Sloughing Off Winter Skin

Ready for some spring cleansing?

By Sarah Cough

Winter time brings some beautiful scenes with the snow-topped trees, sleigh rides and the smell of holiday cookies, but by February the cold is getting old, and uncomfortable winter skin has set in. The dry, itchy, flaky skin that winter dryness causes becomes an unpleasant problem to tackle, but area doctors, dermatologists, estheticians, spa owners and makeup artists are here to help. Warm weather is just around the corner: It’s time to revitalize dull winter skin to find a fresh face for spring.

Winter Weather Woes
There is one problem with winter that affects almost everyone. “Everything is dry,” says Dr. Christopher Hess of Hess Plastic Surgery in Fairfax. With the lack of humidity in the air and the constant transition from hot to cold, skin takes a beating.

Heather Jiron, a makeup artist at Ronnie Elias Salon in Oakton, says her “clients’ skin becomes dull, flaky and dry.” Jiron explains it is not just the weather that contributes to dryness but also our winter bathing choices. She says we should avoid “hot showers which have a tendency to strip hair and skin of moisture.”

In this cold season, “you have to be aware of what causes dry skin, like too frequent bathing, a lack of humidity, environmental stressors and moving from a heated room to the cold weather,” says Linda Cushman, master aesthetician at Fair Oaks Skin Care Center in Fairfax.

As we scurry from warm houses to cold cars and hurry to crank up the heat, skin loses moisture. “Dry heat, that is what contributes to it the most,” says Dr. Syed Amiry of Reston Dermatology and Cosmetic Center. He explains that this unavoidable change in temperature is one of the worst things for skin.

With the many ways skin loses moisture it seems impossible to prevent dry winter skin. Hess agrees, saying that avoiding dry skin can’t be the main goal. “You can’t avoid it, but you have to make your skin healthy enough to withstand it.”

Changing With the Seasons
Even if it isn’t possible to avoid dry skin in the winter, there are ways to repair it. Of the many ways to protect fragile skin, one guideline is consistent: “It is important to keep the moisture in your skin,” says Maria Gould, co-owner of McLean Face and Body Spa.

The key is oftentimes a change in routine. “You need to switch to a cream or lotion cleanser. Some you don’t even need to use water to take it off, you can just wipe it off with a cotton ball or a damp towel,” Gould says.

Lily Addiseu, spa manager of Spa Minerale in Leesburg, agrees that beauty routines must adjust to the seasons. “Definitely the product line has to change,” she says. “If you are using lighter products, you have to change the kind of moisturizer you are using.”

Dr. Aoushirvan Sarraf of Aphrodite Advanced Esthetic and Skin Care Clinic in McLean explains that just changing moisturizers is not enough, and it is also important to moisturize more often. “People who use it one time a day in the summer, in the winter should use it two to three times a day,” he says.

Both Hess and Amiry recommend using Eucerin Original Cream as the best cream for body that can be used any time of day.

Jiron finds that makeup also has to change. “Stepping up your daily moisturizer is a great idea, but also choosing a foundation that allows your skin to breathe while retaining its moisture all day” is a smart approach, she says.

Changing the environment at home can also help. Amiry offers a simple solution to the problem of dry heat: “You can add a humidifier to central heating and a humidifier inside the house as well.”

Frequent Flubs
Within the world of skin care there is a vast array of products and procedures, which can be alternatively very good or very bad for skin. One of the most common mistakes women make is “doing the same routine all the time,” Hess says. With new advances in skin care all the time, he says women “need to advance with the times.” He says that women should try new products because they may use scientific advances to create a more effective product.

Dull winter skin leaves many women reaching for their makeup bag, but Jiron says color palettes also need to change. “I notice women tend to use the same foundation color and formula from summer to winter,” she says. “This leaves their skin a few shades darker and usually lacking moisture.”

At-Home Remedies
Fitting skin care into a busy schedule can be a challenge in itself. Amiry offers some easy moisture solutions using products most people already have in their bathroom. He recommends using “ointments, such as Aquafor and also plain Vaseline. These two are probably the best and most effective. Apply as many times during the day as you can, especially right after the shower. If you use a small amount it can help a great deal.”

Amiry says that if you find ointments too greasy you can use oils, such as baby oil. “Apply right after the shower and let the oil soak in while you get ready,” he says. “Do not put anything on. Just let the oil soak in for 15 to 20 minutes.”

For those who enjoy a warm bath, another moisture treatment Amiry recommends is to take a bath with a small amount of oil added to the water. It is important to use caution, though, because “it can become slippery and be dangerous,” he says. Amiry recommends baby oil because many people already have it and it can be less greasy than other oils.

When hydrating doesn’t work and dry skin is beginning to flake, it is important to exfoliate. One way to do so is with scrubs. “I really like over-the-counter scrubs,” Hess says. “You don’t have to buy anything expensive.” One example of good over the counter scrub is Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub. He recommends that scrubs only be used twice a week to keep from harming skin.

Cushman explains: “You don’t want to do it every day. A lot of people over-scrub their face or use the wrong type of scrub.” She says that this causes your face to become over-sensitized.

Once the dead skin has been removed, masks can put much-needed moisture back into the skin. “You should find hydrating masks that you can do on your own at home,” Gould says. She also recommends adding more moisturizing power to lighter moisturizers by adding oils, like Renee Rouleau Nutriment Blue Oil.

