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Winter is upon us, and as temperatures and humidity levels drop, it is important to have your winter regimen on deck. Whether you live in a freezing cold climate or a mild balmy one, skin needs more hydration during the winter months. With just a few minor adjustments and additions you will be able to ensure a dewy, glowing complexion all winter long.

The truth about winter:

  • Humidity levels drop
  • Hot showers dry skin out
  • Covering your face with a scarf (or a mask) will help protect against environmental elements like wind, snow and sun.
  • Oil is a friend to your skin
  • Hydration after bathing is imperative for soft, healthy skin
  • Switching your regimen up is a good thing

6 THINGS TO TRY THIS WINTER SEASON

Be Cool

Invest in a humidifier. Humidity levels drop during the winter months, which can lead to dry skin, eyes, hair, nails static hair and nosebleeds. Add in artificial heat and you don’t stand a chance!  A humidifier will add humidity back into the air, helping to reverse some of the damage. Cool vapor is the best bet to not only feeling better but looking better too. We recommend leaving it on all the time so that your home maintains an even level of humidity, but if that is not possible, at least sleep with it on!

Bottoms Up

Staying hydrated from the inside out is crucial to maintain glowing and hydrated skin. Increase your liquid ingestion during the winter. Think teas, water, green juice and healthy soups. Watch your caffeine and alcohol intake as both are diuretics causing your body to create more urine and thus dehydrating you.

No hot showers

Hot water removes more moisture and oil from the skin than cool or warm showers. Hot water can also irritate skin, cause redness and aggregate already sensitive skin and rashes. Try to take warm showers instead of steamy hot ones. If you’re thinking a hot shower will feel good after a brutally cold day, a good trick is to turn the shower on very hot and let the bathroom steam up. Then step inside the bathroom and get warm. Then turn the shower back down to a warm temperature. Hot water will dry skin out more.

In the Buff

Always apply your body serum, moisturizer or oil to damp skin. This will allow the skin to capture and seal in moisture. Don’t forget those extra dry areas (hands, feet & elbows).

Switch it Up

Take a look at your cleansing and exfoliation regimen. If you’re an exfoliation junkie particularly with physical scrubs, decrease the frequency of use during the winter. Instead try a chemical exfoliator 1-2 times a week, like our Fresh-A-Peel. If you live in a very cold or dry climate 1 day a week may be plenty.  On the other days, a gentle cleanser will be just fine.

Try trading your Retinol product for a serum loaded with a medley of supercharged ingredients to attack pollution and provide superior antioxidant protection. Superstar ingredients like Ferulic Acid, which increases the blood flow of superficial tissues, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), which reduces the appearance of brown spots and boosts collagen production while reducing inflammation, Vitamin B, which increases the production of ceramides and fatty acids (two important components of the skin’s outer protective barrier and Vitamin E, which increases overall hydration to the skin while aiding in healing. All found in our multi-functioning Brightening Elixir Serum.

Try adding an oil into your winter regimen to get extra hydration and protection. Look for plant-based, cold-pressed, pure oils, such as Baobob, Kalahari, Mongogo and Marula, which all contain Vitamin A, C, E and essential fatty acids and omegas. Our Fleuressence Native Botanical Oil offers all these and more.

Don’t forget your lips

Chapped lips are a serious issue during the winter for many people. As with your winter skincare regimen, the lips need a winter plan too. Did you know that the lips are the driest place on the body? The lips do not have sebaceous glands or sweat glands. Here are a few tips to get ahead of the game.

  1. Sleep with a humidifier on as this adds humidity to the air (hydration)!
  2. Gently exfoliate the lips with a lip scrub or warm water and washcloth.
  3. Wear an SPF on the lips. UV rays are still prevalent during the winter months.
  4. Do not lick, bite or pick your lips.
  5. Stay hydrated. Humidity drops during the winter so drink fluids and lots of water.
  6. Cover up! If it’s windy or cold wear a scarf around your mouth and nose area.
  7. Be on the lookout for our highly anticipated lip treatment launching this Spring!

By Kaitlyn McLintock

Here’s a fun (read: frightening) activity. Sit back and add up the amount of time you spend working on your computer on any given day. Take that number and add the amount of time you spend on your phone. Add any remaining screen time, including but not limited to Netflix binges, online shopping, and time spent scrolling through news sites. The number you end up represents how long your skin is being exposed to potentially damaging light emitted from digital devices. This high energy visible light (HEV light), otherwise referred to as blue light, could be affecting the health of your skin in more ways than one.

Research tells us that blue light can cause skin damage. More specifically, it can cause hyperpigmentation and premature signs of aging. It causes the former by inducing inconsistent melanin production in the skin. It causes the latter by exposing your cells to oxidative stress, or free radicals, which damage the collagen in your skin, leading to such signs of aging as fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.

That’s the bad news, but there’s good news, too. There are steps you can take to minimize the effect of blue light. From keeping an eye on your screen time to using antioxidant-rich skincare products, keep reading to learn more about how to care for your skin in the digital age.

Reduce Screen Time (If You Can)

The first and most obvious step in protecting your skin from an exorbitant amount of blue light exposure is to minimize your screen time. Even though that’s not always feasible when it comes to professional life (especially if, due to recent events, your laptop has become your office), there are ways to stay conscious of the time you’re spending on screens for other reasons. For example, limit time spent scrolling through social media to a few minutes each day. Track your screen time on your phone. Schedule screen-free time in your calendar, so you feel the freedom to walk away from your computer for a specific amount of time. At the very least, switch your phone display to night shift, which minimizes the amount of blue light it emanates.

