingly gross? Yes. Great result? Double yes.

Look at that liquid. Even though I removed my makeup, some traces were left behind and you can see how the dry, dead skin discolored the serums. This is why I use a Clarisonic brush at home; it cleans 6 times more effectively than sponges, cloths, or just plain fingers. See the darker spots floating in the middle of the canister? That’s not dirt on the canister, that’s from my face. Some flakes are dry skin, others are blackheads that had taken up residence along my jawline. Surprisingly, as the debris began to settle at the bottom of the canister (you can see where it gets darker), I did have some excess oil that began to separate and rise to the top. Even the most dehydrated, sensitive skins can suffer from too much oil. Oil production is the skin’s defense mechanism when it is lacking water. There is nothing wrong with your skin producing oil, but when your skin is not treated well, an overabundance of oil can be problematic instead of helpful.

How did I look afterwards?

I was more pink than usual but the skin on my cheeks and forehead felt softer and looked well hydrated. I followed up with Phyto Corrective Gel, a complexion calming serum from SkinCeuticals, and a hydrating sunscreen with an SPF of 30—the sun is still shining even when it’s cold out!

But, this is not the end of my journey. One HydraFacial can make an immediate difference but for long-term skin health in the winter time, I know I need to make a few resolutions. I use a creamy cleanser all year round—my favorite is Vital C Hydrating Cleanser from Image but I also like SkinCeutical’s Gentle Cleanser. I am recommitting to using SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic after cleansing to protect my skin from free radical damage and add hydration. At night, I am removing my making and cleansing my skin with my Clarisonic and I follow up with a very hydrating crème. I love using The Max Stem Cell Crème from Image or SkinCeutical’s Renew Overnight Dry. A water bottle accompanies me wherever I go and I am turning the heat down in the car and in the shower. To keep my body exfoliated and hydrated, I use a Clarisonic Pro with a brush head designed for the body and apply a good body moisturizer the minute I step out of the shower.

My daily routine is simple and I plan on keeping my weekly treatments simple as well. HydraFacial treatments are gentle enough for weekly sessions and I plan on using that as my maintenance protocol for 6 weeks. My homecare arsenal also contains a hydrating enzyme masque for gentle exfoliation, a resurfacing masque with glycolic acid for greater exfoliation. Proper exfoliating is essential if I want to keep my skin primed and ready to receive all the hydration it needs. All of this sounds time consuming but it’s not. Most days, my routine takes 10 minutes total (5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes at night). On days where I add a masque, it’s another 10 minutes at the end of the day—I use my masques after cleansing for the night and only leave them on long enough to brush my teeth and change into my pajamas.

Are you like me? Have you forgotten to take care of your skin? Not sure how to adjust your skincare and treatments to the seasonal weather? Dream Spa Medical offers amazing products and treatments that can be customized for your specific skin concerns. Our consultations are free and when you do have a treatment with us, we extend a 25% discount towards first time purchases. It is important to keep all skin types hydrated this time of year but because most of us aren’t spending time out of doors, this is the perfect time to address pigmentation concerns, have that chemical peel you can’t do in the summer, take advantage of laser treatments, and, in general, respect your skin.

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