“Even in winter an isolated patch of snow has a special quality.”
—Andy Goldsworthy
When old man winter covers the mountains in snow, it’s hard to resist taking to the outdoors to enjoy the scenery on the slopes. Skiing is great for your body as well as your attitude, but the accompanying weather can quickly parch your skin and leave it cracked, dry, and uncomfortable. Even though most of your skin will be covered during outdoor festivities, changing your winter skincare routine to fit your lifestyle makes good sense. Before you head off for a ski trip or any other form of snow play, revisit your skincare products to make sure they’ll be protecting you while you’re out and about.
Cleanser
Keeping your skin clean should always be a priority, but when visiting a mountain area for a day (or week) of skiing, the difference in temperature from your normal environment will play a role in how well your skin stands up to the trip. Colder climates and windy days can reduce your skin’s natural moisture balance. If your normal cleanser (or that bar of soap in the hotel shower) leaves your face feeling tight and dry, it’s time for an upgrade. Switch to a gentle, hydrating cleanser, such as EltaMD’s Foaming Facial Cleanser or Epionce’s Milky Lotion Cleanser. These products are pH balanced, contain skin-soothing ingredients, and leave skin feeling soft and healthy.
Moisturizer
Whether you’re skiing or relaxing fireside, the varying temperatures can zap your skin’s moisture. You don’t need a heavy cream to keep that skin feeling soft and supple, but you do need a moisturizer that contains medical grade ingredients. Store brand moisturizers often contain a lot of filler (water, to be precise), whereas medical grade skincare often contains hyaluronic acid, which your body produces naturally. Why does this matter? Hyaluronic acid loves water, and holds onto it longer, which makes skin more plump and supple. To increase your skin’s hydration levels, always apply your moisturizer to freshly washed skin, even while it’s still a bit damp. This works for your body as well.
Lip Protection
Cold, dry air can do a number on your lips, and every time you lick them, the dryness gets worse. To keep lips from chapping and cracking, plan to care for them while you sleep and while you ski. A nightly lip treatment will restore lost hydration while EltaMD’s UV Lip Balm, which contains 5% zinc oxide and offers both UVA and UVB sun protection, will keep that moisture in during the day.
Sunscreen
Even though it may be cloudy on the slopes, you still need sunscreen. To be honest, you need it even more at high elevation than you do on the beach because the sun’s rays don’t have to travel as far to get to the earth’s surface. Top that off with the reflectivity factor, and sun damage is a real threat. For this reason, we always recommend broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, like EltaMD’s UV Facial Broad-Spectrum SPF 30+, because it protects against UVA and UVB rays.
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If you’re ready to grab a few new products but still feel a little uncertain about which cleansers or moisturizers are best for your skin type, we can help. Take our quick quiz, and you’ll receive custom-tailored recommendations in just a few minutes. And if you have questions or need extra guidance, just let us know.
To great powder days,
Team Reflect
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