Make Sure You’re Getting Enough Sleep

Because there’s evidence that blue light disrupts our natural circadian rhythm (aka our sleep-wake cycle), it’s important to prioritize sleep, especially if you’re spending most of your day staring at a screen. After all, research links sleep deprivation with acceleration in physical signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. Sleep deprivation could also harm our skin’s natural reparative processes, meaning damage and inflammation could ensue from not getting enough shut-eye.

Load Up on Antioxidant Protection

We’ve already discussed how blue light exposes your skin to oxidative stress, or free radicals, which can damage collagen and lead to physical signs of aging. Antioxidants prevent free radicals from damaging the skin, which is the reason antioxidant-rich ingredients are so prevalent in blue light skincare products.

The efficacy of antioxidant-rich skincare is exactly why Dr. Goldfaden formulated the Mist Rx Daily Nutrient Face Mist with aloe vera, kale sprout water, Kakadu plum, and plant & fruit stem cells—all of which have antioxidant properties to fight free radical damage, thus mitigating the harmful effects of blue light on our skin.

While these blue-light-blocking tactics are all worth practicing, it’s important to note that our main source of blue light exposure is from the sun (and no, sunscreen won’t necessarily protect your skin. Remember that sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB rays, not HEV…). This is something to keep in mind, lest we panic and blame our ceaseless Zoom meetings for damaging our skin beyond repair. It’s likely that our skin is happy and healthy if we remain conscious of our health and lifestyle habits, focus on getting good, quality sleep, nourish our skin with the right protective skincare products, and schedule regular check-ins with a dermatologist.

ABOUT THE WRITER:

Kaitlyn McLintock is a beauty and wellness writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in such publications as Popsugar, Byrdie, Hello Giggles, Who What Wear, and more. When she’s not writing, researching, and editing, or testing out the latest skincare and makeup products, she’s drinking coffee and spritzing Goldfaden’s Mist RX all over her skin.

As fall approaches, our beauty regimen and routine might involve some changes. Whether you have spent your summer days under the beaming sun tanning or packing your skin with Vitamin-C infused serums, your glowing complexion can transition into the fall season. Sometimes adopting a minimalist approach toward skincare can reap more benefits than adding a load of beauty products. But also, you need to change your lifestyle to reclaim your skin’s natural health. Many beauty specialists swear by the “less is more” motto and embracing a sustainable skincare regimen leads to lasting results.

Colder temperatures call for a switch in our beauty habits. From the things we consume to the time we go to sleep, our daily habits influence our health. A natural beauty routine is the right solution for treating long-term skin issues. Here are the best tips to refresh your skincare in 2020.

Win at sleep

Put a halt to sleep deprivation and set up a bed schedule. Your body has a natural sleep cycle and a regular sleep schedule can help your skin restore its natural beauty. To get you in a sleeping mode, ban electronics two hours before bed and avoid fatty foods before hitting the sack. Instead, eat almonds which help boost sleep quality and use a silk mask to help you fall asleep faster.

Moisturize and protect your skin from sun damage

We recommend using a heavier cream like ​Goldfaden’s Wake Up Call​ for a night treatment while resting. This cream targets dry and aging skin while smoothing fine lines. Dermatologist and skin expert, Dr. Alicia Barba says “If you suffer from dry skin, avoid hot showers and choose a lurk warm temperature which prevents stripping away our skin’s natural moisture.” Also, always use sunscreen even if it’s cloudy outside. UV rays can still harm your skin during colder months.

Freshen up your skincare routine

Tailor your skincare regimen according to your lifestyle. When it comes to skin detoxing, more is not always better. A mistake most people make is over-exfoliating their skin. Too much exfoliation can strip the skin from its natural oil. ​Goldfaden’s Fresh A Peel​ contains lactic acid and multi-fruit enzymes to balance your skin tone and reduce the appearance of lines and pores. A monthly hydration treatment can also help boost your skin glow. In addition, choose a water-based cleanser like gel or foam, which help remove dead skin cells.

Apply hyaluronic acid

A hyaluronic acid serum helps restore the skin’s moisture barrier while providing more glow. Is important to always layer your serum with a water-based moisturizer to protect the skin’s microbiome.

Use probiotic-based formulas

Probiotics are the answer to target skin issues such as eczema, breakouts and psoriasis. These microorganisms serve as a shield to environmental factors while protecting your skin from bad bacteria.

Try a supergreen diet

A healthier diet is key to battling acne, reduce inflammation and boost your immunity for healthy skin. Reclaim your skin health with power foods such as tomatoes, pumpkin and broccoli. After all, you are what you eat and your meal’s composition can be the solution for cleaner skin. Research conducted by the ​American Journal of Clinical Dermatology​ has proven how diet plays a role in our lives and concluded a correlation between acne and dairy. Choose milk alternatives such as oat milk or soy, and replace cheese for a free-lactose option.

Invest in a blue light device

The FDA has proven blue light therapy to be effective for acne treatment. Blue light devices help target acne-causing bacteria by drying the oil that causes the germs. This is a non-invasive treatment you can try at home while saving money on the dermatologist.

Movement is key

Aside from exercising daily, it is important we move our facial muscles too. Imagine working out your face muscles every day? It boosts your collagen production and your muscles will get more toned. To improve your skin’s sculpture, massage your face with circular motions or use a lymphatic massage roller to boost skin cells.

 

ABOUT THE WRITER:

Jannely Espinal is a curious writer and editor demystifying beauty myths. She has a penchant for fashion history and cultural beauty practices. Recently, she conducted interviews with skincare specialists and celebrities for HOLA! USA, as well as spearheading the lifestyle vertical. Throughout her career, she has attended Milan and New York Fashion Week while unveiling several celebrities’ beauty tips, including Romee Strijd and Patrick Ta. Her mission is to change the narrative on skincare issues and help her readers understand health, wellness and beauty as a whole.