Winter Skin Care:

Well for those individuals in the northern climates they are in the depths of winter. Winter can be a great time of cozy hibernation in front of a warm fire or wonderful winter sports that invigorate the senses. But for your skin it is a harsh time that can cause lasting damage.  So here are a few tips to protect your skin from the winter onslaught of environmental effects.

You might notice a tightness of the skin or superficial inflammation. Eczema can also be more frequent.

1. Limit Water Loss: In the winter months the air is typically more dry and internal heating typically decreases the overall humidity in your house. Your skin is a permeable membrane that can lose water to the outside dry air. This is called TEWL, in medical terms, or trans-epidermal-water- loss. This is an important time to limit water loss which can create dryness of the skin and increase issues like irritation, eczema, flakiness of the skin. You can limit water loss with several methods.
   • Humidify: Moisturizing the air in your home limits water loss. This may mean a good humidifier for the house but especially in your bedroom.
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   • Apply a good night cream after bathing can help trap the moisture within your skin.  JJ Killer Skin Ninja Marine Night Restore can protect the skin for excessive moisture loss. You can use it on all areas that need deep protection such as the face, hands, knees of feet.
   • Increase your water intake. Appropriate water intake replenishes any water loss of your skin. Keep hydrated!
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2. Using a Light Cleanser:  Be gentle. Overly aggressive cleansing can injure the overlying protection of your skin and thus do more damage, especially in dry conditions.  Light cleansing at night to wash away grime that may have accumulated during the day. In the morning you might only rinse your face with water to prevent loss of the natural moisturizers created by your skin.
   • JJ’s killer Skin Assassin Gentle Exfoliating Wash is a light cleanser has rounded beads of Jojoba esters that help lightly to exfoliate the older layers of the skin while the natural oils help to protect and lock in moisture. This product is ideal for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
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3. Limit Injury. Long hot showers sound nice but they can damage the outer layers of the skin and increase water loss. Limit the temperature of your showers or harsh soaps that may injure your skin and make it more prone to irritation.
4. Protection. Cover your face! This may mean scarves or other barriers that protect the skin from the winter winds. You may want to use a heavier moisturizer even in the day time. Be careful with lip balms that increase irritation. A good lip cover with natural creams is best.
5. Protect your skin from the sun. Remember that even in the winter the sun can also be dangerous to the skin. Some studies say that even in the wither on cloudy days you can get 60% of sun exposure. So, use a good sun screen even on those cold days. Overexposure to sunlight can lead to premature aging of the skin and skin cancer.