Winter won’t get the better of my skin!
With the very first winter chills, your skin feels dry, sensitive and loses elasticity. Strained by changes in temperature, your skin needs some extra loving, nourishing and soothing care.
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“During winter it’s absolutely essential to reinforce the skin’s hydration, and to do this, you need to choose high intensity moisturizing creams,” explains Alain Geloën, scientific communication advisor for Nivea and research director at CNRS.
Nourishing balms, intensive care and moisturizing creams thus become your best friends to ensure that your skin stays soft, supple and wonderfully smooth during the harsh winter months.
The skin: a protective barrier against winter weather
Physically, chemically and biologically speaking, the skin is a real barrier against external aggressions. When the temperature drops, the skin is exposed to temperatures much lower than the 37.5°C that our body constantly maintains. The result when it gets really cold?
“The organism accepts to reduce the temperature of its peripheral regions, which is why we start feeling the cold in the extremities (exposed skin, hands, nose, feet…),” explains Alain Geloën. This exposed skin thus finds itself with less blood flow and less oxygen, meaning the skin is less nourished and its normal cellular activity is also reduced.
Under the impact of the cold, the skin dries out and has a harder time regenerating. "Regular exposition, even occasional, to the cold puts the skin in a position where its dehydration is accelerated,” says Alain Geloën. These alterations provoke visible changes to the skin, such as wrinkles, dullness and a lack of suppleness.
Luminous skin during winter's dark days
So what is the secret of a beautiful winter skin? Moisturize, moisturize and then moisturize some more! During winter, you should go for nourishing creams that leave a fatty film on the skin, thus limiting the loss of hydration – no matter what your skin type. Even oily skin is adversely affected by winter weather.
To get the most effective one, our expert advises opting for creams, “… capable of boosting the skin’s metabolism, such as those containing creatine (energizing) and powerful anti-oxidants.
4 winter skin care favourites
- Rich nourishing body moisturiser from Nivea: a rich balm ideal during the heart of winter, which has immediate long-lasting nourishing qualities. For 24 hours, your skin is protected soothed, gets back its smoothness and is silky to the touch. 250ml, £5.19
- Shea butter hand repair cream from Burt’s Bees: 100% natural, this hand cream nourishes and protects the skin, helping them stay soft and young-looking. The Shea butter intensively hydrates the skin, nails and cuticles, the Macadamia nut oil and Rose nourish the skin and the Lavender and Orange blossom essential oils leave a lovely fresh feeling on the your hands. 90g, £11.99
- Nourishing regenerating honey balm from Sanoflore: A creamy texture with delicious perfume and softening virtues, this organic balm regenerates and soothes even the driest and most delicate skin, including skin already damaged by the cold. 50ml, £20.35
- Expert repair balm with Shea butter from Yves Rocher: With a rich and unctuous texture, this balm nourishes and repairs the skin intensely. Your skin is soothed and like new again. 150ml, £10.50
Thanks to: Alain Geloën, Communication Advisor for Nivea and Research Director at the CNRS
Copyright © 2011 Doctissimo
Posted 25.01.2012
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