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In the desert, winter is on its way out. But before you break out with the tank tops and running shorts and sweat bands, take note: Abandoning your winter skin care routine too early will leave you with itchy, flaky skin to contend with straight through summer.
That’s because, even in more temperate climes like ours, winter weather can be as hard on skin as the hottest summer. Just because you don’t feel them doesn’t mean that the sun’s UV rays aren’t still at work sapping much-needed oils from your skin. Even as our Arizona temperatures inch higher, pampering your skin during winter months is a must. There are some simple steps and several new products that can help you rethink your winter skincare strategy.
For starters, skip hot showers, which can sap skin of its natural moisturizers. Take a warm shower instead, and moisturize your skin with any aloe-based lotion right after toweling off. Soap and water deplete the skin of natural oils, so, at least until the first thaw, switch to a non-detergent cleanser, preferably one that’s cream- or gel-based, like Bioelements’ Comfortable Clean Shower Gel. Same thing goes for your face: Use gentler, lotion-based cleansers rather than gritty, exfoliating scrubs during winter months to prevent excessive drying and chapping.
 Once you’ve cleaned your mug, you’ll want to rehydrate it. 4VOO’s Maximum Renewal Moisturizer is a good (if slightly pricey) oil-free moisturizer, and good old Oil of Olay’s Complete is a perfect year-round moisturizer that will set you back only about six bucks. Any plant-based moisturizer made from jojoba or avocado oil works well, because the skin absorbs plant emollients more quickly, and any lotion containing chamomile and lavender is great for dry, flaky patches on face and hands.
Just because you’re bundled up in the wintertime doesn’t mean you can slack off on your sunscreen. A moisturizer with at least SPF 15 will keep your face safe from harmful UV rays, and a higher SPF is a must if you’re skiing, because UV rays are intensified when they’re reflected off of snow. If you’re using a moisturizer that doesn’t include sunscreen, any full-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen ointment will prevent skier’s sunburn.
 Razor burn can be just as damaging to skin as sunburn. Steaming your face before shaving—or at least smacking your beard with a damp, hot towel—will
allow hair follicles to open up for a quicker, cleaner shave with fewer nicks. Shaving gels are gentler on skin than shaving creams, which tend to dry out the skin. When applying gel (we prefer Bullie’s Resiliency After Shave, made with black tea, chamomile and ginseng), don’t lather it up, which can cause air pockets that snag your razor and tear your skin. If you’re not already using one, consider switching to a swivel-head razor, which is gentler on your skin. Avoid alcohol-based after-shaves that dry out skin; finish off with a cold-water splash to close your pores, or any after-shave containing aloe vera, a great post-shave moisturizer.
If you’re keeping your ears warm with a hat, remember that anything that covers your head can cause the scalp’s sebaceous glands to work overtime, resulting in greasy, lifeless hair. Keep your best boater clean, particularly if it’s made of wool, and use a hair conditioner (try Baxter of California’s Daily Moisturizing Conditioner, infused with something called Panthenol that counteracts dryness and adds shine) at least twice a week to help heal hair that’s been shoved under a hat for hours on end.
Drinking lots of water is probably the best thing you can do for your skin during winter months, when indoor heating can dry you out as quickly as a gale force wind. Don’t be fooled: Just because you’re not sweating or aren’t as thirsty as you are in hot weather doesn’t mean your skin isn’t calling out for a drink. When it is, these quick skin-care steps will keep your skin as healthy and youthful-looking as possible throughout the winter months.
Louis Clemente, a Phoenix-based writer, is freezing.
 Expert Advice
In colder parts of the country, people tend to pay closer attention to keeping skin moisturized during winter months.
Dr. Susan Van Dyke, MD, of Scottsdale’s Van Dyke Laser and Skin, thinks we desert dwellers should take a tip from our easterly neighbors.
For example, who knew that skin products containing alcohol and designed for oily skin are drying and should be avoided during drier months? Probably people in Cleveland did. One thing that westerners know for sure is that, even though it’s cooler out, the sun is still doing its thing. “Skin cancer is still being developed on a second-by-second basis,” Van Dyke says. “So products containing sun screen are still important in the winter—maybe more so, because people here tend to be outside more in January than in July. Who ever heard of anyone playing golf at noon in August?”
Should desert rats be using a different type of UV protection, or a different SPF number, during winter months? Van Dyke doesn’t think so. “I’m an advocate of wearing SPF 30 year-round,” she says. “And SPF 45 if you’re outside a lot. A good rule of thumb is to stay the course with skin care, no matter the month. Don’t drop your guard just because it’s not summer.”
Susan Van Dyke can be reached at Van Dyke Laser and Skin, 480-948-5045.
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