Cold Weather Skin Care

It is becoming colder by the minute and the cold, dry air can lead to dry, irritated skin even if you are prone to oily skin. Here are some ideas to keep your skin more hydrated this fall and winter season!

1. Switch up your skin care products! // Switch from foaming cleansers to milk, cream, or oil cleansers. I've been using La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser and it leaves my skin feeling hydrated, but not greasy! It can be used with or without rinsing, but I prefer to rinse it off. As for moisturizers, try a richer cream or balm. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Riche Soothing Protective Cream works great for me and doesn't cause any breakouts. I also like to use La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Soothing Repairing Balm on any areas that are especially dry.

 2. Increase your intake of healthy fats. // Eat foods such as avocado, salmon, walnuts, and olive oil or take omega-3 supplements. Healthy fats and omega-3s can help boost your skin's hydration level and decrease inflammation.

My Top 8 Tips for Clear(er) Skin!

As you may or may not know, dermatology is one of my passions. For this reason, I decided to write about my top 8 tips for clear (or clearer) skin. I have struggled with moderate acne in the past, so I understand how frustrating it can be to find a solution. Here are some tips that I have found helpful in my skin care journey and as a La Roche-Posay Be Clear Ambassador.

1.) Less is more! // Less really is more when it comes to skin care, especially if you have acne or sensitive skin. If you use a ton of products, it will just irritate your skin further and cause more breakouts. Make sure to use a gentle cleanser (NOT Cetaphil as it tends to cause breakouts for many) and avoid physical exfoliators (scrubs).

Mini Review: I have been using LRP Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel and Effaclar Duo Acne Treatment for over a month now. I have found the acne treatment to work very well. It keeps my breakouts and clogged pores at bay! It contains 5.5% benzoyl peroxide and 0.4% micro-exfoliating LHA to treat both blackheads and whiteheads. The cleanser is a little drying for my skin type (combination-dry), but it would be a great option for those with combination or combination-oily skin! It is soap-free and has a pH of 5.5. The pH of 5.5 is important because it is the pH of skin. If the skin's pH gets out of whack, you can end up with irritation and acne.

2.) Be an ingredient detective. // Look at the ingredient lists of skin care and makeup products before purchasing. This website has a list of ingredients and rates them on comedogenicity and irritancy: Become an Acne Detective. You can also copy and paste ingredients into this website and it will rate the ingredients as well: Ingredient Analysis. These are not fullproof lists. Some ingredients that are rated high on the scales may not break you out or vice versa, but the websites are good starting points. Some people break out from silicones, such as cyclopentasiloxane, which is not rated comedogenic.