As if you were on fire from within.

The moon lives in the lining of your skin.

Pablo Neruda

Our skin is our largest organ and is the envelope in which we live and thrive. It’s also our first line of defense, so caring for it is important. Giving your skin the love it needs is part of taking care of your entire being.

Why is winter hard on the skin?

As we age, our skin changes and usually gets a bit dryer, but it also is more finicky in winter because it can’t always keep up with the changes in the weather. It may show signs of flaking, redness, and itchiness. If there is a history of eczema, psoriasis may show up now. 

How do you nourish your skin?

The skin is deeply connected to the body’s lungs and elimination systems, so we need to make sure these two areas are fully supported. I recommend herbs and teas for this. (Consult your health practitioner to find out which formulas are right for you.)

Feeding the skin from the inside through good nutrition is essential. Make sure you are getting plenty of antioxidants by eating the rainbow of fruits and veggies. Include good fats and essential fatty acids in your diet, and drink plenty of water. You may not feel like drinking water when it’s cold, but staying well hydrated is essential to supple skin. Herbal teas can lend support and enhance your loving skincare regimen too.

What products are good for the skin in winter?

Well that depends, but think protection and barriers against moisture loss. Always exfoliate your skin before nourishing it. And then add a layer of protection. The skin responds well to routine so make sure you have one. And don’t go to bed with makeup on — not ever!

The skin is vulnerable. It’s like a sponge that can soak up harmful chemicals. That’s why it’s so important to choose your skincare products carefully. This is one of my big gripes with the skincare industry: they don’t consider the effects of toxins in skincare products.  There is still very little regulation on ingredients allowed in cosmetics. Be careful not to get sucked into the marketing hype. 

That said, there are ingredients that are effective and really can improve the skin. You may have heard of some of them such as retinals, hyaluronic acid, and collagen. These are a great benefit to your skin, but only IF they are from a safe source and used expertly. It’s for this reason that I like Beautycounter so much. They are fully committed to changing the industry for the better, and we can count on them to keep our health their top priority.

So many products we are exposed to, including skincare products, can disrupt our hormones and create havoc with our health. They can even make us hold on to fat! Some of them are the cause of unwanted skin conditions. Buyer beware! For more in-depth information on the skin and what it really needs, read Beauty’s Real Beast.

They say that beauty’s only skin deep but that isn’t really true. What is true is that if you love your skin and take care of it, your beauty essence will radiate health and vitality.

So this winter, love up your Gorgeously Healthy skin,

Gay