Winter Skin Care Tips

As winter approaches, it becomes especially important to pay attention to skin care. The combination of cold, dry weather outside and indoor air that is dry and heated can damage our skin’s health. Winter weather dries out the skin and makes it less elastic and more fragile and prone to cracking. Skin that is dry wrinkles more easily, and dry skin is more likely to produce complications such as chronic eczema (red patches) or bleeding from cracks that may become infected. Fortunately, there are some things we can do to protect our skin and help keep the dewy, hydrated glow your skin had before the arrival of winter.

Hydration

The goal of your winter skin care program should be to keep as much moisture in your skin as possible. Start by limiting the number of long, hot showers and baths you take. Use warm rather than hot water, and don’t spend longer than necessary in the water. It may seem odd, but water does not moisturize skin. In fact, water repels oil, and it causes our skin to lose its natural oils. Limit yourself to a single five- to ten-minute bath or shower a day.

Avoid using deodorant soaps, perfumed soaps, and products that contain alcohol, because they, too, can rob the skin of its natural oils. Wash with a light touch; don’t use bath sponges or scrub brushes. If you use a wash cloth, use it gently.

Once you are out of the water, apply a moisturizer with skin-softening ingredients to your skin while it is still damp. This will help seal the moisturizer into your skin. To reduce any greasy feeling from thick creams, rub a small amount between your hands and then apply it to the rest of your body. Using a humidifier indoors can also help ensure that there is enough moisture in the air to keep skin hydrated.

Choosing Skin Care Products

The skin care products you use in the warmer weather may not be appropriate in the winter. The key is to select gentler products, such as a gentle cleanser that won’t strip away moisture from your skin. Don’t choose cleansers and soaps that contain harsh chemicals, alcohol, or fragrances. You should also
look for fragrance-free laundry detergents and avoid fabric softeners. Winter air also dries out the skin on your scalp, leading to itching and dandruff. You can treat this problem by selecting the right products. Look for a shampoo and conditioner that are soap-free and designed to remove dirt and build-up while hydrating your scalp and conditioning your hair. If you need more relief, you may want to apply a scalp relief serum as well. A good moisturizer is especially important in the winter, but the one you use in the summer may not provide enough protection for your skin once the air becomes colder and drier. If you are using a lotion and your skin still feels dry, consider switching to a cream.

Don’t forget your hands and lips. Applying a hand cream after each washing can help keep the skin on your hands soft and help prevent dry, cracked skin, and a moisturizing balm applied to the lips can help keep them from chapping and cracking. If you need help selecting products that are right for your skin, your London Drugs beauty consultants will be happy to help you.

Don’t Forget the Sunscreen

Think sunscreen is only for the summer? Wrong! It is extremely important to use a sunscreen all year long. Not only will it help keep your skin from looking prematurely old, it will also help prevent the damage that the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause. Snow reflects up to 80% of the sun’s rays, so going outdoors in the winter could expose you to nearly a double dose of skin-damaging radiation. When choosing a sunscreen, look for a product with a minimum SPF (sun protection factor) of 30. A sunscreen that is labelled “broad spectrum” will protect against both UVB rays (the ones that cause sunburn) and UVA rays (which penetrated deeper into the skin and are responsible for premature aging and contribute to the development of skin cancer). Don’t forget to protect your lips with a lip balm that has an SPF of 30, and reapply it every hour.

Dress for the Cold

Some fabrics used in cold weather clothing can be rough and scratchy. To prevent irritation, it is best to keep these fabrics away from direct contact with your skin. Instead, wear light layers of clothing made from soft materials against you skin and add layers of heavier materials on top. Protect your hands with gloves or mittens. Wearing wet clothes, socks, or shoes can irritate skin, so be sure to change out of wet clothing as soon as possible. If you still experience skin dryness and irritation after taking precautions, your London Drugs pharmacists can guide you in selecting an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream that can help. If you don’t see improvement after a few days, you may need a prescription-strength moisturizer. Our pharmacists will be happy to answer any questions you may have about these products.

Want to Win a Limited Edition Bottle of Vichy Mineral 89?

CONTEST RULES
Vichy Lunar New Year Giveaway – Official Rules

1) To enter on Instagram:

✨GIVEAWAY ✨ Looking for a boost of hydration? Fight back the harsh winter weather with @vichycanada #Mineral89! We’re giving 5 lucky winners a *Limited Edition* Mineral 89 Lunar New Year bottle plus one for their bestie!
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To enter:
⭐️ FOLLOW @ldbeauty_ & @vichycanada
⭐️ LIKE this photo
⭐️ TAG your skin care loving bestie!
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See link in bio for full T&Cs. Contest runs from Jan 17-22, 2020 11:59pm PST. Winner will be contacted via DMs.
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Participating and entering in this promotion is considered a complete release of instagram by each entrant or participant. It is also an acknowledgment that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by or associated with instagram.

Jan 17 – 22, 2020 11:59pm PST

2) No purchase necessary. Limit one (1) entry per social network per contest. Limit one (1) prize may be won per household. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Time on Jan 22, 2020. London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected.

3) Contest is open to all residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who, as of the date the prize draw is made: (i) have not won a London Drugs contest since Jan 22, 2019; (ii) have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside as at Jan 17, 2020 iii) are not employees of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization (if any), or any family member living with any such employee.

4) The winners will be randomly chosen on the day the contest ends (see dates below) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from all eligible entries received per contest. To win, selected entrants must have correctly answered the skill-testing mathematical question on the entry for on the online entry form and must sign London Drug’s declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize(s) as awarded, releasing London Drugs from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes.

5) There will be 5 (five) prize(s) awarded to 5 (five) winners: each receiving 2 (two) Vichy Mineral 89valued at $39.95 Prize(s) must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted. London Drugs reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should any prize become unavailable for any reason. Prize will be awarded at the closest London Drugs location to the winner.

Contests dates: Jan 17 – 22, 2020
Draw Date: 12:00 PM Pacific Time Jan 24, 2020

6) Selected entrants will be contacted by email, or social network they were drawn from. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the winner does not respond then she/he will be notified for the second time, 3 (three) days after the first notification. If the winner still does not respond within 3 days of the second notification, a new winner will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is successfully contacted.

7) The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final.

8) London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).

9) This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations. By entering the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs and their agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed at www.londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.

10) The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.

STATEMENT OF DECLARATION AND RELEASE

All selected entrants will be required to sign the Statement of Declaration and Release attached before they can be declared a winner and receive a contest prize.