Get Glowing by the Holidays: Winter Skincare Tips from AesthetiCare Medspa
If you blinked this year, you probably missed it! Winter is fast approaching in Kansas City, and we already know what to expect: icy temps, dry skin, and extra stress courtesy of the holiday season
Between holiday parties, family gatherings, and buying and wrapping gifts, you may not have as much time as you did several weeks ago to put into your skincare routine. The changing of the seasons can also throw off your skin’s delicate balance, causing redness and itchy, dry skin (not to mention the occasional zit or two!)
If you are like many of the clients we see at AesthetiCare Medspa in Leawood or Liberty, you may desperately need some winter skin tips from professionals. Lucky for you, we’ve got some of our best beauty tips, products, and treatments perfect for getting your skin glowing through the holiday season below!
How does winter affect the skin?
Your skin loves consistency. Changes in the seasons bring fluctuations in temperatures, humidity levels, wind, UV exposure, and different lifestyle habits. When your skin experiences these fluctuations, it may become inflamed, irritated, red, and flaky (FYI: lines and wrinkles appear deeper on dry winter skin).
For most people in our area, their skin is more oily in the summer and drier in the winter. Both directly and indirectly, changes in temperature and humidity account for most of this. For example, increased humidity in the summer makes it easier for your skin to hold on to moisture. Conversely, during the holidays and winter months, we take hotter showers, contributing to the dry skin you experience.
During the cold KC winters, many of us avoid spending a lot of time outside and instead opt for the warmth of our homes and other places with heat. Central heating systems, including your car’s vents, put out dry, harsh air, contributing to dryness and inflammation on the skin. Pro Tip! When possible, avoid sitting or lingering in a place where a heater directly blows on you. Point those vents up or down to feel the warmth, but don’t let it blast directly onto you.
While there’s nothing you can do about seasonal changes (except pack up and move to a tropical island ), you can take certain steps to ensure your skin doesn’t suffer.
At-Home Winter Skin Tips
There are many adjustments you can make at home to ensure a healthy, happy complexion for the holidays (between visits to the pros at AesthetiCare, of course!) Start by investing in a humidifier and continue with the below recommendations from the AesthetiCare team!
Exfoliate
If you don’t buff away dead skin cells, it won’t matter how many brightening serums or moisturizers you apply—your skin will still be dry. Dead skin cells that cling to your skin’s surface block many active ingredients from reaching the layers of live, healthy skin cells below, making your efforts less than successful.
Thanks to the drier air, skin cells dehydrate and turn over faster in the winter, making regular body and face exfoliation even more essential. We do not suggest, however, that you use the same exfoliation methods for both your face and skin.
The best facial products for exfoliation have gentle chemical exfoliants in them, like glycolic acid, lactic acid, or retinol. These ingredients can come in many forms, like creams, serums, liquids, or even powders. They dissolve your dead skin cells and can get deep into your pores to flush them out.
Related: Should You Use Retinoids?
Some of our favorite face exfoliators include:
- AC Advanced Retinol
- AC Glycolic Gel Pads
- AC AHA Marine Moisture Crème
- SkinMedica® AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
Besides body lotions containing AHAs like lactic acid, the best way to treat dry skin on the body is with scrubs that contain sugar granules (a natural humectant!), along with replenishing oils like rosehip, avocado, or squalane. Pssst…ground coffee is also a popular ingredient in body scrubs—the grounds exfoliate, and the caffeine is a great way to tighten up the skin on your booty and thighs!
Avoid hot showers
Hopefully we didn’t lose you with this winter skincare tip. We didn’t? Good!
We know there’s nothing like the feeling of a hot, steamy shower after coming in from a long day in the cold. However, this is a habit that can really take a toll on your skin. Remember how skin likes consistency? Going from cold air to a hot shower compromises your skin’s protective lipid layer and strips it of its natural and beneficial oils, encouraging more dryness and irritation.
It’s best to take lukewarm (or even cool) showers in the winter—and all year round—and replenish your face and body with moisturizer within a few minutes of exiting the shower.
