Get your bloom back

LEANNE JACOBSEN

Trees are budding, tulips are blooming, and the rain is still coming down on an almost daily basis, so why is skin drier and more sensitive at this time of year?

The consensus among estheticians at three local spas is that there are a number of factors that can particularly damage skin during the winter months, and at this time of year, the cumulative effects are most noticeable.

The worst offender is the environment we live in. Central heating in our homes and heaters in our cars actually draw moisture out of the skin. Fluorescent lighting not only dehydrates but can cause cell damage and change pigmentation – and finally cold air itself, even on a rainy day, will actually dry our skin. Given that we are almost always indoors with lights on during these months, the drying effects become more apparent.

To make matters worse, we tend to lower our water intake during the fall and winter months and increase our consumption of tea and coffee (which are both dehydrating). It's no wonder that our stressed skin reacts with a feeling of tightness and sensitivity.

Frances Rae of Bianches on Granville Street said exfoliation and rehydration are critical at this time of year. Their estheticians use Dead Sea salts combined with essential oils for exfoliation in an number of their body treatments. With some treatments, they also use a variety of tools, such as galvanic current and ultrasound, to deliver their skin care products up to 400 per cent more effectively.

Pascale Couton, senior esthetician from Spa Ethos on West 4th, recommends the Aromatic Hydratic Facial, with its use of regenerative essential oils to hydrate and destress your face. Follow this with a Look Better Naked complete body treatment, featuring a Soufflé Scrub and Body Butter Massage, and your skin will blossom in time with the season.

Allison Hegedus, president of Vida Wellness Spas, with locations in both the Wall Centre and Sutton Place hotels in downtown Vancouver, as well as at the Chateau Whistler, is passionate about repeated exfoliation of the skin at this time of year. She said that we can use the best creams available, but if we don't take off that initial layer of dead skin cells, those creams will not be able to penetrate properly to all the necessary layers of the dermis.

Hegedus recommended Vida's Spring Rejuvenation Package, which is perfectly tailored to restore skin balance and moisture at this time of year and features a Multi-Vitamin Power Exfoliating Facial, a Hydro-Active Mineral Salt Scrub and a Hydrating Gel Body Wrap. She went on to say that the therapeutic touch found to some degree in most professional spa treatments is an important component of wellness and is particularly important at this time of year, given the lack of sunshine and elevated stress levels we all experience.

As for what can we do at home to take care of our skin, the answers were similar: increase your water intake to eight cups daily, exfoliate at least once a week, using an exfoliator that combines both fruit acids, which remove dead cells from the skin's surface, and enzymes, which act almost like Pacman and destroy the dead cells. Do not use exfoliates which contain apricot kernels – these kernels are crushed and the particles are jagged and can actually cause tiny tears in the skin. Apply a good quality hydrating masque after exfoliating. Use a loofah when you shower. Finally, cleanse your face twice a day and follow with an alcohol-free toner (which actually puts moisture back into the skin) and then moisturize with a good quality product containing essential oils.

So whether you choose to start an at-home beauty regime or treat yourself to the benefits of a professional spa service, it's time to refresh, rehydrate and put your best face forward.

Leanne Jacobsen is a freelance writer and director of sales at the Jewish Independent.

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