If we experience acne during warm summer months, then how do we explain winter breakouts? Turns out, acne can actually worsen during the winter months. Harsh temperatures, wind, along with turning up the thermostat can strip your skin of its natural moisture. Skin loses its ability to protect itself, bacteria (and excess dry skin cells) clogs pores leading to an overproduction of oil, and eventually breakouts.
The common mistake here is to immediately treat the breakout with chemical creams or harsh cleansers which will only make the situation worse. More than likely, you skin is needing a bit of TLC that begins with hydrating.
- Stop using a cleanser in the morning
As long as you are giving your skin a complete cleanse before you go to bed and you are using a clean pillowcase, there is really no reason to break out your cleanser in the morning. Simply splash cool water or better yet, wipe down with one of our nourishing Essences to balance pH and provide a myriad of nutrients.
- Drink more water
Hydrating from within is vital in keeping skin cells full and reducing dry, acne prone skin. Unfortunately, during the winter months water does not sound so appealing as it does when it is hot out. To add more water to your day, keep a water journal, or try replacing soda/alcohol with a warm beverage such as an herbal tea. Fruits and vegetables are also a great source of water.
- Exfoliate
Exfoliating is the best way to prevent pores from being clogged during winter months. Using our Retinoic Cleanser with pineapple enzymes effectively removes excess cells for a non-abrasive exfoliation.
- Use facial oils to moisturize
Our facial oil contains essential fatty acids to help build up skin’s lipid-based cell membrane which retains water and nutrients. Without this, our skin barrier could not function properly and would leave skin vulnerable to dehydration and blemishes. Additionally, the oils we use balance skin with high amounts of linoleic acid to prevent breakouts.
I hope these suggestions help keep you all acne free this winter! As always, we love to hear from you with questions or comments!
Warmly,
Patricia