Even Angelina Jolie revealed she takes cold showers to keep her hair and skin looking so good. If Angie can do it, so can you! Just picture looking as good as she does while you grin and bear it #BeautyIsSometimesPain
Protect your lips
Your face often remains exposed to the wintry winds and cold temperatures, causing dry, cracked lips that can be painful and that no one wants to smooch
The skin on your lips is much thinner and more sensitive than the skin on other parts of the body. They do not contain oil-producing glands to keep them moist on their own, and they lack hair to protect them from the elements like sun and wind.
To prevent chapped or bleeding lips, we recommend avoiding licking your lips, investing in an overnight lip mask and a lip scrub, and using ultra-hydrating products, like AC Lip Benefits or the SkinMedica HA5® Smooth and Plump Lip System, to replenish moisture.
Fight stress-related acne
Our least favorite holiday feeling is stress. Between gift buying, party hosting and attending, and cooking for many, you may lack time to keep up with your routine, and your skin may suffer thanks to extra tension and stress.
If you experience acne breakouts over the holidays, we first recommend scheduling a consultation at AesthetiCare. We can evaluate your condition and make specific treatment and product recommendations that will work best for you.
You can prevent winter acne by avoiding overly drying acne products (like alcohol or benzoyl peroxide) with nourishing acne treatment products instead. Also, have a trusty spot treatment on hand to treat a breakout quickly. Be sure to drink plenty of water and make time to de-stress and relax (did someone say spa day? ♀️)
Apply sunscreen
We know you’re wearing 10 layers, you’re working indoors all day, and it’s gray outside. Why waste the effort putting on sunscreen? Well, no matter the season or outdoor weather, sun exposure can still happen and protecting your skin from UV damage is key to getting glowing skin for the holidays and any other time!
Damaging rays can penetrate clouds, and snow reflects up to 80% of the sun’s rays, so the rays can hit your skin twice when it’s white outside.
If you haven’t already, get in the habit of applying SPF 30+ to all exposed areas of your face and body. At AesthetiCare, we have a ton of amazing sunscreen options from renowned brands like Alastin Skincare, Colorescience, EltaMD, and more!
Switch to a heavier moisturizer
In the summer, all you need is a light gel moisturizer or serum that contains hyaluronic acid. However, in the winter, it is important to respond to your face’s extra dryness with a heavier cream moisturizer.
Find a cream that contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid (to hold in moisture), ceramide (to fortify your skin’s protective barrier), and calming ingredients like chamomile or lavender (to ease irritation or redness).
For your body, we recommend a rich cream with nourishing ingredients and oils and we encourage you to avoid anything with drying alcohols. These help soothe and repair dry and itchy skin and keep you healthy and fresh-looking for the holidays.
What aesthetic treatments at AesthetiCare will soothe my winter skin and help me look great for the holiday season?
At AesthetiCare, we see many clients who want to make sure they look and feel their best heading into the chaotic holiday season. Using our advanced VISIA skin analysis system, we can pinpoint your most pressing concerns and make recommendations for treating them in our office.
Keep reading for more winter skincare tips and treatments you can receive at one of our Kansas City area locations!
Botox® & Fillers
Botox and fillers are a fast, effective way to minimize your wrinkles and refresh your appearance. Using Botox and fillers, we can treat dynamic and non-dynamic wrinkles and lines around the mouth, nose, eyebrows, eyes, forehead, chin, and neck.
We find clients enjoy the effects of Botox and fillers when used together since they treat different types of wrinkles and folds. Dermal fillers restore lost volume while plumping and lifting skin, and Botox and other neurotoxins like Dysport® relax the muscles that contract and form expression lines and wrinkles.
The results of the two are amazing, taking years off your appearance!
When to book it
We recommend clients receive Botox or filler injections at our Leawood or Liberty office about a week or two before an event or holiday parties. This gives the product time to settle and take full effect.
Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning is a quick, in-office pick-me-up (or an add-on for many treatments) for anyone who wants to get smooth, clear skin that glows. Using a sterile, surgical-grade scalpel held at a precise angle, we can clear the skin of dull & dead cells, debris, and “peach fuzz” hairs.
Immediately following a dermaplaning treatment, your skin is noticeably brighter and smoother. It also helps your holiday makeup look flawless, and allows topical skincare products to penetrate the skin more easily.
When to book it
You should book a dermaplaning session (paired with a light chemical peel for even better results) any time you feel you need a refresh! The procedure is painless and you are free to resume your regular activities right after leaving our office.
