WINTER SKINCARE GUIDE FOR GLOWY MERMAID SKIN
Hi mermaids!
Welcome to my blog, and thank you for being here. Before we dive into it, I think it is not only necessary but mandatory to share some stuff, information, and advice, so that I make everything I share with you clearer, and I help you to avoid common mistakes when looking for tips, skin care products or things to do on social media to help your skin feel and look better.
Ladies, it's 2021 already, we have to stop putting weird stuff and ingredients that we don't know how to pronounce on our skin, let's skip them from our diets, like, do you honestly believe that apple cider vinegar is going to "detox" your hair and make you lose weight?
The disinformation all over the internet from people that admit not knowing what they're talking about is one thing, BUT, when the one person playing this game is a trusted beauty influencer, it's a fucking different one, an issue. Big companies expect us to act as the pawn all the time, the worst part being the marketing words they try to trick you with, to sell you the excuse that you are using a 100% natural and organic solution to all your problems, scamming us with ''green beauty'' yet again. So, let me get this clear, we have to stop putting crap in our bodies, like, please. And hey! I am not saying that everything is a false advertisement, but we must be honest with ourselves:
THERE'S A LOT OF CRAZY SHIT ONLINE!
The fact that there are people that make them look like they work just for views and likes is nasty, in my opinion, and should be reported for ruining other people's lives, because YEAH! I think that if you give someone advice, and they accidentally damage their skin, you are -ruining- their life. And before someone comes for me trying to say things like ''but look how great their skin, hair, teeth are’’ know that we all are different, with distinct skin types and incomparable skin conditions. Some people can literally use a toilet cleaner with dish soap and baby oil as their skincare routine, and their skin will look just fine, but that does not mean that we are going to be -fine- if we follow that regimen, okay. As an influencer of any type, you can totally be apart of collaborations and still give your honest opinion about a service or a product. After all, that is what the followers are expecting instead of your sold voice. That is why we all should read more, learn more, and try less. Thanks!
So, yeah, let us be mindful of the ingredients in our skincare and haircare products. If you can consult a professional dermatologist, nutritionist, and of course, your PCP too, before you try anything risky, by doing so, you will avoid a lot of pain, bad skin, and #BadHairDays once and for all to start living your best life. Once you have basic knowledge and professional recommendations in mind, it will be difficult for you to *fuck-up* again, while you will also gain the confidence to try out things and stick to whatever works best for you.
Now, let me start talking about winter. Although the drier climate and indoor heat may have already done their part on all skin types -emphasis on dry and sensitive- there is still time to get serious about a daily routine to ensure a hydrated, glowing, healthy complexion. First thing first, you should never confuse apparently clearer skin with healthier skin. Moderately cold temperatures could be satisfactory for your skin's health because it constrains blood vessels in the skin. This makes the vessels less prone to redness if you have sensitive skin because cold reduces blood flow; but like everything in life, you shouldn't overdo cold temperatures on any skin. Every skin type reacts differently in every weather, but all of us experience similar symptoms during the winter. For Dry Skin Types, the skin looks dull, flaky, tight, sometimes patchy, and prone to wrinkles. If you have this skin type winter is your worst enemy, because of low humidity, high winds, and cold air that strips your skin off the little to no moisture that you normally have, giving you the chance of getting a winter rash and other harmful conditions. For Oily Skin Types, the face appears to be softer because it tends to produce less oil and sebum in the winter, leading to fewer breakouts, but that doesn't mean that it is healthy underneath. Pores can become enlarged, and dead skin cells may accumulate during this time. Sensitive Skin Types have the worst time with cold air and lack of humidity, because they can develop conditions like redness, cystic acne, rosacea, ratches, eczema; sensations like itching, burning, inflammation, just to mention a few. I still to this day don't understand why the term ''Normal'' still exists, I mean, normal is not a condition, what is normal?! really. But since it is still included in marketing as the perfect skin that apparently no one has, let me include it here: Normal Skin Types tend to experience dryness, acne, and redness, which can be treated lightly in order to get their glassy looking skin back to nor-mal *insert annoyed emoji here*. Lastly, we cannot forget the skin type that has it all: Combination Skin Types, if you happen to have this skin type, you're likely to experience all of the conditions above separately or at the same time all year round, but in the winter is when your skin battles the most, especially with annoying and painful acne breakouts, with scarring and dry patches simultaneously.
