Don't Leave Your Skin Out In The Cold

I consulted with a pro to find out what we should do to help our skin make the transition from summer to the colder months of winter.

I assumed we might need to change our routine, products and maintenance and those suspicians were confirmed by trained esthetician Julie Holly.

Julie is based LifeSpa & Salon http://lifetimefitness.com/lifespa in the Lifetime Fitness club in Rockville and has 7 years of experience in European facials, waxing, microdermabrasion, chemical/enzymatic exfoliation as well as body treatments. She has worked along side plastic surgeons and physicians and learned about chemical peels, laser treatments, light therapies and injectables.


Q: Julie should we care for our skin differently as the temperature and seasons change?

Julie: Yes. In warmer weather, especially in the DC area, the air is very moist and in order to reduce excess oil a mild, foaming cleanser and light weight moisturizer are best. A mask containing a clay such as kaolin is also beneficial in soaking up excess oil on a weekly basis.

In the colder weather that is now approaching, a switch to a milky, cream based cleanser is best as the air is a lot dryer and we don't want to strip the skin of precious oil. Your moisturizer should also contain a noncomedogenic oil to assist in keeping the water level in the skin balanced.

Lastly, exfoliate and follow with a hydrating mask weekly.

Q: Do you have any specific treatments or products that will protect our skin during the really cold months of winter?

Julie: A deep exfoliation, also known as a light peel, is a great way to remove the abundance of dead skin from the surface thus allowing the hydrating products that are introduced into the skin via massage and mask penetrate even deeper.

One peel to try at LifeSpa/Salon is the Murad IP5 treatment that contains 5 different types of exfoliators and brightening ingredients: glycolic acid, salycilic acid, vitamin C, lactic acid and Indian fig.

This is also a great time of year to receive a body scrub and hydrating body wrap -- don't forget skin is the largest organ of the body!

For homecare, I highly recommend switching over to a cream based cleanser such as Phytomer's Doux Visage Velvet Cleansing Cream or Murad's Moisture Rich Facial Wash. It is also advisable to ditch your astringent and turn to a hydrating toner followed by a more rich moisturizer such as Phytomer's Nutricontinue Cream with Shea Butter or Murad's Nightly Hydrolock with Immunodefense.

For body I recommend soaking in Phytomer's Oligomer Lyophilized Sea Water Bath followed by Hydracontinue Moisturizing Body Milk.

Q: How often should we get facials?

Julie: Depending on the condition of the skin and the goals that you want to achieve, facials can be received as often as once a week, although you can also notice an improvement in the skin with monthly treatments.

If you are trying to overcome a condition such as chronic acne, sun damage or fine lines and wrinkles, I usually recommend a series of 6 peel treatments done weekly followed by a monthly maintenance facial that may or may not include a peel.

Special: Book a Signature Facial with Julie in November and receive a complimentary Brow Shaping!


LifeSpa & Salon
1151 Seven Locks Road
Rockville, MD 20854
240.599.2924

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