BEAUTY
LAYER YOUR SKINCARE
So Your Skin Can Feast on Moisture
BEAUTY
W
hen it comes to
skincare, most people have been taught to
follow the classic three
step program: Cleanse,
Tone, and Moisturize.
We’ve also been taught
to switch to heavier
creams come wintertime.
Of course this can work
for those with pretty hydrated skin… but, most
people still feel dry even
after all these precautions
(especially those who
live in cold climates like
Canada!). There’s a simple reason for this: emollient creams simply aren’t
enough! We need oil and
water in order to layer our
skincare.
I am a big fan of layering.
I think it’s almost essential
during the drying, dehydrating winter season.
While it may seem like yet
another step we have to
take, investing in a good
quality serum is important. Our skin is made up
of both oil and water, and
it is imperative that we
mimic this. My skin-savvy
mother always uses the
analogy of a brick wall
when explaining this:
“Our skin is like a brick
wall. Our skin cells are
the bricks - full of water.
In between, our oil is the
mortar. If we become dehydrated, our bricks shrink
causing space between
the mortar and brick.”
Emollient
creams usually
aren’t enough
to prevent dry
skin in cold
climates.
In other words, our skin
cells need water to maintain their health – but oil
helps retain the natural
water. It also helps protect
our delicate skin against
the elements as it acts as
a barrier against harsher
climates. Without either
water or oil, the subsequent dehydration can
make you more sensitive
as irritants can penetrate
more easily.
While it may seem excessive, my winter regime
consists of multiple steps
to guard against dryness
and dehydration (I also
get eczema which flares
up when the skin is excessively dry). Every morning
and night I use a cleanser,
toner (alcohol-free), serum, lotion, facial oil, and
mineral sunblock or make
up (mornings only). Oh,
and eye cream! This can
be called a basic daily
winter regime. Combining hydrating masks once
or twice a week also goes
a long way in keeping hydration levels up.
If you’re feeling frustrated
that your skin is still depleted despite using the heaviest of creams – invest in a
serum to go underneath
it. Our mums used to tell
us to bundle up and wear
layers in the wintertime
(which explains why I own
some of the ugliest polar
fleece vests). It stands to
reason that we need to
do the same when caring
for our skin.
Kristen Ma is the co-owner of Pure + Simple Inc., a group of Holistic Spas with
its own line of Natural Skincare and Mineral Make-up. She is an Ayurvedic
Practitioner who has studied in Canada, the United States and India. She
is also a Certified Esthetician with eight years of practical experience,
having worked in Canada as well as Australia. Most recently, Kristen has
authored “Beauty: Pure + Simple” which was published by Mc Arthur
and Company. Kristen has written on the subject of Holistic Beauty for
Vitality Magazine, Blink and Jasmine. She is also a regular contributor to B
Magazine, Tonic and Sweat Equity Magazine.
For more information on Kristen, please visit www.holisticvanity.ca.