Now that winter is here, our skin goes through quite a few changes. The weather is cooler, the morning showers we take are hotter, humidity drops, we might stop wearing sunscreen (although we hope not) and we throw on our winter woolies… and all the while, we expect our skin should just adapt… we can just keep doing the same routine as we do all year, year after year – yes? It’s a resounding no from me and here’s why…
The top of the top layers of your skin (epidermis) is called the stratum corneum and this top layer has a transdermal barrier…to prevent as much water loss as possible. It’s the first line of defense against water loss and it’s a hardworking little barrier too. And here were thinking that drinking 2 litres of water a day, is a good way to keep up that moisture in your skin and that’s how your skin stays moisturised… I’ve heard this many times. But actually, there is a very minimal amount that comes out of your drink bottle and goes to your skin. Don’t get me wrong, water is amazing and we should all be drinking plenty. It’s just that your skin must compete with all of your other organs, which is fine, because of your transdermal barrier, sitting at the front lines, protecting you from moisture loss.
"Drinking water has minimal benefit for the skin. Drinking water is essential for the health of your organs but unfortunately your skin is at the bottom of the priority list!"
But in the winter, your skin faces the harsh realities of TEWL… or Transepidermal Water Loss. The skin becomes drier and sometimes itchy. The texture on the surface of your skin can be unbalanced and rough. As the winter sets in, your barrier becomes vulnerable. The same can be said about aging, but more about that another time. I hope by now, I've set the stage for today’s hero: the almighty moisturiser!
I think every skincare product and device should have at least two functions and the right moisturiser should not only be immediately hydrating to the surface of your skin, but it must also should help your skin by having it’s own barrier to minimise moisture loss.
Remember when you last purchased a moisturiser? You might have a favourite already or you might have looked at the label for a description of its function. It might have said something like deeply nourishing' and thought that sounds good. Not many go shopping for moisturiser looking for a specific type. Well, stand by... Im about to change the way you shop for moisturiser!
Moisturisers actually fall under three types - Humectants, Emollients and Occlusives.
Humectants... Coming from the word 'humid', attract water. Examples include glycerin, hyaluronic (hy-al-u-ron-ic) acid and glycolic acid. All skin types need to attract water, so a goad moisturiser will feature a humectant. In Mia Belle's First Light Hydrating Creme for example, the humectant used is aloe vera and glycerol as humectants. If your moisturiser does not have a humectant... It is not a moisturiser!
Emollients... Best for dry skin, emollients smooth the outermost layer of your skin by filling in the gaps in the skin. Examples of emollients include squalene, ceramides, oleic and linoleic acids. And again in the First Light Hydrating Creme, squalene is the emollient used.
Occlusives... These are so good for people with psoriasis or eczema and also great for dry skin types. This is often the missing link in Moisturisers and without it, there is no extra barrier of protection from winter (or any other season for that matter!) conditions. And for First Light Hydrating Crème Users, there is good news because your moisturiser is filled with a strong barrier of occlusive ingredients, including sunflower seed, jojoba and argan oils
In winter, its good to change your skincare routine... Supercharge your skin with a moisturiser with all three elements and if you have oily skin, even in winter, have a chat (use the chat box!) and we can create the perfect routine for you.
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