Prelude beauty
WORDS BY CHRISTINA KALLERY
Skin Kind
Swap dull, dry skin for a vibrant, healthy glow with our essential winter skin survival guide.
You may not be heading to a red carpet premiere, but you can still make like an A-lister and get glowing skin—even in the dead of winter. “Cold and dry winter weather tends to strip skin of its moisture,” says Dr Neal Schultz, a New York dermatologist and Clinical Medical Director of Dermatologic Cosmetic Laboratories (www.dclskincare. com). The end result? A fl aky, dull and dry complexion that may also be prone to breakouts, thanks to a surplus of pore-clogging dead cells. Fortunately, a few simple steps can whip skin back into glowing, healthy-looking shape, just in time for that midwinter getaway.
1. Exfoliate
According to Dr Schultz, exfoliation— removing the dead, outer layers of the dermis—remains your best blah-banishing solution. “The uneven texture of dry skin scatters light and decreases radiance. Exfoliation is like taking a piece of raw lumber and turning it into finished wood.”
Exfoliating agents come in two forms: mechanical and chemical.
Mechanical types rely on abrasive materials to scrub away cells, while chemical varieties work by dissolving the dead outer layers. “I prefer chemical treatments, since mechanical exfoliation can lead to skin thickening, which can contribute to blackheads and whiteheads or even aggravate rosacia,” says Schultz, who singles out glycolic acid as a personal favorite. Mechanical exfoliation works well on the rest of the body and on oilier skin types, which tend to be less delicate.
Although in-office methods like microdermabrasion and high potency peels produce the most dramatic results, at-home exfoliators can go a long way toward keeping skin smooth, radiant and clog-free. Just be sure to choose a product suited to your particular complexion and don’t get overzealous. “Some tend to think that if a little is good, more is even better,” Schultz cautions.
Good chemical exfoliators include Stallex Glycolic Therapy 8 Clear-Control Solution for Face www.parkavenueskincare.com or Aloette Restorative Enzyme Peel www.aloette.com. Comfort Zone Fruity Peel store.bluegiraffespa.com helps remove dead cells and rejuvenate skin on the body.
Mechanical exfoliators include Nuxe Spa Tonific Body Exfoliating Shower Gel www.beautyexclusive.com, Pür Minerals Derma-Glow www.purminerals.com and the DermaNew Classic Personal Microdermabrasion System www.dermanew.com. For a gentler alternative, try the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush www.sharperimage.com, which deep-cleans and helps clarify skin without stripping.
2. Protect and moisturize
After you’ve smoothed the skin’s surface, it’s time to apply a protective coating. Oilier, acne-prone types should choose a facial moisturizer marked “oil-free” or “non-comedogenic.” For the body, choose a lotion or cream that spreads easily— ideally in a luscious-smelling scent.
A few yummy options: Archipelago Botanicals Body Lotion in White Sugar & Mango www.drugstore.com, Pure Hapa Sweet Pineapple Sugar Cream www.purehapa.com and Carol’s Daughter Almond Cookie Body Balm www.carolsdaughter.com.
3. Conceal flaws and highlight
For a high-watt glow, mix a highlighter in with your regular moisturizer or try one of the shimmer-infused lotions. Not only will skin look more radiant, the light-refl ecting particles help disguise imperfections. To further amp up your sex appeal, spot-apply to collarbones, arms and shoulders.
Try Nivea Body Silky Shimmer Lotion www.drugstore.com and the golden shimmer dry oil Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR www.beautyexclusive.com.
| Afinal note: Never compare yourself to celebrity pics. The reason? Retouching. As Dr Schultz puts it, “People shouldn’t aspire to what they see in the press because it’s not real. But everyone can have beautiful skin.” |