Trans4mation Medical Facial
As you’ve learned reading this article, clearing your skin of dead cells and other debris is important for having healthy, radiant skin in the winter.
Our professional Trans4mation Medical Facial at AesthetiCare is perfect for all ages and skin types. It can gently clear clogged pores, treat uneven pigmentation, and minimize fine lines in a way that you cannot achieve with at-home exfoliation methods. It’s also less harsh than other resurfacing treatments like lasers or BBL if you do not have any available downtime.
This advanced medical facial combines the power of crystal-free microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, chemical exfoliation, oxygen infusion, steam, ultrasonic energy, and LED light for immediately brighter, tighter, and more radiant skin.
When to book it
We typically perform a series of Trans4mation treatments to deliver optimal results to clients. The skin may appear red or flushed after this facial—which you can cover with makeup, but we suggest not scheduling a treatment on the same day as any holiday event or gathering.
Chemical peels
If you want to stand out in this year’s holiday photos with your gorgeous, glowing skin consider booking a chemical peel at AesthetiCare!
Chemical peels vary in strength, effects, and associated downtime. During your free consultation with the AesthetiCare experts, be sure your reasons for receiving the chemical peel are clear. This will help us suggest the correct regimen for your skin and will help you get the timing just right.
When to book it
A light peel is a great add-on treatment to another aesthetic procedure or facial. It exfoliates the outer layer of skin and can improve uneven pigmentation, fine lines, acne, and more. There can be up to 3 to 7 days of peeling and redness following a light peel, so keep this in mind when scheduling.
Medium & deep peels achieve more dramatic results, like fighting deep wrinkles, severe sun damage, acne scars, and more. Associated downtime with these peels can be over 14 days, so allow yourself adequate time to heal before attending any social events or holiday gatherings.
BBL™
Not only can BBL treatments get you photo-ready for any season, but it’s also a procedure that’s best performed in the fall and winter months.
If you have summer skin damage you’d like to treat, or other issues like irregular texture, enlarged pores, acne scars, or lines or wrinkles, BBL treatments in Kansas City at AesthetiCare might be perfect for you!
The results of BBL are best when the skin doesn’t receive direct sunlight for a period before or after treatment. This makes the fall and winter months the best time for a BBL treatment since clients can stay indoors and avoid UV exposure.
When to book it
Depending on your skin damage, you may require more than one BBL treatment to achieve optimal results. Your AesthetiCare specialist will provide you with a customized treatment plan that can work with your holiday schedule to ensure you look gorgeous for all your activities.
Immediately after a BBL treatment, the skin may look and feel sunburnt, with some areas of darker pigmentation that usually take a day or two to resolve.
HydraFacial MD™
There is no one who can’t reap the many benefits of a HydraFacial. Besides providing the all-important physical & chemical exfoliation your skin requires in the winter, a HydraFacial delivers deep hydration and pulls out all the pore-clogging gunk from your skin.
This is the perfect quick treatment for healthy, glowing skin in the winter. In the time that you get for your lunch break, we perform this 4-step facial that sweeps away or dissolves any dead skin cells, dirt, and debris while also using vortex technology to extract anything that remains in the pores. To finish, we spread antioxidant and moisture-rich serums to protect skin and give off a beautiful glow.
When to book it
We suggest clients schedule HydraFacials regularly to maintain their healthy, refreshed complexion. There is no downtime associated with this procedure. The perfect time to schedule a HydraFacial is anytime! You can put on makeup and continue with your regular activities immediately after leaving our office.
Why trust AesthetiCare’s winter skincare tips?
We pride ourselves on offering the most advanced treatments from the most highly trained professionals in the industry.
When you visit AesthetiCare in Liberty or Leawood, you can rest assured knowing you are in the best hands in the region. In fact, our Leawood location serves as a national training facility for other providers across North America to learn advanced injection, laser, body sculpting, and other aesthetic techniques and protocols.
Come to AesthetiCare for the best winter skincare tips, products, and treatments
At AesthetiCare Medspa, we love helping you look and feel your best, no matter the time of year. We especially love seeing how radiant our clients look in their family photos from the holidays!
Take your skincare to the next level by using our helpful recommendations, performing a virtual consultation to get personalized recommendations, and scheduling a complimentary winter skincare consultation with us.
