By Mary Hayse, Licensed Esthetician
The holidays are approaching and you want your skin to sparkle and shine. Unfortunately, the holidays come at the time of year when our skin looks the dullest because of the colder weather, dry heat from the furnace, and lack of sunshine. There are also the holiday parties where we overindulge, and that keep us up later than usual. Add to those facts the added stress of trying to get all of the shopping, baking, and holiday preparations in place, and our skin doesn’t stand a chance — unless we actually add taking care of our skin to our “holiday to-do-list.” Following is a countdown to Christmas to make your skin rival even the brightest star on the Christmas tree.
During the first week of December, it is a good idea to reevaluate the daily products you are using on your skin. Now might be the time to switch to a creamy, non-foaming cleanser, so that oils aren’t stripped from the skin twice a day when you cleanse (Yes, I said twice a day). If you aren’t already, start using topical peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and retinol. Peptides are “nature’s Botox.” They are proven to smooth and relax the skin. They send the skin cells signals to produce more collagen. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance in the body that binds moisture to the skin. It plumps and hydrates the skin, and keeps it young looking. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is necessary for collagen-stimulating fibroblast activity. Retinols regulate cell turnover, boost internal moisture, and cause collagen and elastin production. Also, take a look at your moisturizer — you may have to switch to a thicker, more moisturizing one. You want to use your cleanser, peptides, vitamin C, and moisturizer in the morning. Your nighttime regime will be cleanser, hyaluronic acid, retinol, and moisturizer.
Once you have a good daily winter skin care regime in place, realize that it literally only takes two minutes in the morning, and two minutes at night to follow through with it. Make it a part of your December routine, and it will make a big difference in the way your skin looks by Christmas.
The first week of December is also a good time to start a regular exfoliation and masque night. One night a week, use a gentle exfoliant to “scrub” the dead skin from the surface of the face. You only need to spend about three minutes doing this. Rinse the exfoliant, and apply a masque that is appropriate for your skin type. While the masque is on your face, use the time to wrap presents, create to-do lists, or take 20 minutes to relax and de-stress. During the winter months, look for a masque that contains moisture rich ingredients, such as Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and lactic acid.
The second week of December is a great time to schedule a professional exfoliation. My favorite exfoliation right now is a new treatment on the market called OxyGeneo. OxyGeneo exfoliates and oxygenates the skin, while infusing nutrients into the skin. When the specialized head comes in contact with the skin rejuvenating gel, which includes peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin c, retinol, and brightening agents, a reaction occurs, producing a layer of CO2 micro bubbles that oxygenate the skin, stimulate circulation, and cause penetration of the nutrients in the gel. Other good exfoliations are microdermabrasions and chemical exfoliations. Chemical exfoliations can cause some flaking, however, so you want to be sure you don’t have a big holiday party the week of a chemical exfoliation.
The third week of December, you can step up your at-home exfoliation and masque to two times a week. You can use a hydrating masque one night, and a stimulating masque for your second treatment of the week. Any masque that causes an increase in circulation is great, because it will firm and plump the skin while giving it a natural glow.
There you have it — easy steps you can take to have your skin glowing for the holidays. Wishing everyone a beautiful holiday season!
Make your appointment for beautiful skin for the holidays! Set up a consultation with Mary Hayse to determine what products and treatments are best for your specific skin type. Call 309-360-9035 to set up an appointment today, or visit www.infuseskinandbody.com.
Photo courtesy of Infuse Skin and Body