It’s time to correct that summer damage and prepare your skin for winter. Here are Dermacare Direct’s Top Skincare Tips for the colder months.

Tip #1

Exfoliating any dead skin cells and remove sun-damaged skin cells to reveal fresh, healthy radiant skin

There are so many benefits to exfoliation. Primarily exfoliation helps to remove the dead skin cells on the outer surface of the skin, which stimulates the growth of new elastic fibres & collagen in the deep basal cell layer of the dermis. These new cells are plumper, firmer and have more moisture. Revealing newer skin underneath that has a healthy and radiant glow because it has not been exposed to the elements.

By exfoliating, the top skin layers also help for better penetration of other treatments and skin products to get further into the skin so they can be more effective.

Most skin types need encouragement with exfoliation:

• With oily skin, the oil tends to saturate the dead skin cells, which makes it difficult for these dead skin cells to fall naturally.
• Dry skin tends to let dead skin cells accumulate too quickly, which can make skin look dry and dull.

Exfoliation will help remove blackheads, whiteheads and clogged pores, which can lead to acne.

Chemical exfoliators contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid, beta hydroxy acids or retinoic acid (retinol)

These exfoliates can be found in a variety of skincare products like cleansers, moisturises and treatment products.

At-home Microdermabrasion treatment can give you more exfoliation than AHA’s and will give you that instant skin rejuvenation.

Whether it is twice daily mild exfoliation or once a week moderate exfoliation needs to become an ongoing regular treatment and becomes part of your skincare regime to maintain the results and keep removing dead skin cells & clogged pores.

Having many dead skin cells on your skin stops the production of new skin cells, which means that instead of your skin getting better it actually begins to worsen if the dead skin cells are not removed effectively.

Tip #2 Hydrate from inside and out

Over-exposure of the skin during the summer may mean that it’s suffering from dehydration. The moisture lost needs to be properly supplemented before the onset of winter. Moisturise at least twice daily after cleansing. Dry, normal and combination skin types may use a light serum, gel or lotion. For drier skin types, choose a thicker cream-based moisturiser meant for dry skin.

Along with your facial skin, you need to take care of your body also. Be sure to take short warm baths and apply moisturiser to your damp skin.

Don’t forget your lips too, they often get dehydrated and dry. One of my Favourites is the SkinCeuticals AOX Lip Complex.

Summer means dehydration and therefore more water intake for replenishing the moisture lost, but that should not change once the temperatures drop. In fact, you should continue to drink at least eight glasses of water a day throughout the year, irrespective of seasonal changes. This will help you to flush out the body toxins better thereby ensuring problem-free skin.

Tip #3 PROTECT – Sunscreen isn’t just for Summer

Wearing Sunscreen Every Day Can Make You Look Younger, It’s true.

The best beauty tip anyone can ever give you is to wear an SPF sunscreen every day, even when it is grey and cloudy outside as damaging.

UVA and UVB rays can penetrate clouds and glass. It is important to choose a sunscreen that protects against both as they can both damage your skin. So just because the sun is no longer shining please remember to apply your sunscreen every morning.

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