Is YOUR skin suffering from SAD? Dermatology expert reveals how the colder weather puts stress and strain on your complexion – and causes all kinds of issues, from acne to wrinkles
- Medical esthetician Jordana Mattioli, from New York, detailed the impact that the changing seasons can have on your skin
- She said that your skin can suffer in the same negative way that your mood might when the weather becomes cold and dreary
- In order to avoid any negative side effects, she recommends shaking up your beauty routine, focusing on nourishing products, as well as exfoliation
- Jordana also advises making several lifestyle changes, such as using a humidifier at night, and taking Omega Fatty Acid supplements
Expert opinion: Medical esthetician Jordana Mattioli has warned that the colder weather can wreak havoc on your skin
It is not uncommon for the colder weather to cause some serious mood changes, leaving many people feeling sad, grumpy, and totally sapped of energy.
In the most severe clinical cases, this is known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that is related to the changing seasons, and is most commonly triggered by the arrival of frostier, drearier climes.
But now a dermatology expert has warned that it isn’t just your mood that the cold weather is having a negative impact on – it can also have the same effect on your skin.
Medical esthetician Jordana Mattioli, who is based in New York, explained to DailyMail.com that both your complexion and your skin can be effected by your mood – revealing how any weather-induced mood changes can actually cause issues like acne, dullness, and signs of aging.
‘Skin absolutely is affected by our moods; they have a huge impact on not only how we look, but how others perceive us,’ she said.
‘Stress is probably the biggest culprit not only for aging but for health. Stress releases specific hormones that in turn slow down our natural skin turnover rate along which can exacerbate dryness, dehydration, even acne.
‘In times of stress, or even sadness, its also common for people to also pay less attention to self-care, and their skin care routine. There has even been a bit research which shows that healing, cell turnover, and collagen production slow down a little with high levels of cortisol present.’
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to protect your skin against such stresses – with Jordana explaining that it is best to change your daily routine and skincare regimen with the weather, so as to nip any potential problems in the bud, before they become too unmanageable.
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‘The skin likes consistency, so it’s very normal for skin to be affected by seasonal changes,’ she said.
‘The biggest issues over the winter are the cold and the lack of humidity. The outer barrier of the skin is easily disrupted and becomes more prone to inflammation and severe dryness.
‘Our indoors environments also play a role, like our heating systems.’
Interestingly, Jordana’s first suggestions for how to manage the changing weather don’t involve anything beauty-related – instead she recommends starting with your morning routine, and your environment at home.
‘A few things I recommend to clients [include] running a humidifier in your bedroom at night [and] talking to your doctors about supplements like Omega Fatty acids,’ she noted, before adding: ‘Its common over the winter to eat more sugar- and carb-laden comfort foods, and that will totally affect your skin, so supplement with green juices and extra veggies as often as possible.’
As far as your daily beauty routine, Jordana also recommends making a few changes.
She suggests that you don’t exfoliate more than twice a week – but warns that this doesn’t mean getting rid of exfoliation altogether, quite the opposite in fact.
‘Exfoliation and shedding the outside layer of skin is essential to let your other products – particularly your hydrators – penetrate better,’ Jordana explained.
Wish list? Jordana suggests using a humidifier, such as this Dyson option ($399.99), at night to combat the drying effects of indoor heating, and also recommends adding a supplement rich in Omega Fatty Acids, like Hum’s OMG! Omega the Great ($30) to boost hydration
‘You’ll have much fewer dry skin issues when your moisturizer doesn’t have that barrier to get through. No matter your skin type or concern (or season!), exfoliation should be an essential step of any skincare routine.
‘It also helps the skin function its best and bring it back to a more balanced state to be able to look great no matter the season.’
As far as ingredients to look out for – Jordana praises pumpkin as being both a seasonal and all-around miracle-worker for skin, particularly when included in a peel like the newly-launched Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel ($85), which she lists as a personal favorite.
‘Pumpkin contains natural sources of enzymes and antioxidants,’ she said. ‘The enzymes help to dissolve protein, exfoliate, and increase skin cell turnover.
‘Two particular antioxidants found in pumpkin have amazing benefit to the skin – Vitamin A and C. This combination of enzymes and powerful antioxidants make pumpkin a great ingredient in an exfoliating at home peel or face mask.
