Written by Ashley Baker
Utah is famous for record snowfall, high altitude and frigid temperatures. As the freeze hits, how can we protect our skin from damage? I turned to Grand Spa Master Esthetician and skin-care phenom Wendy Webber, for her best advice for protecting our skin from winter damage.
Brides- to-be this is for you.
“My philosophy is hydrate, nourish, correct and protect,” Webber says. “Hydrate, feed and correct skin problems with nourishing products that contain advanced ingredients.”
1. Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate.
Frosty weather is tough on skin. “Winter demands more hydration, both topically on the skin and inside of your body,” says Webber. “People have a tendency to drink less water in winter because they’re consuming warm drinks, but only straight water counts for hydration.”
Beverages that contain sugar, caffeine and other chemicals are broken down differently than water, according to Webber. They deplete hydration resulting in the body’s need for an increase in plain water intake. This is especially important during your wedding planning months and leading up to your wedding day.
How much water should we be drinking?
“Drink one half of your bodyweight in ounces of water per day,” says Webber. That means if you weigh 140 pounds, you should be drinking 70 ounces of daily water. “If you’re stressed, sick or exercising often, drink more than the recommended intake to compensate.”
Webber also states that caffeine drinkers need double the ounces in water that the number of ounces in your caffeinated beverage. For example eight ounces of coffee or tea calls for 16 extra ounces of water.
2. Lather Up
“You may not realize you’re getting sunburnt [during wintertime],” Webber says “You may not look like you’re sunburnt, but you’ll still accumulate damage that is aging the skin and causing abnormalities from the winter sun’s rays.”
Webber specifically warns those of us who spend ample time outside or those who ski often. Snow reflects ultraviolet rays that can double the damage of regular UV rays.
“Cloudy weather doesn’t protect us from UV damage. Even on cloudy days, and through glass, we can accumulate UV damage,” says Webber.
What’s the best way to prevent sun damage?
“Use SPF, sun protection containing zinc oxide,” she says. “Zinc oxide is the only protection of full spectrum UVA and UVB, and is able to reflect UV rays instead of absorbing them. Avoid sunscreen containing micronized titanium dioxide, a toxic chemical. Oftentimes, high concentrated chemicals can be irritating and inflammatory to the skin. Medical research has shown that inflammation causes premature aging and breakdown of the skin’s layers. Zinc oxide is a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient as well as protectant.
3. You—And Your Skin Cells—Are What You Eat
“Healthy eating, exercise and getting plenty of rest and sleep all contributes to better looking skin,” says Webber. She recommends sitting down with someone in the holistic health field if you’re unsure of what your body’s requirements are. “They’re specifically trained to look at the individual’s entire lifestyle for optimized health.”
4. Seek Professional Help
Getting a facial from a licensed esthetician to evaluate the current health of your skin is a great way to determine a plan of action and get an at-home regime in place prior to your wedding day.
“Estheticians have access to high-quality products and know how they affect the skin,” she says. “The recommendations they provide will be customized to your specific needs. They can help you find the products that will be best for your skin type.”
Wendy Webber’s Winter Product Picks:
Hydration
HA Intensifier or Strawberry Rhubarb Hydration Serums and Triple Lipid Moisturizer or Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer, all available for purchase from the Grand Spa.Vitamin C
Ce Ferulic or Phloretin CF or Rosehip Triple C+E Firming Oil.Zinc Oxide SPFs
Physical Defense SPF 50 or Physical Fusion SPF 50 or Bright Skin Moisturizer SPF 30.
Wendy Webber is the lead esthetician at the Grand America’s Grand Spa and has been working there since 2001. Click here for more information from the Grand Spa.
