Winter Weather Skincare Swap

Your Pillowcase That’s right. If you’re sleeping on a cotton pillowcase, chances are it’s reaping all the benefits of the moisturizers and serums you so lovingly took the time to slather on before hitting the sack. Think about it, we use cotton pads and cotton balls to remove makeup and nail polish. If you’re a side sleeper or a stomach sleeper like moi, a good percentage of that moisturizer is probably being left behind. Curly girls and ‘naturalistas’ have been talking about the importance of satin pillowcases or satin bonnets for years as a way to protect the hair and prevent it from drying out while you sleep. Show the same kind of love to your face. Not to mention, face serums tend to cost way more than hair serum, so keep it on your face, where it belongs. Face Wash After washing your face, your skin should feel refreshed, not tight and dry. Clean should not = ‘squeaky-clean’ when it comes to your skin. If you’ve been using a foaming cleanser in the summer, it may be time to switch to a face wash that cleanses more gently, while still removing impurities. If you are oily, or acne-prone, the Joanna Vargas Miracle Bar is deep cleansing but gentle to skin. This miraculous little bar contains coconut oil to protect the skin’s lipid layer and charcoal to detoxify the face and body (I love a product that does double duty). Joanna Vargas Vitamin C Face Wash is suitable for all skin types – it contains stimulating botanical extracts and oils to remove impurities and antioxidant-rich acai and goji berries - and is gentle enough to be used as an eye makeup remover. Loofah It’s time to ditch the loofah and/or loofah gloves and embrace the dry body brush. Dry brushing the skin once or twice a day is known to: boost circulation; exfoliate dead skin cells from the surface of the skin (which helps with penetration of moisturizers), and stimulate the lymph nodes. In addition to normalizing lymph flow, dry brushing will result in softer, clearer skin. Start at your feet and brush upwards toward the heart. Use firm, small strokes or work in a circular motion. For the stomach, work in a counterclockwise pattern; be sure not to press to hard, the skin should not be scratched or damaged. Dedicate at least three to five minutes to brushing, then shower and apply oil or moisturizer, afterward. Dry body brushes are available at Joanna Vargas Salon in New York and Los Angeles and online at Organic Pharmacy ($15) www.theorganicpharmacy.com Now you just have to figure out what to do with those loofah mits your mother-in-law gave you for Christmas. Moisturizer If your lotion is leaving something to be desired, it may be time to switch to a cream. Many lotion-type moisturizers just aren’t emollient enough to provide adequate hydration in winter. Joanna Vargas Daily Hydrating Cream delivers nutrient-rich moisture for all skin types - containing shea and cocoa butters for emollient hydration – and fatty acids for improved elasticity. If you’re already using a cream for night and a lotion for day, you may just want to move your cream up in the rotation and have it strut it’s stuff in the daytime. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides and oils like coconut and argan for maximum hydrating benefits. Masks Where ‘clarifying’ masks like mud and clay masks might work great for the summer, these masks can leave you feeling dry and tight in the winter. Joanna Vargas Exfoliating Mask does contain kaolin clay but is perfectly balanced with lactic acid and fruit enzymes to gently helps with dull skin, and with that winter must-have ingredient, hyaluronic acid to bind moisture to your skin. This mask brightens and firms your skin for a soft, rejuvenated complexion. I also like the Kerafole exfoliating mask www.bioelements.com for deep purging that is gentle. And of course, hydrating masks at least once a week work wonders. Joanna Vargas Forever Glow Anti-Aging Face Mask is like dynamite to those dry skin cells. Lip Balm The ingredients in tinted lip balm can actually be more drying to your lips. Stick to lip balm without color or fragrance and make sure to exfoliate your lips regularly to prep them for hydration by gently massaging away dull, dry skin. You can make your own with a little white sugar and olive oil. Rub gently in small circles and then apply your favorite lip balm. Love + Sage makes a balm that is almost entirely crafted from plant-based ingredients, including shea butter and argan oil and does not contain any synthetic toxins or fragrances. ($12) www.loveandsagenyc.com Happy Swapping! Kim’s Bio – Kim Blackwell is a licensed Esthetician, writer and photographer. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and currently lives in Hollywood with her husband and daughter. She goes to Disneyland a LOT.]>>