Winter Skincare Tips

Many have experienced mild (and surprisingly warm) temperatures over the winter holidays, January tends to be quite chilly. In addition to staying warm. it’s about protecting your skin - face, body and armpits too! Dermatologist and Dove Deodorant Spokesperson, Dr. Alicia Barba shares how skin can stay nourished this season.

ATHLEISURE MAG: How do we care for skin with temperatures and wind chill that can cause damaging effects?

DR ALICIA BARBA: There are a lot of factors that affect your skin in the winter months, especially in colder climates, that lead to dry skin. Everything from the wind to heating systems to low humidity can wreak havoc on healthy, glowing skin. To defend against the elements, it’s important to wear soft, natural clothing fibers such as cotton, as well as outerwear such as hats, scarves, and gloves that will act as your first line of protection, and recognize that moisturizer will be a key element in protecting your skin.

AM: How can we maintain moisture within our face, body, and underarms?

DR B: Never be exclusionary with your skin care routine, and that means paying attention to your entire body including your face, hands, neck, knees, elbows and even underarms. Look for multi-benefit products like Dove Dry Spray Antiperspirant, which will provide odor and wetness protection as well as moisturizers to keep your underarms soft and smooth. Face creams with SPF and moisturizing body washes are also great for a simplified routine. 

AM: How do you know when your skin has been affected by extreme temperatures?

DR B: You can tell your skin has been affected by cold temperatures when chaffing occurs, or when it appears burnt, flaky or ashy. This can sometimes lead to itchy skin, which I call “winter itch.”

AM: How important is SPF in the winter especially on days when we don’t see the sun?

DR B: SPF is extremely important in the winter! During the colder season, the ozone layer is thinner, which can increase the damaging effects of the sun. 

On cloudy days when we don’t see the sun, it’s important to protect your skin against harmful rays as UVA and UVB penetrate clouds! All year, you should wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or more. 
 
AM: What should the skincare routine be during the winter when you’re maintaining great skin?

DR B: During the winter, take short showers in water that’s not too hot since it can have a drying effect on the skin. Use a gentle shower cleanser and follow with moisturizing body and face creams. Areas like your underarms where many women shave also need to be moisturized, so I like to use Dove Dry Spray Antiperspirant that has built in moisturizers in addition to 48 hour odor and wetness protection. As always, for any skin that is exposed to the sun, be sure to apply sunscreen. 

AM: What products are perfect to use in the winter in colder climates?

DR B: This time of year it’s all about moisturizers and protectants, and you can often find multi-benefit products that can do both. Everything from moisturizing lip balms and cleansers to face creams with SPF to antiperspirants that provide moisturizers for softer, smoother underarms. 

AM: Are there certain ingredients that we should aim to include within our routine for optimal skin?

DR B: As mentioned, look for multi-benefit products that emphasize the inclusion of moisturizers and protectants. Other products that are great for your skin are plant-based oils such as avocado, primrose and almond. These oils sink into your skin to keep you hydrated longer.

 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Dove

CLEANSE PROGRAMS

A powerful component of balance pre- and post workout is ensuring that your body is getting essential nutrients that it needs. Pressed juices and cleanses are all the rage as we look for ways to automate better health. Celebrity Nutritionist, Kimberly Snyder has hand selected an array of vitamins and other power foods within Glow Bio that is located in LA but ships nationwide. 

Kimberly’s approach to this process is to  cleanse while adding nutritional value with Glow Bio’s one of a kind cleanses. Not only does it maximize the experience by eliminating toxins, but it maintains blood sugar levels via strategically placed fiber! The goal in this process is not to starve the body (which is the first thought that comes to mind when embarking on journeys of this nature). The true purpose is to rebuild the digestive system while ensuring that the results are sustainable to keep you on track.  

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You can select whether your cleanse will be 1 to 5 days (once again images of other cleanses that last for weeks on end come to mind). Whatever the choice, the primary goal is to have renewed energy, a toned body and of course great looking skin from the inside out.  