Professional Treatments
“If you are not getting anywhere, or if you are unhappy with the results,” it is time to see a professional, Hess says. Professionals can design their treatments to fit skin types.

Cushman says a consultation with an aesthetician or dermatologist can help you determine your skin type, fix what you are doing wrong and find the right products. “The most important thing is to have the proper cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen,” she says, recommending Aveeno Ultra-Calming Cream Cleanser.

Consultations help with makeup, as well. “For the winter months most women tend to opt for more makeup coverage, which can work for or against them,” Jiron says. “A consultation with a professional makeup artist will help ensure your desired look is achieved.” She suggests Bodyography Veil Foundation Primer to give skin a smooth base for makeup.

Spa services for skin can make the cold more bearable. “Sometimes it is good to come into a spa if you have been doing outdoor activities,” Gould says. “It gives a jump-start to your skin.”

Addiseu recommends visiting a spa at least once a month. “You can always gauge your skin; if it feels a little more flaky and appears dull, it is time when you need professional assistance.”

But there is no instant fix. “It took a while to damage it,” Cushman says. “It will take time to work off the damage.”

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Skin Savers
The pros recommend the best products and types of products to revive dull winter skin

Renee Rouleau Nutriment Blue Oil
“The nutriment blue is a phenomenal product as a stand-alone and as an add-in,” says Maria Gould, co-owner of McLean Face and Body Spa.
Available at: McLean Face and Body Spa | 6707 Old Dominion Drive, McLean; www.mcleanfaceandbodyspa.com; 703-761-0100

Bodyography Veil Foundation Primer
“With antioxidants, vitamins A and E, green tea and grape-seed extract, the oil-free primer fills fine lines and wrinkles, prevents collagen breakdown and gives the skin a silky-smooth, long-lasting, flawless base,” says Heather Jiron, makeup artist at Ronnie Elias Salon.
Available at: Ronnie Elias Salon | 2952-I Chain Bridge Road, Oakton; www.ronnieeliassalons.com; 703-255-1114

Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub
“I’m a big fan of over-the-counter scrubs,” says Dr. Christopher Hess of Hess Plastic Surgery. “You don’t have to buy anything expensive. You should only use it two times a week.”
Available at: CVS Pharmacy | Multiple NoVA locations

Aveeno Cream Cleanser
Aveeno products are recommended by Cushman and Hess. Hess says that he uses Aveeno himself. Gould recommends cream cleansers because “cream cleansers can still penetrate and clean without taking as much moisture out of the skin.”
Available at: RiteAid | Multiple NoVA locations

Eucerin Original Cream
Dr. Syed Amiry of Reston Dermatology and Cosmetic Center recommends this product. “It really is one of the best moisturizers you can use during the day, even at work,” he says.
Available at: CVS Pharmacy | Multiple NoVA locations

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Professional Pampering

Spa Minerale
44050 Woodridge Parkway, Lansdowne; www.spaminerale.com; 703-729-4036
Three-Dimensional Hydrating Facial - This facial uses the latest technology to replenish moisture to all layers of the skin, leaving skin feeling soft and hydrated. $180

Fair Oaks Skin Care Center
3700 Joseph Siewick Drive, Suite 403, Fairfax; www.fairoaksskincare.com; 703-648-2488
4-Layer Hydrating Peel – This peel uses vitamin C, glycolic acid and active enzymes to gently brighten and improve the health of dry skin. $85
Microdermabrasion – Microdermabrasion uses superfine crystals to gently exfoliate the skin, removing dead skin cells and creating a healthier more youthful complexion. $130

Aphrodite Advanced Esthetic and Skin Care Clinic
1485 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 303, McLean; www.aphroditeskincareclinic.com; 703-848-0009
Glycolic Peel – This mild peel uses glycolic acid to remove dead skin cells and rejuvenate the skin by evening and improving skin’s texture. $60

McLean Face and Body Spa
6707 Old Dominion Drive, McLean; www.mcleanfaceandbodyspa.com; 703-761-0100
The Bio Mini Facial – The facial begins with non-abrasive exfoliation then a skin steam that opens pores and a facial massage; and finishes with moisturizing cream and a mask. $115
Zen Facial – This treatment includes a 25- to 30-minute facial massage as well as the moisture mask and hand and foot treatment which helps dry hands and feet. $135

Reston Dermatology and Cosmetic Center
1830 Town Center Drive, Suite 410, Reston; www.dramiry.com; 703-766-2220
Microdermabrasion, Various peels – They offer a variety of peels that will be chosen by the staff based on skin type, all which create healthier, more beautiful skin. $135 (microdermabrasion), $135-$200 (various peels)

Hess Plastic Surgery
3930 Pender Drive, Suite 120, Fairfax; www.hessplasticsurgery.com; 703-752-6608
Vi Peel – This peel smoothes and evens complexion using a safe blend of effective acids to chemically exfoliate the outer layer of skin. $199

Ronnie Elias Salon
2952-I Chain Bridge Road, Oakton; www.ronnieeliassalons.com; 703-255-1114
Full Makeup Design – A professional makeup artist will redesign your makeup routine to better enhance your natural beauty. $35

(February 2010)