Your Winter Skincare Concerns Answered
You've asked and we've answered. Here are a few skincare concerns our fans have expressed. See what our skincare experts suggest...and which L'OCCITANE products might help!
Dry tight flaky skin…and problems with this when applying makeup - flaky.
Make-up applies best over smooth, hydrated skin. Try using a rich, creamy exfoliator (for example, L’OCCITANE Shea Face Scrub ) twice a week to remove flakes and leave a smooth, even texture. Serums such as L’OCCITANE Shea Fabulous Serum ) can help absorb your moisturizer better as it acts like a “moisture magnet”, keeping your skin plump and smooth. Finally a rich face cream, such as newly reformulated L’OCCITANE Shea Ultra Rich Face Cream , will keep your skin and make-up in place and glowing all day long.
Dry spotty skin, red blotches
Redness is a sign of inflammation. Your skin is being irritated by any number of things (cold, wind, pollens or even pollution in the air). Newly reformulated L’OCCITANE Shea Ultra Gentle Moisturizer is packed with anti-irritants which will help to sooth redness and leave your skin feeling fresh, comfortable and looking its best.
Eczema breakout from dry skin
First, consult your dermatologist. To keep your skin looking its best you will want to keep it calm, smooth and hydrated. Apply a gentle exfoliator a few times a week to minimize any uneven flakes or patches and nourish it with a moisturizer rich in anti-irritants. L’OCCITANE Shea Face Scrub and Shea Ultra Gentle Moisturizer would be beautiful choices. Since stress can also play a part in Eczema, think about taking some time to de-stress. A deeply relaxing Lavender bath does wonders to calm nerves and relax both the mind and body!
The skin on my shins is so dried out it looks like the desert with big cracks in it. What will help the most?
You want to deliver a rush of moisture very fast. The best thing by far is pure Shea Butter . It literally melts into even the driest, most cracked skin and both, moisturizes and nourishes with naturally occurring Vitamin E. Apply it specifically where needed for a highly effective treatment. After the skin is healed and there are no more open cracks exfoliate!
Dry, itchy scalp and dandruff shampoos leave my hair like straw-- what can I use to help my scalp that won't be so damaging to my hair?
Dandruff can be the result of either very dry scalp (a nourishing shampoo and conditioner with Shea could be the answer), or a fungus that will create extra cell renewal and would need to be treated accordingly with the help of a dermatologist. In this case, I lean towards a very dry scalp so Shea shampoo and conditioner should work. To immediately sooth an itchy, irritated scalp you can also use L’OCCITANE Soothing Concentrated Hair Mask . It will leave your sensitive scalp hydrated, healthy, and rebalanced for long lasting comfort and well-being.
Dry cracked skin around my nails
Cuticles tend to dry out and break anytime the seasons change, and cold weather does not help. The best treatment is L’OCCITANE Shea Butter Nail and Cuticle Cream with myrrh, which also strengthens your nails and will keep your fingertips soft and smooth. Pure Shea Butter also works very well and hardens the nails. Try applying right before going to bed.
Wind burnt face from skiing or running in the cold
Wind and cold deplete our skin’s natural protective barrier. You can try using L’OCCITANE Shea Ultra Rich Face Cream or Shea Ultra Gentle Moisturizer which are packed with natural sugars to help boost skin’s natural defense system and will leave your complexion looking even and glowing. However, add the L’OCCITANE Shea Fabulous Serum under your moisturizer of choice as it contains Shea Shield Extract to protect the skin from the harshest conditions. I don’t go snowboarding without it!
Chapped lips
Use a damp washcloth to exfoliate lips and remove dead skin. Try exfoliating with a mix of honey and sugar. Then apply pure Shea Butter to leave your lips smooth and kissably soft with lip nourishing Vitamin E.
What do you use on your face during winter for extremely dry cheeks when the rest of your face feels soft and hydrated?
After applying your regular moisturizer, try using a small amount of pure Shea Butter by warming the smallest amount in your hands and then smoothing it into just the areas that need it. Also, make sure you are exfoliating, as moisturizers struggle to absorb into dead skin.
I have combination skin. Some parts of my skin are dry while the rest of my skin is oily. But my hands take a tough beating. I’m always cleaning my house keeping everything clean and I always wear gloves. I wash my hands sooo many times, my hands still get dehydrated. I’m packing on moisture like crazy to keep them soft etc.
It sounds like you’re doing a lot of the right things to keep your hands soft. One suggestion is try exfoliating your hands a few times a week, then dropping down to about once a week after your hands begin to feel softened. The reason is that your moisturizer may not be able to get to the skin that really needs it because it’s having to fight past many layers of dead, dried out cells. Try L’OCCITANE One-Minute Hand Scrub for an easy fix. It’s made specifically for the special needs of hands and enriched with Organic Brown Sugars and Shea Oil. Then apply hand cream. Your hands will thank you! You can also apply L’OCCITANE Shea Hand Cream or pure Shea Butter once a week before going to bed and wear cotton gloves overnight. Hands will look like new!
My face is really dry when I’m done showering then throughout the day they get really greasy!! Recently I’ve been getting Acne.
Your cleanser may be over drying your skin, causing it to produce too much oil and clogging your pores. First, I would try a new cleanser (for example, L’OCCITANE Angelica Cleansing Gel ). It’s also important to tone the skin with an alcohol-free toner that will refresh your skin’s moisture after cleansing and will give you a deeper clean to your pores.
I have oily skin which dries out a little in the winter. I have trouble finding a moisturizer that is rich enough to keep me hydrated but doesn't clog my pores and make me break out. Any recommendations?
First and most importantly, hydrate by drinking water! Try using L’OCCITANE Angelica Hydration Cream during winter. It does its work below the surface and will give you a fresh, radiant glow all winter while keeping your skin feeling comfortable.
Any recommendations for keratosis pilaris acts up in the winter?
Just like in the summer, you will want to keep it scrubbed and calm! Try using L’OCCITANE Shea Butter Body Scrub several times a week followed by a calming body moisturizer like our Shea Body Lotion or Ultra Rich Cream .
What’s best for blackheads?
Blackheads can be a battle! First, consider getting a professional facial to have them extracted and start with a clean slate. It’s then important to keep dead skin and oil from re-accumulating inside the pores. The best way to do this is to scrub and use a purifying mask on alternate days. Try L’OCCITANE Immortelle Brightening Instant Exfoliator which will keep your pores clear of debris.
Dull skin, and when I exfoliate to get rid of it, it dry out my face in winter and still looks dull!
Your skin may be dehydrated, which is a lack of water inside the skin cell. Because the issue is at the cellular level, exfoliating won’t address it. Try using L’OCCITANE’S Angelica Skin Care range which will rehydrate your skin leaving it fresh and glowing, flooding your cells with water and giving your complexion a truly radiant glow without feeling greasy, oily or sticky.
Large pores
Remember to use a toner after your cleanser. This will tighten the pores. Keep it in the fridge, the cooling effect also helps! Exfoliate and mask regularly.