Visit the shop (or online) for the full line of cleanses and cold pressed juices at Glow Bio. It is located in LA 7473 Melrose Ave. (Cross Gardner) Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Kimberly Snyder is LA’s go to Celebrity Nutritionist, author and beauty expert (as seen on top morning shows, magazines ) Kimberly Snyder, has a star studded client list that includes Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum, Drew Barrymore, Dita Von Teese, Reese Weatherspoon and Kevin James. to name a few She sourced also provided food during production of movies including The Avengers, The Internship, 21 Jump Street and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Kimberly Snyder

DR SADIO - SUB ROSA AESTHETICS

Customization, personalization, baselines and “less is more” are just some of the keywords that plastic surgeon Dr Sadio uses to help women avoid surgery with her powers to help women.

We all have beauty services that we do with a set person who does our gel manis, eyebrow threading etc. It’s a trusted relationship where you feel that you can get what you need while being confident in placing yourself in the hands of a professional. After sitting with Dr Sonita Sadio at an event held at her West Village practice and again for our one on one interview, we love the focus and service provided at Sub Rosa Aesthetics! 

Talking with Dr Sadio is like speaking with a girlfriend that you have known for years. She talks with you about life, how your day is and when the topic of beauty and specifically what you want to do to ensure that your ageless beauty needs are met, you find that she looks to create the best look possible to avoid surgery. This fact is important to note as Dr Sadio is a plastic surgeon and focused on aesthetic surgery in her studies!

While you marinate on that fact, let’s talk about her member only practice. Her clients are those that start early to avoid doing more later in life for their skincare needs. They are not looking to appear “done” and are not interested in invasive procedures. 

Prior to becoming a member, there is a consultation which includes an intake question including surgeries and photos are taken. Goals are discussed and more importantly, a baseline is established. This is a question which allows the patient to share when they felt they looked their best. This moment in time assists Dr Sadio with how her client wants to look.

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Products that are currently used are reviewed. If both are comfortable with one another, membership would be approved and goals are set within a routine to get her to where she would like to be. During this time, Dr Sadio looks for products (not products created by her) that assist the goals outlined which include items the client already uses,  those that are available at your favorite department store counters, Duane Reade etc. In addition, nutrients that she believes should be within our skincare she creates with a pharmacologist that are made for the client specifically. 

Clients leave understanding the science, being able to work together to build their plan and having a routine that could include the first six months focusing on the reset or corrective process, and then the timeline of check ups is based on the individual needs.

Ageing graciously is about making good choices as being done is the new old. When she is working on someone’s face to ensure that their baseline is met, she offers a pro tip - when managing your skincare the face as well as the hands and neck need to be maintained. A face that looks youthful but hands and neck that look like they belong to someone older is a tell tale sign that work has been “done” (and in one area only).

Dr Sadio spent a decade at some of the world’s finest schools - Harvard Medical School, The Mayo Clinic and Yale College. As a medical student at Georgetown University she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society for academic excellence and won the school’s award for Leadership & Compassion.

The practice began to become a vision during her aesthetic surgery fellowship training in Manhattan. After performing a facelift, she looked through images of  her thirty and forty-something botox and filler patients. She realized that her minimally invasive approach had the power to make a woman continue to look on the outside as she feels on the inside -- energetic, happy, beloved - but without surgery.  

Even those who are not members of her practice  can hear her thoughts on an array of beauty topics on skincare management via her YouTube channel. 

 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Dr. Sadio

Night + Day Beauty

Update your look for 2016 with must haves to fit in your cosmetic bag. They work from day to night and our some of our favorite brands!

| LAURA MERCIER Creme Smooth Foundation in Toffee Bronze | DIOR ADDICT Extreme Lipstick in Wonderland | LANCOME GRANDIOSE Mascara in Noir Mirifique | URBAN DECAY 24/7 Glide - on Eye Pencil in Zero | BOBBI BROWN Eyeshadow in Eclipse | LAURA GELLER
Bronzer in Moonglow Gold |