Q. Thanks to a combination of my hectic schedule, unhealthy food and drink choices, disrupted sleep and this terrible winter weather, my skin has become dry and dull. How can I bring it back to life?
Dr. Linda Miles, D.O.M., responds:
Skin is a reflection of inner health, so all of the factors you mentioned can absolutely take a toll on your appearance. As for winter weather, it’s well known that that cold temperatures, chilly winds and indoor home and car heating can further wreak havoc on your skin.
If your skin is feeling dry and dehydrated, look for formulas with hyaluronic acid. This remarkable ultra-hydrating ingredient moisturizes skin in a way that no other ingredient can. Hyaluronic acid has the ability to attract and bind water molecules to skin, keeping collagen hydrated and healthy.
Start your skincare routine with derma e ®‘s Hydrating Cleanser with Hyaluronic Acid. This formula deeply moisturizes your skin while rinsing away dirt and impurities. For a rich daytime and nighttime moisturizer, try derma e ®‘s Hyaluronic Acid Day Creme and Hyaluronic Acid Night Creme. These formulas restore moisture, plump skin and support healthy collagen and elastin to promote a youthful, natural glow.
For an added nutrient and moisture-rich boost (perfect for this time of year), use derma e ®‘s Hydrating Mask with Hyaluronic Acid once or twice a week. This intensive formula helps quickly deliver deep, long-lasting hydration and replenish dry, thirsty, aging skin.
Dull skin can also be the result of lack of exfoliation. It’s very important to exfoliate skin at least once a week. For a good physical exfoliant, derma e ®‘s mutli-award-winning Microdermabrasion Scrub contains Dead Sea Salt and Volcanic Sand to buff away dull, aging cells and diminish the look of fine lines, wrinkles and acne scars. For a less abrasive exfoliant, derma e ®‘s Evenly Radiant ® Overnight Peel contains a blend of alpha hydroxy acids including glycolic acid and other fruit acids to gently exfoliate and retexturize for soft, smooth and younger-looking skin.
Also, dull skin can be the result of uneven skin tone, and age and sun damage. To help diminish the look of discoloration and brighten your complexion, look for products with skin-brightening botanicals as well as anti-aging antioxidants to help keep skin protected. derma e ®‘s Evenly Radiant ® line (Cleanser, Toner, Day Crème SPF 15, Night Crème and Dark Circle Eye Crème) contains an Intensive Skin Brightening Complex with active plant stem cells from the madonna lily to help even skin tone and diminish the look of age and dark spots and discoloration. This line contains antioxidants green tea and vitamin C to help reduce the visible signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, and to protect skin from future damage. It’s also formulated to help promote a brighter, younger-looking complexion.
In addition to effective topical formulas, make sure you are drinking plenty of water, eating a balanced diet while also supplementing with antioxidants and vitamins, getting an adequate amount of sleep and exercise, and minimizing stress. These steps will help bring skin back to life now, and keep it looking and feeling great all year round.