Q&A: Winter Complexion Woes

photo by Minnaloushe

How do i keep my skin from looking "blah" this time of year? 

it's definitely not an easy thing to do, but trying to keep stress down to a minimum is certainly going to benefit the health of your skin. when you're upset or stressed, your brain releases a hormone called Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF). this causes you to feel almost "wired" in a sense, since it's your body's natural emergency response. (aka: adrenaline!) this in turn puts you in a constant "alert" mode, which if you've experienced it, exhausts you quite easily! it then affects your surface adrenal glands, and can cause both irritated flakiness, or an overproduction of oil. (oh no, breakouts!) so, to break it down: stressed-out-skin = tired, dull and unhappy! 

Try: thinking of things for only you that help you cope with the holiday stresses. take a warm bubble bath after your long day at work, (or with the in-laws!). take your mind off of things with an interesting book, and your favorite cup of hot tea. once you find one or two things that relax you and make you happy, (even if it's for only 20 minutes of your day!) you can start to deal with your current troubles a little easier. 

you'd think it wouldn't be a problem, especially since it gets dark around the crack of five o'clock! but 2 out of 3 women have trouble sleeping at night. statistically if you think about it, that's a LOT! there are many factors that play into the role of sleeping, but these are more common and can be avoided:

-stress can hinder sleep (there it is again!)

-napping during the day, which disturbs your internal-clock, and throws off your schedule. 

-drinking caffeine close to bedtime. 

Try: turning your lights down about an hour before you go to bed, and keeping music and tv on a low volume. heck, even turn the thing of! tv and computer screens keep your mind busy and awake, and could keep you up longer than you need to be. 

my lambie i got from work! it's soft, cuddly, and sure to help anyone get to sleep. i just got the new lambie eyemask; tomorrow's post!

you see drinking plenty of water as a given during the summer, but the same should apply for the winter as well. your skin has more of a tendency to "dry-out" and chap during the colder months, so drink your 8-10 glasses of water a day! (or de-caffeinated tea!) 

and for an extra boost, try my absolute faaavorite hydrating facial mask. it's a clear, cool gel mask from Juvena that hydrates and smoothes your skin. it's even good for acneic and break-out prone skin, as well. it's basically like slathering your skin with a moisturizing watery... blanket! it's so easy, too. before bedtime and after cleansing, i just slap on some of that mask, let it soak in for 15 minutes, blot off and go to bed! simple, no? another excellent choice is Dermalogica's Hydrating masque. it's chalk-full of vitamins A, C, and E, which are necessary for healthy skin. it's oil-free, and replenishes skin perfectly at the same time. also, moisturize! my favorite nighttime facial moisturizer is of course, Murad's Essential C night moisture. since i have combination skin, you'd think this shea butter-rich concoction would be ridiculous and too oily, but it's perfect! oh, and don't forget your lip balm! 

try trading up your current cleanser (if you don't already have a fabulous one) for a more hydrating, soothing cleanser. im in love with Murad's Refreshing Cleanser, which is perfect for taking off your makeup, and giving your skin a healthy glow! 

(my secret to clear skin? i double-cleanse my face each time! wash once for 60 seconds for the first initial layer of dirt and makeup, then a second to get into your pores and leave your skin the healthiest it can be. i also switch off and on to an exfoliating cleanser, and exfoliate 2x a week. more info on exfoliating!) 

i hope this helps!