Winterize Your Face!
By Barbara Strickland, Certified Para-Medical Esthetician

The seasons are changing and so is your skin. Its time to think about your regime and what you need to do to keep the soft, supple and glowing skin you have had all summer long. I am including some common sense suggestions to get your skin through the cold, frigid air, lack of humidity and dullness that you feel as winter approaches. Your Gelloid Moisture Mask, MSSR Hydrating Moisture Mask, Old Lady Cream, Claw and Paw Cream, Hydrating Emulsion, and SPF25 and SPF 40 all have to be adjusted for the winter or included in your winter program. Some of you did not need moisture and sealants in the summer, but winter is a horse of a different color!

Buffering & Additional Moisturizers

As soon as you start to feel tight, dry, itchy or flaky with your products on, it is time use additional moisture and sealants such as Hydrating Emulsion, Gelloid Moisturizer and Mask, MSSR Hydrating Moisture Mask, Claw and Paw Cream, and Old Lady Cream to replenish moisture loss. Moisture loss can occur from cold air, wind chill, heating without humidification, strenuous physical activity and products like Retina, Retina micro, Renova, Avita, Miracle Zit, Fix Zit, and Smoothing Cream or Gel. Use of these moisture and sealant products helps to calm Acne Rosacea as well.

Gelloid Moisturizer and Mask & MSSR Redefinition Mask

Use your Gelloid or MSSR Hydrating Moisture Mask as a mask every morning as soon as you arise, immediately after exercising or strenuous physical activity, or exposure to the cold weather and wind. It is important that you apply this mask in a very thick coat and leave it on approximately 5-15 minutes or until absorbed. You may leave it on for an hour if you have time and feel like it! It will replace moisture loss that occurs from exercise, perspiration, windburn, and dry heat. The masks remove dry skin and takes away itchy, flaky, and tight looking skin. It may also be used as a moisturizer over your SPF25 , Old Lady Cream, and Smoothing Cream in the morning, or over your Smoothing Cream in the evening.

Hydrating Emulsion

Hydrating Emulsion is an excellent moisturizer even for oily skin that is dehydrated. It absorbs instantly because of the cold pressed Aloe Vera, hydrolyzed Sunflower and Safflower oil, and Hyaluronic acid used in the formulation. It is safe for even the most delicate of skins and is used under Old Lady Cream to hydrate the skin morning and evening!

Old Lady Cream

Old Lady Cream makes an excellent sealant when used over SPF25 , and under Smoothing Cream in the morning, under Smoothing Cream, Retina, retina micro, Avita and/or Miracle Zit or Fix Zit at night and over Gelloid Moisturizer, and Hydrating Emulsion. It literally forms an occlusive film and stops moisture loss. It also relieves dry, irritated skin from Retina, Renova, Avita, Fix Zit and Miracle Zit.

Claw and Paw Cream

This plain and simple product (beeswax, mineral oil, and lanolin) is wonderful for elimination of dry, itchy, and flaking skin, as well as the exposure to sun, wind-chill factors, and cold weather. Claw and Paw works exceptionally well on psoriasis and eczema to reduce irritation and dryness from these areas. Use it on your face when swimming to avoid moisture loss, worsening of acne, and irritation from chlorine or salt in the pool or ocean. Use it on your feet to get rid of dryness and dead skin cells (keratinocytes or flakes). Apply twice daily or when needed for soft, supple, and glowing skin! Claw and Paw also makes a great buffer when lightly applied under Miracle Zit/Fix Zit or retina products.

Humidifiers and Water Softeners

Use a sonic cool or warm air humidifier as soon as you turn on your heating in the autumn. One for the office is advisable as well. I also recommend one for the bedroom, especially if you are using Retina, Renova, Smoothing Cream or Gel, Miracle Zit, Fix Zit and/or have had Laser or Cosmetic Surgery. A water softener is a wonderful addition to your body and face products. You will find that with these two additions your skin, hair, and eyes will look and feel softer, smoother and have an incredible glow.

Facials

It is more than just a massage, candles, privacy, ambiance, and one hour and fifteen minutes entirely for you. For those of you who are doing everything (well, almost anyway) listed above and/or have dry or aging skin, FACIALS are not an option...they are a necessity. A facial removes excess dead skin cells, infuses moisture, and removes blackheads, whiteheads, etc. from the surface of the skin. For those of you who are not regular monthly facial clients, try a facial once a month for three months during the winter and see if you don't notice a huge difference. Always make sure that the esthetician performing your facial does not over massage or use steam to dehydrate your skin or worsen your acne! Make sure that any implements or needles used on your skin have been put through an autoclave because nothing else kills the viruses.

Refrigerated Products and Icing Your Face

It sounds silly, however, icing your face for one minute every evening before the application of Retina, Renova, Micro Retina, Miracle Zit, Fix Zit, Zit Zapper, Mssr 1, 2, or 4%, Smoothing Cream and Gel, and keeping these products in the refrigerator gives you a better result from your products. The ice compacts the skin, reduces swelling, and allows the product to penetrate more quickly.

At Home Peels

Use our famous At Home Peels because as an addition to your regular at home products, it is the easiest and least time consuming method for having smooth, line free, glowing skin for the winter, summer, and holidays. Old Lady cream is an excellent buffer for https://www.zerozits.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AHP_2&Category_Code= winter or summer.

SPF 25 and SPF 40

Summer and winter, SPF25  is a must everyday whether it is sunny, cloudy, raining, or snowing. It protects against UVA (the skin cancer, wrinkle and brown mark rays). UVA travels through windows so you do get exposure in the winter. In addition, 90% of all skin cancers occur on the left side of the face/neck area and the left hand and arm or the driver’s window side!  A word to the wise is sufficient!

SPF 40 is fantastic for golfing, swimming, tennis or any outdoor activity. For both SPF products always re apply after immersion in water just to be on the safe side

Physical Exertion and Exercise

Always carry a Cool It Bag (even in the dead of winter) to the gym or where ever you work out. Several times during your activity (when you have a break) wipe down your face, neck, and chest with the cold, wet towel. It feels great, is totally refreshing, and removes the excess salts and acids (from perspiration), which dry and irritate your skin. It calms your skin reducing irritation, dryness, and inflammation (swelling) especially for those of you on medications (Retina, Micro retina, Renova, Avita, Accutane, Miracle Zit/Fix Zit) or with Acne or Acne Rosacea.

Cleanse skin with Facial Shampoo and use your Gelloid when finished with the activity. Always reapply SPF25  or 40 and moisturizer before going back outside!