Here are some steps that you should adapt to your beauty routine if you have one, even if you do not, this will help you start one right after you are done with me and this extensive blog.
Everyone will tell you to switch to a good moisturizer, which in my opinion does not make any sense if you don't know what's ''good'' or ''bad'', or talking even more in-depth: what is a moisturizer, an hydrator, and what are those two all about. Both moisturizers and hydrators address the importance of providing the skin with all the water needed to fight dryness and dehydration, premature signs of aging, and environmental damage. The difference, however, lies in how they achieve these results.
When you’re using a topical hydrator, you’re infusing your cells with water and improving your skin’s ability to absorb moisture and nutrients. On the other hand, moisturizing is about trapping and sealing in moisture to build the skin’s protective barrier, prevent water loss, and keep the skin soft, smooth, and less texturized. [Congratulations, you've found the secret code: use code *aqua* for a free service, make sure to book it through Booksy] Make sure to not confuse dry skin with dehydrated skin.
In short, Hydrators will infuse your cells with water, while moisturizers will lock in moisture that is already in your skin.
To know if your skin is dry or dehydrated, take note of your skin conditions. The skin has a natural lipid barrier that protects itself from damage and water loss. If you’re prone to having dry, flaky skin, it is a sign that your skin is not producing enough lipid cells to form a protective barrier, making it unable to lock in moisture.
- Inn Beauty Project's Next Level NO BS Daily Moisturizer
- Kinship Supermello hydrating gel-cream
- YTTP Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream
- Dermedicine Weightless daily face moisturizer spf25
- PTR Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream
- Glow Recipe's Banana Souffle
- Osea blemish balm
- Belif's The True Cream - Aqua Bomb
- GinZing Oil-Free Energy-Boosting Gel Moisturizer
- Hydraluminous overnight recovery gel cream
- Weleda Skin-food
- Aquaphor Healing Ointment
- Farmacy Honey Halo ultra-hydrating ceramide moisturizer
- Ultra Facial Cream
- FAB Ultra Repair cream intense hydration
- Inn Beauty Project's Next Level NO BS Daily Moisturizer
- YTTP Adaptogen Deep Moisture cream
- Toleriane double-repair face moisturizer
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
- Belif's True Cream Moisturizing Bomb
HYDRATE AND MOISTURIZE
Serums are concentrated treatments packed with active ingredients perfect for targeting most skin concerns. Add them to your routine or even mix them with your moisturizers to add extra hydration back to your skin. TIP: After washing your face with cold water and a gentle cleanser, pat a toner, lather a hyaluronic acid serum on top, and add both a hydrator and a moisturizer to lock in moisture. Or, if you want to keep things simple, look for a product that has all-in-one. Do not forget your hands!
HUMIDIFY
Dry air=drier skin. Placing a humidifier in the room that you frequent the most will increase the water in the air. A cool air humidifier increases the moisture level in the air, helping the skin barrier stay hydrated. Trust me, this will be an investment that you will not regret. Tip: keep the heat on low or at a moderate temperature to avoid dryness in the air.
ADD MORE LIQUIDS TO YOUR DIET
Water plays a central role in making sure your skin stays healthy, smooth, and radiant, so it only makes sense that you drink more water during the colder months. Do not overdo it with alcohol and caffeine, as they are diuretics that will cause dehydration, instead drink plenty of water, even if it sounds redundant.
WEAR SUN PROTECTION
Harmful UV Rays don’t sleep nor hibernate during the winter.
Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher daily to all exposed skin, and make sure to cover everything. Consider choosing a moisturizing sunscreen with ingredients like lanolin or glycerin to combat dry winter skin*. When the temperature drops or you haven’t seen the sun in a while, do not think you can put away the sunscreen. Even in the winter and on cloudy days, it is important to guard your skin against cancer and aging. Why? Harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays are present year-round. They can even filter through dark cloud coverage to reach your skin. Do not let a cloudy day fool you into forgoing sunscreen. There is also an effect called cloud enhancement of UV radiation, look it up. The sun’s beams reflect off the sides of clouds causing radiation to be more focused and dangerous. So DO NOT leave your skin to fry in the sun. Protect it even if you can not see it or feel it.
