Doesn’t it sometimes seem like no matter where we go, or what weather we encounter, our skin just gets….cranky? When it’s cold, skin feels dry and sensitive; while in warmer climates we get oily and breakout-prone, so what’s a girl to do? Well, for starters, adopting these (sometimes surprising) everyday habits from Pour Moi’s founder Ulli Haslacher will help keep your skin healthy year-round, in any climate. And hint, it begins with adjusting your skincare to your environmental conditions and using the world’s first climate smart skincare system.
WHEN IT’S FREEZING OUTSIDE
Don’t crank the heat.
Sure, it’s tempting to blast warm air in the house when it’s
sub-zero outside, but
dramatic temperature fluctuations (i.e. stepping from 20 into 80 degrees) can wreak havoc on your complexion. Why? Heating up the body quickly causes the skin to become inflamed (and inflammation accelerates the aging process). A better bet: Keep indoor temperatures comfortable but moderate (72 degrees is reasonable) and just slip on a cozy sweater or thick socks if you’re still chilly.
Boost inside air’s moisture content.
Indoor heat tends to be very dry so, to keep skin from becoming super-parched, put some moisture back in the air by running a humidifier in your bedroom, the kitchen, or your office (wherever you spend the most time). Tip: To maximize your skin’s ability to grab the moisture emitted by a humidifier, apply
Pour Moi’s White or Black Serum, that contain hyaluronic acid. White is for oily/combination skin, while Black Serum is for dry skin. This
ingredient acts a bit like a magnetic sponge, pulling in, absorbing, and holding onto moisture from the environment. The same can be said of
Pour Moi’s Polar Day Cream, a lightweight moisturizer that delivers the right amount of hydration, plus a specific blend of Climate Energize Beautifiers (CEB), botanicals and hydrators, that help to lock-in hydration and keep environmental aggressors at bay so skin stays healthy and balanced when in
cold, dry temperatures. Apply the Day Cream after the Serum.
Let your hot cocoa cool.
Similar to stepping into a super-warm house, gulping a steamy beverage or taking a bite of very hot food can cause your body temperature to spike—and your skin to launch an inflammatory response in an effort to quickly cool your body. (This cooling mechanism is good for your internal organs, but it’s hard on—and aging for—the skin.) Thus, if your skin starts flushing while you’re eating a bowl of soup, slow down and wait for the broth to cool a bit; that skin pinkness is indicative of inflammation. Note: This same principal applies to hot showers or saunas. They feel great when it’s frigid outside, but they can overheat the body quickly. If you must indulge, try to keep your session to under ten minutes. Then quickly follow the shower by applying Pour Moi’s 3-step system (
Hydrating Balancer,
Serum,
Day Cream) to rebalance, hydrate and nourish skin.
WHEN IT’S HOT OUTSIDE
Never (ever) go to bed without washing your face.
If it’s both hot and humid outside, your skin will produce extra water to keep cool. This is a good thing for your body, but all that extra water can also make the surface of your skin a breeding ground for bacteria (and bacteria equals breakouts). To add insult to injury, pollution is also thickest and heaviest in hot climates, and particulate matter from pollution will stick to your skin and cause it to age faster. Thus, sudsing up thoroughly (and regularly—as in every single night) is essential to maintaining healthy skin in a hot climate. Tip: To complement a conscientious cleansing regimen, you should also exfoliate regularly (at least two to three times a week) to prevent dead-skin-cell buildup, which can exacerbate acne flare-ups.
Pour Moi’s Hydrating Balancer contains
Glycolic Fruit Acids to help shed dead-cell buildup. The Hydrating Balancer, which is a lightweight oil-free lotion, also balances pH and moisture levels, allowing
active skincare ingredients and moisturizers to penetrate better. It should be the first step in both your morning and evening routines.
Time your excursions.
You’ve heard (at least a dozen times before) to avoid being in the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when UV rays are strongest. That’s still true. But there is also new evidence that suggests being outdoors in the heat, even when you’re slathered in sun protection and donning a big hat, is bad for your skin too. Why? Apparently the heat itself can stimulate melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment, causing an uptick in discoloration and dark spots. The most obvious solution is to avoid being outside when the day is hottest. Plus, the dry heat doesn’t have enough moisture in the air to properly hydrate skin, resulting is skin dehydration and external signs of aging.
Desert Day Cream contains
lightweight oils like Squalane Oil to help skin retain moisture, while also utilizing
antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E to protect skin from free radicals caused by UV damage and environmental aggressors. If you’re stuck in hot, humid heat, then prepare for sweat getting trapped on your skin’s surface, because it can’t evaporate off. Clogged pores and excessively oily skin can result.
Tropical Day Cream helps to calm the sebaceous glands to help rebalance skin, while Coconut Acid keeps pores clear of irritants, and the same antioxidants as Desert go to work to fight off
climate-induced aging. As added precaution, bring a large bottle of water with you. Guzzling it brings down your body temperature, while spritzing it on hot skin instantly cools and quells inflammation.
Eat local.
Pay attention to Mother Nature, as she is often telling you what to eat for optimal health by making skin-hydrating foods abundant in hot climates. For instance, oranges, grapefruit, watermelon and cucumbers, which all boast more than 80 percent water content, grow well in warm weather. Same goes for oily foods likes olives and avocados, which grow in dry, desert climates and help make dehydrated skin supple.
Bottom Line:
The key to weather-proofing your skin is in converting to a new hydration strategy - like one that focuses on the needs of your skin per climate. Pour Moi changes the thinking of conventional skincare wisdom, by being the 1st brand to take this different approach - which includes lightweight hydration,
climate-specific ingredients (CEBs) and multi-weight moisturizers.