‘I love masks with enzymes, one of my favorites is the Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel. It combines not only pumpkin enzymes, but a good dose of alpha hydroxy acids, a combo that will give you instantly smooth skin.’
For those people who tend to struggle with dry skin, Jordana says that adding a rich night cream to your routine can work wonders in terms of boosting hydration in the face of frosty temperatures and punishing indoor heat, while using an oil on top of your day-to-day moisturizer can also be a skin savior.
Anyone with oilier skin ‘should try adding a layer of hyaluronic acid serum’, she added.
If you want to go all out, try treating yourself to a facial, Jordana suggest, explaining: ‘Seasonal changes are the best times to get a facial to just reset your skin by getting in some good exfoliation and starting fresh.’
And it’s not just your face that you need to look out for – your body also needs additional care during the cold winter months.
‘Slather on body oil or cream while skin is still damp after a shower,’ Jordana says, urging that people remember to take as much care with their body as they do with their face.
Beat skin SAD with hyrdration-boosting products for every budget
Love yourself! Skin expert Jordana Mattioli recommends using an oil or moisturizer when you are still damp from the shower – so why not combine the two and use an in-shower oil? Both the Dove Nourishing Care Shower Oil (left, $4.88) and the L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil (right, $25) are amazing options that will feel your skin feeling smooth and hydrated as soon as you step out of the water
Scrub a dub! Although Jordana recommends reducing exfoliation to two times a week, she insists it should never disappear from your routine altogether. As far as the body is concerned, look no further than the Purlisse Coconut Oil + Coffee Sugar Body Scrub (left, $36) – a sweet-smelling treat that will slough away dead skin quickly and painlessly – or the Herbivore Coco Rose Body Polish (right, $36), which, as well as being a dream product to use, will undoubtedly be the most aesthetically pleasing thing in your bathroom. Whichever takes your fancy, you can rest assured that it will leave your skin feeling silky smooth, and hydrated – thanks to the coconut oil in each formula.
Slather it on! Once you’ve rid yourself of any dry or dead skin, it’s time to inject some serious moisture back into your body, for which was love the Jergens Oil-Infused Enriching Shea Butter Moisturizer (left, $7.99), a budget-friendly favorite that helps to hydrate the skin, and leave it looking ‘visibly more radiant’. Meanwhile Philosophy’s Fresh Cream Body Lotion (right, $20) offers the most comforting of scents in a formula that is also rich with shea butter – as well as macadamia seed and olive fruit oils – and will leave you feeling as though you have just enveloped your skin in a warm hug.
I can’t believe it’s not butter! For an even more intensive dose of moisture, it’s worth ramping up your bodycare from a lotion to a body butter. In this instance, we have two particular favorites that are sure to take care of any dry skin issues you may be having this winter – the OGX Shea Soft & Smooth Body Butter (left, $10.66) and the Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter (right, $49). Both formulas are filled with nourishing ingredients – with shea butter serving as the main moisture giver in both – and will certainly soothe and smooth any dry skin or flaking you may suffer from this winter.
All about that face: From the body to the complexion, it’s time to kick it all off with an exfoliator once again, at least twice a week, that is. For anyone suffering with acne-prone, yet sensitive, skin, the Biore Baking Soda Cleansing Scrub (left, $10.66) is a great gentle option that, because it’s a powder formula, won’t irritate the skin with any larger abrasive particles. If you’re in the mood for more of an at-home spa treatment however, the Omorovicza Refining Facial Polisher (right, $95) should be first on your list thanks to its lavish formula, which is rich in marine micro-algae to regenerate and repair.
‘Tis the season! After Jordana praised pumpkin so highly, it would have been impossible not to include it on this list; as far as at-home peels, one of our favorite, and more budget-friendly, options are the Too Cool For School Pumpkin Hydra & Peeling Pads ($18), which make morning and night skincare routines easy thanks to their adorable packaging. Aesthetics aside, however, they also work wonders on the skin and will leave it looking, and feeling, softer and brighter throughout the winter months.
