Tips for keeping any skin type healthy this winter
Rustenburg winter weather may be unpleasant, but your skin doesn’t have to be. Whether your skin is oily, dry, or sensitive, it’s best to understand your skin type and to know how you can preserve it during the winter months…
Dry or sensitive skin:
- Stings or burns when skin-care products are used,
- Is easily irritated,
- Sometimes appears red and inflamed
- Feels itchy, dry, rough, and flaky
You may have found a moisturizer that works just fine in the hot Rustenburg spring and summer. However, as weather conditions change, so, too, should your skin care routine. Many lotions labelled as ‘night creams’ are oil-based.
Choose your oils with care as not all are appropriate for the face, carefully look for oils that don’t clog the skin, for instance; avocado oil, mineral oil, primrose oil, almond oil, lotions containing ‘humectants’, and a class of substances Shea oil, butter, or vegetable shortening can clog facial pores. Be careful of products that contain these, they are really a bad idea as it keeps the skin greasy.
Normal skin:
- Is usually smooth and supple
- Is generally clear or blemish-free
- Appears neither dry nor oily
Your face can take anything and still bounce back, looking fresher than ever. Almost any cleanser (from regular bath soap to sensitive-skin bars) will work for you. If you need a moisturizer, which most people with normal skin don’t, choose a light hypo-allergenic, preservative free, all-purpose, water-based moisturizer after washing.
Oily Skin:
- Has enlarged pores or blackheads
- Appears shiny and feels greasy
“Regular exfoliation benefits the skin, as it removes dead skin cells, and debris that line the surface of the skin,” says beauty therapist Mavis Ditlhale. It also cleans the pores as well as an essential feature in skin care, leaving your skin less oily. Because your skin is naturally oily, you may not need a moisturizer. But if you do, choose one that’s non-comedogenic and either oil-free or water-based, she adds.
Combined Skin:
- Is oily on your forehead, nose or chin
- Is dry on your cheeks and around your eyes
One of two cleansing routines for women with combination skin is also recommended. Wash your face with a gentle facial cleanser in the morning and use an alcohol-free astringent on oily areas later in the day. Treat dry patches as dry skin, then apply a water-based or oil-free non-comedogenic moisturizer to your entire face. Soaking in a burning-hot bath feels great after frolicking out in the cold, but the intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. A lukewarm bath with oatmeal or baking soda can help relieve skin that is so dry that it has become itchy.
Conclusion
It’s often advisable to have a specialist who’ll analyze your skin type, troubleshoot your current skin care regimen, and give advice on skin products personally suitable for your skin type. Be sure to visit a dermatologist or beauty therapists at least once every second months for a beautifully well cared for face. For most people, having healthy skin takes a small amount of work, but beautiful skin is worth the effort. Whether you have ten minutes or an hour’s worth of pampering, take the time you need, always be gentle.