*WINTER SKIN: The uppermost layers of your skin are called the stratum corneum, and they work as our skin shield, protecting what's inside, while keeping out bad elements from the environment, like pollution. This shield is made from about 10-15 micrometers of dead-cell, the ones that are in charge of keeping natural moisture inside the skin. When humidity drops in the winter, the outside air is drier making it easy for the harsh environmental factors to affect our skin negatively. On top of it all, we use radiators and heaters to stay warm inside (and everywhere we go) which end-up sucking the last bit of moisture from our skin, stripping it out from its natural oils, leaving us with flaky, dull, ashy, extra sensitive, itchy and prone-to-wrinkles skin; this phenomenon is what we call Winter Skin.
AVOID HOT SHOWERS AND HOT WATER IN GENERAL
Use a gentle cleanser. Avoid harsh ingredients and acne washes that can contribute to drying up your skin. Do not wash your face with the same water temperature you use for your body, okay? I know it is tempting to bathe in boiling water when it is so cold outside, but if you do not know it already: Cold water will make you feel warmer anyway, so put on your big girl pants, enjoy a cold shower and limit the time in the bathroom. Never over-wash your face nor hands and lather in coconut oil (if you can) after every shower sesh. It will not only make your skin look lustrous, luminous, healthy, and beautiful, but it will also make you smell like paradise and give you a softer, sexier feeling to touch.
SCRUB AND EXFOLIATE
I know some people that have never done this in their lives, or at least started doing it very lightly after I told them to. With all the love of my heart, do not be like them. SCRUB YOUR WORRIES AWAY! trust me when I tell you that it does not matter the number of creams, serums (moisturizing product in general) you apply to your skin during the colder months because if you do not exfoliate, the dryness will find its way to say hi, under all that dead skin. So, try out one of the many homemade scrub recipes online and start buffing dullness away.
STAY ACTIVE
I know it is cold AF outside, our favorite places are all closed, we all have been gaining weight in the past months with everything happening in the world, the pandemic, and everything else going on in this country.
The shorter days and lack of sunlight may have you feeling kinda demotivated and drained, the virus is keeping you from spending more time outdoors, and we have so much in our heads that often forget to hydrate ourselves. At least it happens to me (if not, lucky you). Not to mention all the sweets and alcohol we had on Christmas 2020... IT HAS BEEN REAL, OKAY! especially on our skin. Stress eating, anxiety, our hair falling off, the freaking facial covering 24/7 due to covid-19 again. Maybe you are not as social as I am, but I know that we all miss ''normal life'' and normal skin.
Anyway, my point is that the past year was crazy on our skin and we are lacking a lot of vitamin D already, so since it's 2021, we have to do better for ourselves by fighting the winter tiredness that is definitely showing on our skin right now, by exercising and moving a little bit more. Let's try our best to run or walk outside, to pump our blood vessels, and practice indoor sports more often (both types, ifkyk).
KISS YOURSELF
DOUBLE CLEANSE AND DOUBLE MOISTURIZE BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP
- Double-Cleanse even if you stayed home
- Apply a hydrating or balancing toner depending on your personal needs
- Target your skin concern with a spot treatment or serum (acne, wrinkles, dullness...)
- Moisturize your skin with the use of a night cream or a sleeping mask
- NEVER GO TO SLEEP WITH MAKEUP ON!
Well yes! this blog post has finally come to an end. I know that these tips will help you achieve better, healthier, and glowing mermaid skin overall, no matter the skin type you have. If you want any tips targeted to your unique needs, don't hesitate to ask, comment, or send me a DM. I'm also available for product recommendations and open to give you any opinions or advice on any product that I've tried so far, which is a lot so ask me about anything. If you read everything to this point, CONGRATS, nobody reads these days, I really appreciate people like you for supporting small businesses and taking their time to nourish their minds, lol. I hope to see your results on social media. Tag me on your stories or by using the hashtag #MABeautySpells
As always, thank you for swimming in this sea.
Sending love, blessings, and good fortune to you,
Marivi
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