Hello everyone!
This is my first blog post.. ever! yay! And what a better way to start this series than to discuss winter skin care.
Many people think makeup can cover anything... WRONG. Makeup does have some powerful capabilities to mask a lot of problems, but to achieve that flawless look, you need to make sure you are taking good care of your skin (even if you were born with nice skin:) <--Those are the worst offenders!
Here in Chicago we have had a pretty mild winter, many would consider us lucky to have missed big snow storms and 0 degree days... But we've had a horrible winter for our skin. With all the back and forth of low temperatures to 50 degree days, snow, and then rain and then cold, dry, windy days! It's horrible! Our hands and faces are rebelling!
So here are some basics you should know to keep your skin glowing and healthy in the hardest of times:
1. Most important: EXFOLIATE!
*So many women I meet neglect this step and it's so important to do! I exfoliate all year long, usually once a week during the hotter months and up to 3 times a week during the cooler months. Exfoliating is important because it is a gentle scrub that sloughs off dead skin cells. If you neglect to do this, those skin cells continue to pile up and build, creating flakey skin that can be one of the hardest things to cover!
Exfoliate once and you'll see an immediate difference!
*Here are some home remedies for you to try if you haven't found an exfoliant you like yet:
-Baking soda and warm water
*Gently mix and apply with clean hands on your face in small circular motions for a few minutes, rinse and moisturize!
*Here's another quick tip for your lips. It's important not to forget about them! You can easily run your exfoliant over your lips (they also sell lip exfoliants in beauty stores), or you can be sure to brush your lips with your toothbrush after brushing your teeth (which is what I do, cause it's easy to do and remember!). Be sure to apply lip balm when you're finished! xo
2. Second most important: MOISTURIZE!
*Your skin needs moisture from the inside out to help eliminate dryness, wrinkles (yes wrinkles!), and to make your skin glow!
*Drink plenty of water! Especially in these drier months, your body is begging for extra moisture.
*Moisturize daily. I moisturize twice a day, first with a lightweight formula to wear under my makeup and then a night cream before bed. I also use an eye cream as well. Why do you need all these?! I'll break it down:
*Moisturizer: Obvious, your skin needs moisture! Even if you have oily skin and think you don't need it, YOU DO! Buy an oil free product and be sure to do it twice a day. Oily skin produces more oil (which leads to more break outs), because it is making up for a lack of moisture in the skin. So confusing but so true. Luckily for you, having oily skin leads to a youthful face as you get older :)
*Night Cream: Most people use a heavier, more concentrated cream on their faces at night because your body absorbs more of the nutrients while you're sleeping, AND it's generally calling for more moisture than during the day when you're running around!
* Eye Cream: Your eyes don't have oil glands, therefore they don't produce any moisture/oil, which means they age first! Ever notice how crows feet and wrinkles usually pop up first?! So you need a specially formulated eye cream to fight that. Get something that's hydrating and anti aging (retinal) and apply once to two times daily.
*Hate putting chemicals on your face?
There are plenty of natural choices to keep your skin hydrated:
*Do your research! Visit a dermatologist and find what's best for you!
If you take these two steps you can apply them all over your body.. Your hands, feet, legs, back, etc.
So get to it! Good makeup starts with excellent skin care! Enjoy your day!
xoxo Jen
