Dry winter weather can make your skin dull. Add discoloration and/or age spots into the mix and your skin’s appearance may not be at it’s “brightest.” What can a person do?
Start using Lytera Skin Brightening Complex by SkinMedica.
This cream is a go-to for many of us at Blu Cocoon. We love Lytera because it is a non-hydroquinone skin brightening product that is great for all skin types. It is made up of a proprietary blend of ingredients that work together to help brighten and even skin tone by reducing the appearance of dark spots. People with mild to severe discoloration can use this product. Apply twice daily after cleansing the skin and before applying moisturizer and sunscreen. In clinical studies, improvements were seen in 4 weeks. People reported that Lytera improved evenness of skin tone, improved radiance and clarity, and lessened the appearance of darker patches and discolorations.
Boost your internal skin care regimen.
Eat foods that contain omega-3s (walnuts, tuna, salmon, flax seeds) to help control skin damage and fight inflammation. Omega-3s also help bolster the skin barrier function to seal moisture in and keep irritants out. Fresh organic fruit, spinach, and other leafy greens are also great for your skin. These contain antioxidants to fight free radicals that cause skin damage.
Keep moisture in the air.
Your skin likes relative humidity at 60% or above. Anything below starts to dehydrate your skin. It may be dry outside, but you can control the humidity in your house. Use a humidifier in the bedroom to keep moisture in the air or put shallow dishes of water out – as they evaporate, the air will absorb some moisture.
Exfoliate to slough off dead skin cells.
Accumulated dead skin cells can also dull the complexion. As we age, our skin turnover rate slows so the dead skin can hang around longer, making us look less radiant. Exfoliation expedites skin cell turnover and can be done on a deeper level professionally (for example, with a Facial Mask Peel), on a moderate level (with a Facial at Blu Cocoon) or on a mild level at home with an exfoliating product.
Keep your skin hydrated with two steps.
Consider switching to a richer moisturizing cream. Look for moisturizers and lotions (if your hands are dry too) that contain humectants – glycerine, sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids – to lock in moisture to your skin. But here’s the key. The humectants will lock in only the moisture that is already there. Boost the moisture level first by using a moisturizer that contains jojoba oil, shea butter, petrolatum, mineral oil or lanolin to give your skin extra moisture. Then cover with a second moisturizer that has humectants. Use this two-step process when your skin feels extra dry; most people do not have to do this everyday.
Next time you visit us at Blu Cocoon, ask us for skin care product recommendations to boost your winter glow! We are always happy to help. Purchase Lytera – and other SkinMedica products – at our San Jose MedSpa.