When you travel to cooler climates, take these three steps to protect your face
With winter on its way, dry, chapped skin is a bigger concern for many people this time of year, due to lower humidity. Even though Miami has a humid climate, many will travel to drier climates over the winter season and will need to strengthen your skin’s natural barrier to protect against dry, damaged skin.
Here are my top tips to strengthen your skin barrier this winter.
Use a barrier repair moisturizer
Barrier repair moisturizers that contain a 1:1:1 ratio of three different lipid types — ceramides, fatty acids and cholesterol — mimic the lipid structure found in your skin’s own natural barrier.
This barrier is responsible for keeping water inside the skin rather than allowing it to evaporate into the air, as well as protecting against bacteria, irritants and allergens. Dry winter air is known to decrease skin barrier function, which is why using a barrier repair moisturizer is so important this time of year.
Use a creamy cleanser
Chapped skin is another common problem in the winter months, especially for skiers and snowboarders. Cold, windy conditions can damage the skin barrier, leaving you with inflamed and painful chapped skin.
To avoid this, always cover your face with a ski mask or scarf during winter sports like skiing. Switch to a creamy, moisturizing cleanser if you are struggling with dry, chapped skin. Foaming cleansers strip the skin of its natural oils, causing more dryness.
Pay attention to the water you use to wash your face
The type and temperature of water you use to wash your face can also impact dryness. Use lukewarm water to wash your face. Very hot or very cold water can both cause inflammation and barrier damage.
While many Baumann Skin Types can tolerate tap water just fine, some sensitive skin types can experience irritation caused by minerals like calcium found in tap water. If you have sensitive, dry skin, consider using filtered water or micellar water to wash your face.
Bottom line
Whether you are in Miami, Colorado, Utah or my hometown, Lubbock, Texas, don’t let the dryness injure your skin barrier this winter. Plan ahead and make sure you have a barrier repair moisturizer with you when you travel.
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