6 easy ways to take care of your skin this winter

Baby, it’s cold outside. But the elements don’t have to get the better of your face. We've got simple tips for a beautiful complexion all season long

Aileen Brabazon,

Originally published in Today's Parent December 2011

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Be Ms. Clean
Morning and night, wash away the pollution, makeup or other stuff that’s settled on your skin. Lathering up with soap can leave your face dry. Instead, choose a cleanser formulated for your skin type. “If you’re dry, use a cream-based cleanser,” says Holly Sherrard, Canadian education manager at The International Dermal Institute, an organization that trains skin therapists. Gel-based cleansers are great for combination and oily complexions.
Try: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (250 mL, $10) for dry skin; NeoStrata Oil Free Gel Cleanser (150 mL, $27) for oily skin.

Fight flakiness
If your skin is extra dull and flaky, you can blame the weather. The cold air outside and heated air inside rob your skin of moisture, leaving it dry. The solution to a brighter, smoother complexion is to exfoliate about three times a week. To do the job, there are two types of exfoliants:
• Chemical exfoliants contain hydroxy acids or enzymes that dissolve dead skin cells (they feel like a thin lotion when you apply with fingertips, then rinse away).
Try: Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant (50 mL, $13).
• Mechanical exfoliants contain tiny beads that physically scrub off dead cells as you rub them over your skin.
If you opt for a mechanical scrub, use it with a tender touch. “Think about how you would apply moisturizer to your child’s body — you want to use that type of gentle pressure on your own skin,” says Sherrard. And
if your skin is very sensitive, use a micro-exfoliating scrub, as it’s a gentler way to remove dry skin.
Try: La Roche-Posay Physiological Ultra-Fine Scrub (50 mL, $19).

Don't forget the SPF
Sun protection in the winter is a must, especially when you build snowmen, sled or ski on sunny days with your family. According to the Canadian Dermatology Association, snow reflects up to 80 percent of the sun’s shine, which means you get almost a double dose of radiation when you play outside. So coat your complexion in sunscreen. “I suggest clear spray sunblocks for people who tend to break out, and creams for people who are drier,” says Lisa Kellett, a dermatologist at DLK on Avenue, a clinic in Toronto. You can layer moisturizer over your sunscreen or use a lotion that contains it. Just make sure the product offers at least SPF 30 and UVA/UVB protection.
Try: Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer (120 mL, $16).