Q. How can I make sure that my skin survives
the winter?
A. Mother Nature's doing that changing-seasons-thing again. But are
we heading into a Winter Wonderland or a Frosty Frightzone?
That depends on whether you're looking at it from your skin's point
of view. While the rest of you may be all giddy, thinking about ski
trips and holiday shopping, your skin is shivering in its boots!
Oh sure, winter doesn't realize it's doing it. It may even start out
with good intentions with that mild Fall thing. But make no
mistake--before it packs its things and goes, it will have taken the
one thing that is most precious to your skin's good looks--moisture.
And the saddest part will be how sneaky winter was. A few dry hands
here. A few chapped lips there. A rough elbow or two. Nothing to
start a fight over...
But by December, the flaky skin will seem to be everywhere. The
chapped lips and hands will begin to be typical. And weren't those
dry cheeks always there? Didn't I always have flaky legs?
Is this the kind of one-sided relationship you want to have with
winter?
Face winter on your terms. First, establish some ground rules:
1. Skin needs to set boundaries: Rosy cheeks are OK. Dry, chapped
skin is not OK.
2. Skin can't give, give, give--not when it comes to moisture.
3. Skin needs attention every day--not just when there is a problem.
To get through winter successfully, skin needs to be soft, yet
strong... able to roll with winter's changing moods, yet not become
moisture-depleted. Make sure your skin goes into this relationship
with the tools it needs to stay balanced and beautiful.
If you have any questions or
comments about this topic, please contact me by
e-mail.
Related Letters:
Middle-Aged Dry, Flaky Skin
Winter Hands
Dry Skin On Elbows and Knees
Alligator Skin
|
