The skin is the first line of defense against external attacks such as the sun, the wind, the cold or even germs and pollution. It is also the largest organ in the human body with a total surface area of between 1.8 and 2m²in adulthood for a weight of about 3kg. This protective element is composed of70% water27.5% protein, 2% fat and 0.5% of a mixture of trace elements and mineral salts.
“To have skin that is both beautiful and healthy, one-off treatments are not enough.It is important to adopt a daily and tailor-made routine according to the type of skin and its possible tendency“, explains Alice Delvaille in her book “Take care of your face” published by Alpen.
According to the expert, the essential beauty gestures for the epidermis consist of:
“When temperatures drop and the wind turns icy, a new daily routine is in order! In winter, the skin tends to feel tight and dry out. The cold gives a drier appearance to the skin.It also causes water loss, desquamation and a lack of cohesion between the cells of the stratum corneum.
“Your skin therefore needs softness and a good dose of hydration”, warns the author. She details the good habits to adopt to protect your skin during the winter season.
Hydration of the skin: a “shock cure” against the cold
Wind and cold tend to dry out the skin. A good hydration helps strengthen the protection of the epidermis.
“Schematically, apply the following routine!Give your skin a targeted “shock” treatment the moment it feels out of breath: anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant active ingredients that rebalance the defense system”, explains Alice Delvaille.
Her special winter skin beauty advice: “combine day creamto apply in the morning after rinsing your face,night creamto apply before going to bed and lip balm to use throughout the day without moderation. Don’t forget to swap your usual make-up remover for a 100% gentle milk”. A care product in milk version is thicker and nourishing. It thus brings an additional protective film to the skin of the face.
Tight skin: bet on vegetable oils
An epidermis regularly subjected to the onslaught of negative temperatures and wind tends to become much less flexible and lose elasticity. It is then common to have the impression that your skin is tight.
Faced with this feeling, you have to bet on “the comfort and generosity of nutritious vegetable oilsto be chosen according to your skin type”, specifies Alice Delvaille.
Dry skin should turn to:
- I’sweet almond vegetable oil: it penetrates the epidermis very easily. Only a few drops are enough.
- I’Argan Oil: it is rich in vitamin E and various fatty acids. These compounds allow it to soften the skin and boost its hydration.
- I’jojoba oil: it is known to deeply moisturize the skin, boost collagen production and calm inflammation.
For oily skin, it is recommended to use:
- I’rosehip oil: rich in essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6 and 9), vitamin E and beta-carotene, it has important softening, antioxidant and anti-aging properties.
- I’grapeseed carrier oil: it contains many antioxidants.
Space out scrubs in winter
The scrub allows you to get rid of dead cells that are on the epidermis. This treatment offers healthier, softer and brighter skin. It also helps fade stains, marks and even some scars. Whether done mechanically (cream with beads) or chemically (peeling), it is normally advisable to exfoliate only once a week. Nevertheless,it is best to review this timing in the winter.
“During the whole “bad season” (roughly between November and March),do not hesitate to space out the scrubs(eight to ten days between each session) to prevent the skin from drying out”, advises Alice Delvaille, author of “Take care of your face”(ed Alpen).
Other advice:”a scrub is always done on clean skin and is therefore done after cleaning the skin”.
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