Winter Skin

As wonderful as the snowflakes and Christmas lights are, this winter weather can really take a toll on your skin. The decrease in humidity can throw your skin for a loop and you suddenly may be experiencing break outs or excessive dryness. When the skin’s acid mantle is impaired, which is a very fine, slightly acidic film on the surface of your skin that acts as a barrier to bacteria, viruses and other potential contaminants that might penetrate the skin, dirt and pollution have little pockets of broken skin they can enter which cause unwanted breakouts. It seems ironic breaking out when its winter and not when your face is melting off in the summer but it actually makes a lot of sense. The dry patches, and cracked skin make it easy for yucky toxins to get in! On top of that (as if it gets worse) not having a moisturizer that is heavy enough can lead to TEWL (Trans-Epidermal Water Loss.) This occurs when that acid mantle isn’t in tact and your skin basically lets moisture evaporate through the broken barrier. I know right? Double Whammy of dehydration and breakouts. Ways to prevent all of this from happening are to make sure you up your oil content in the moisturizer you use. I suggest adding a Facial oil to your moisturizer or upgrading to a higher concentration of oil to water ratio moisturizer. I almost always switch the moisturizer in my clients regimen at this time of the year, and suggest adding a hyaluronic acid serum to help balance out any water loss in the skin. Here is a list of a few products I suggest to look into during these cold winter months! 

If you have any questions, please reach out! I suggest purchasing online through dermstore, as an authorized retailer you won’t be exposed to any expired or watered down products. 

XO - Finnley 

Dermalogica’s Phyto Replenish Oil: feather-light treatment oil works in three phases to strengthen, hydrate and shield for healthy, luminous skin. Camellia and tamanu oils help restore the skin's natural barrier. Then, an essential blend that includes orchid flower and chia seed oil smoothes visible lines and locks in critical moisture. Finally, sunflower, rice bran and rosemary extracts create a luminous antioxidant shield against free radical damage. Ideal for daily use on normal to dry skin.

Eminence Organics Facial Recovery Oil: naturally moisturizes while combating the early signs of aging. With a mixture of fine organic botanicals, including olive oil, sesame oil and rosemary, this potent skin oil reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while soothing sensitive skin. Use day or night for a smoother, younger-looking complexion. 

Osmosis Beauty Immerse Facial Oil: alleviates dehydration with nourishing, natural ingredients for a soft and supple complexion. Essential oils of lemon and lavender soften your texture for a glowing appearance. Dehydrated skin is left looking fresh and radiant.

Men’s V76 by Vaughn: Can’t leave out the guys, here is my favorite beard oil to recommend and a perfect stocking stuffer for the man in your life! V76 by Vaughn Beard Oil softens coarse beards and mustaches while soothing facial hair and skin. The oil's easy absorption leaves skin hydrated and protected while a blend of saw palmetto and safflower oil prevent dryness, roughness and help to soothe the skin.

— Now for Hydrating Serums, you use these after you cleanse before you apply your facial oil or moisturizer! 

SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier: Its potent blend of pure hyaluronic acid, proxylane, licorice root and purple rice work to boost skin's hyaluronic acid levels, improving skin texture and restoring elasticity.

PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum: Infused with a powerful blend of deeply hydrating ingredients, this face serum minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Filled with ceramides, B-Vitamins and 3 types of hyaluronic acid molecules. 

SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator: This bad boy blends five types of hydrators that immediately go to work replenishing your skin's hyaluronic acid. Ideal for all skin types, this hydrating serum balances moisture levels to smooth and soften rough texture, lines and wrinkles. Free of fragrance, it boosts the overall health of your skin and provides a staggering eight hours of continuous moisture. The humectants draw moisture from the air and deliver it straight to the areas of your skin that need it the most. It's so potent that it almost immediately begins to smooth the appearance of furrows. 

Summer Skin & Body Scrubs

I look forward to the Fall, where fires with flannels and jeans are my life. But right now, we are baring those legs in this hot summer heat and it's nice to keep them looking fresh! Here's a list of what I do, and some fun body scrubs to throw into your summer routine! 

1. Invest in a boar-bristled brush to buff in circular motions on your legs, especially in areas that you find a tendency for weight gain or cellulite. Mio Body Brush is the one I use & love!

2. Get a good SCRUB! You'll want to use this after you shave your legs if it's sugar based, and before if it is a salt based scrub.

3. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate. Get an awesome moisturizer, I really love FATCO Calming Body Butta It's only $16 and a little goes a long way & its really rich because they use Tallow. Go check out their website and get you some. 

4. Get a summer Glow! I actually love Loving Tan Deluxe Bronzing Mousse in Ultra Dark. Even being as pale as I am, It works really well. I use the hand-mit applicator every time and the exfoliating mit to keep up with the patchy spots between applications. (always before bed) 

Time to go in depth on some Body Scrubs (i love my job) 

1. Beauty Counter - Brown Sugar Scrub ($40 for 8.0z), my favorite! This stuff is gold. I had been looking for a scrub like this forever, and thankfully I found it at a Women in Business Mixer I attended, hosted by The Spotted Pig. Reasons this is my number 1, it gives strong exfoliation with the size of the sugar, and the hydrating oils leave you incredibly soft. The aroma is simply to-die-for, a lemongrass citrus uplifting blend, perfect for the minimalist.  

2. Violets are Blue - Salt Scrub in Sunflower Oil & Grapefruit ($38 for 6oz), The first time I tried this scrub I was thrown off because the salt is really rounded without gritty edges. But I was in love with the Dead Sea Salt because it contains 21 minerals including magnesium, calcium, sulfur, bromide, iodine, sodium, zinc and potassium. Also, the hydration from the sunflower oil and the aroma of the Grapefruit essential oils are truly invigorating. I played with it until i figured it out. Keep it cupped in your hand the whole time, instead of rubbing all around with your fingers and hands. Use the cupped area of your hand with your scrub as an "exfoliation pad" and move in circular motions, keeping the scrub controlled and contained. Ultimately it came in my number 2 spot, because salt irritates the legs if you apply it after you shave and if i'm taking the time for a body scrub, I am taking the time to shave my legs.

3. Gavee Gold Diamond Cell Salt Polish ($125 for 100ml), This is my top pick for total luxury scrub. As far as design, price and ingredients you are getting 5-star quality. Infused with oxygen-infused Omega 3,6,9's, Diamond Powder (yes, i said diamond), Metal-Free Purified 24k Liquid Gold, 12 mineral cell salts, and hemp oil you are going to feel like royalty after your done scrubbing up. I think the ingredients speak for themselves on how luxe this product is. I just use this on my face, but for those living lavishly I would use it all over. 

Hope you enjoyed, leave your comments below!