Expert option: Jordana highlighted the newly-launched Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel ($85) as one of her favorite recommendations for the winter months – and with very good reason. The professional-grade at-home peel promises to help you achieve brighter, healthier skin within one week by using the product for just a few minutes a day. Enriched with pumpkin fruit enzyme which, along with rice bran extract, helps to resurface the skin, the peel removes all dead and dry skin, which in turn improves radiance and brightness. Plus – as Jordana pointed out – your other hydrating products will sink in far more effectively without any dead skin cells to soak them up.
Acid, acid, baby: Another ingredient that Jordana recommended as a key addition to any winter routine is hyaluronic acid, which has been described as something of a ‘magnet for moisture’, ensuring that your skin retains every ounce of hydration that you put into it. The ingredient can be applied in all manner of forms, but our favorite is via a sheet mask; two favorites include the Bath and Body Works Hyaluronic Acid Gel Sheet Mask (left, $4.95) – which may seem like a strange choice to those who know and love the brand for it’s body creams and hand sanitizers, but trust us – and the Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution Deep Hydration Sheet Mask (right, $6). Whichever takes your fancy, just be sure and rub all of the excess product into your face after the mask comes off in order to reap all of the moisture-boosting benefits.
A real treat: If you want to make sure that you’re getting everything that your skin might possibly need in one high-quality product, then the SkinCeuticals Custom Dose is the option for you. This serum is – as the name might suggest – custom-made to suit your skin type, with experts picking 14 different ingredients that best suit your individual wants and needs. That formula is then adjusted and re-worked every three months to ensure that your skin is always getting the care that it craves the most at any given time.
The eyes have it: The delicate skin under the eyes is one of the most sensitive areas of the face – and one of the places where signs of aging start showing most prominently – so it must not be neglected in your routine. Show that under-eye area some love with a moisturizing eye mask, like the incredibly Bliss Eye Got This Holographic Foil Eye Masks ($4), which not only feel wonderful, they look phenomenal thanks to the shimmering star pattern. For something slightly more low-key, but equally as effective, look no further than the Rodial Dragon’s Blood Eye Masks ($6.13), which have long been loved by A-listers and beauty experts alike.
Sleep tight! If you really struggle with the dry indoor heating, using a really thick, rich moisturizer at night could be the answer to all your complexion woes. For something truly intense, try the Mamonde Calming Hydro Sleeping Mask ($25), which will protect your skin on the surface with a layer of moisture, while also adding a much-needed dose of hydration on a deeper level.
Sweet dreams: Another celebrity-loved overnight skincare item is the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Night Cream ($145) which – despite the hefty price tag – is one of the most moisture-rich creams on the market. Those with oilier skins may well want to avoid for the reasons, but for anyone who suffers from dryness, this will work wonders.
Oil ’em up! As per Jordana’s suggestion, adding a face oil into any routine is a great way to inject some moisture – particularly in the evening, when you can allow it time to sink in properly. Both The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalizing Face Oil (left, $39) and the Whal Myung Elixir (right, $58) are great hydrating options that can either be used on top of a moisturizer, or added in with it. The Whal Myung product can also be applied elsewhere on the body to soothe any particularly dry patches.
PSL: Pumpkin. Spice. Lips. Need we say more? Whether or not pumpkin-themed products are your thing, there is no denying that your pout needs a bit of extra care in this colder weather. As well as being seasonally spot-on, the Burt’s Bees Pumpkin Spice Moisturizing Lip Balm ($3.30) is also a great all-rounder that will keep your lips free from chapping even in the coldest of winds.
Secret weapon: As far as overnight lip care, you really need look no further than the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask ($20), which is seen by many beauty experts as something of a holy grail product. Pop a thick layer on your lips overnight, and by morning, you’ll find yourself with a smoother, softer pout – what more could you ask for?
Finish it off! Taking care of your lips doesn’t mean abandoning color altogether, however it might mean adding a lovely new tinted balm to your collection of products. If that’s the course of action you choose to take, we suggest the Sun Bum Tinted Sunscreen Lip Balm (left, $5.99), which has the added bonus of SPF 15 to protect your lips int he winter sun, or the Bite Agave Lip Mask in Champagne (right, $26), which is not only one of the most nourishing lip products on the market – it is also one of the prettiest.
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