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5 Ways to Protect Your Skin When You’re on the Slopes

Winter is a great time to stay active, despite the chill in the air. After all, being outdoors is good for the body, mind, and soul. As New Englanders, one of our favorite winter activities is skiing. Due to the high altitude and low humidity in the mountains, it’s important to protect your skin on the slopes. Here are five of our favorite skin-saving tips and tricks for fellow winter sports fanatics!

 

Moisturize Like It’s Your Job

Moisture, moisture, moisture. If you don’t moisturize before you hit the slopes, you’ll regret it when you’re trying to repair dry, tight skin. Often, when skin becomes so dry that it shows signs of irritation like flaking, redness, and cracking, it’s too late. We remind our patients that prevention is the key when it comes to dry skin. So, moisturizing long before you hit the slopes is a good idea. Opt for a balm or cream over thinner lotions that evaporate quickly.

Hydrate From Within

So, we’ve already covered the benefits of moisturizing your skin from the outside and how moisture can protect you from winter’s wrath, but working from the inside out is just as crucial. We are big proponents of drinking lots of water throughout the day and always have a water bottle in the car and at work to stay hydrated. When you are in a high altitude, low moisture environment, it’s even more important to get lots of fluids, but it’s also very easy to forget when you’re having a blast! Daily hydration will help to plump up your skin, especially in the dry indoor heat (we’re looking at you ski lodge lovers). In the cold weather, you may not feel as thirsty as you would on a hot summer day, however, it’s vital to ingest fluids around the clock. Bored of plain H2O? Try hot herbal teas, water-rich fruits and vegetables, and citrus infused waters to mix things up.

Sunscreen on a Cloudy Day

You’ve heard us talk about sunscreen before, but we want to take a moment to remind you now. Contrary to popular belief, sunscreen isn’t just for those hot summer days! In fact, sunlight reflects off of snow and multiplies the effects of UV rays on your skin. Even with major cloud cover, those nasty UV rays are destroying your precious cells, so daily sunscreen of at least 30 SPF is a must! With dry, cold air, your skin will benefit from a moisturizing, broad spectrum sunscreen that has antioxidants to boost the skin barrier. We love DermaCeutics’ K-Ceutic SPF 50 and SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion SPF 50 for higher coverage when the sun is out. Visit our skin care store for more products we love!

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a staple in any anti-aging routine. When you’re enjoying brisk winter weather in the mountains, vitamin C will help to combat free radicals from UV exposure. This means your skin is getting a boost to help prevent fine lines and wrinkles, discoloration, and improve overall skin health. Our expert aesthetician, Tracy Thaden, likes the Skinceutical’s CE Ferulic for a high potency vitamin C. In addition to external measures, we always love prescribing chowing down on citrus fruits for their fresh, invigorating taste, high vitamin C content, and added nutritional benefits. Plus, winter is the best season for all citrus fruits! If you can’t find any fresh fruits at your winter resort, ask for lemons with your water and give them a squeeze for an easy daily boost of vitamin C.

Protect Your Eyes From Cold and Snow

Don’t forget your precious eyes! Due to the bright light that radiates off of the snow, many skiers wear protective goggles or sunglasses to reduce brightness. We love the added benefit of reducing squinting which can cause crow’s feet around the eyes. If you have sensitive skin, the whipping wind can cause you to tear up, making your eyes even drier and raw around the edges. So, cover up and save your skin on the slopes with some great looking goggles.

Are you planning on hitting the slopes this winter? Don’t let your skin or wellness suffer from the harsh winter landscape. Instead, soak in nature’s beauty while your skin soaks up the benefits of moisture, antioxidants, and protection. We can’t wait to hear about your trip!

 

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