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winter care

WINTER BEAUTY PREPS

Margit Rüdiger  | December 8, 2021
We wrap ourselves in wool and cashmere, wear hats, scarves and gloves. Almost every part of the body is protected when it gets cold outside. And what about the face? It remains "naked". So here are the best care tips to help your skin get through the cold season beautifully.
Do I have to change my skincare routine now? That's what many women ask themselves when the thermometer drops below zero. The answer is "yes and no". You can of course keep your usual products, but you should intensify and modify individual steps of your daily care routine. Let's start from the very beginning.
winter care

Clean, but gently

Cleansing is the basis for well-cared-for skin, even in winter. But it should be mild and keep the pH value in balance. I love using CLEAN with regenerating panthenol and moisture-retaining vitamin B5 from the DOCTOR MI! range because it also allows you to remove mascara without your eyes starting to burn. Yesterday I had to resort to a "third-party product" in an emergency and that's exactly what happened: watery eyes that were still red the next morning from the make-up remover. Then comes the toner. If your skin is already showing slight irritation from the change from cold outside to warm inside, it's better to avoid salicylic acid because it degreases more effectively. You should definitely avoid aggressive cleansers with a lot of alcohol.

mask-heavy season

Take a mask break more often - without a cell phone or other entertainment. This is not only good for the skin, but also for the soul. I love the green MASK from DOCTOR MI! because it strengthens the skin barrier and protects against moisture loss. The black bee honey ferment "Black Beeome" supports the natural microflora and relaxes. In addition, the retinol is double-encapsulated and reaches the cells deep down, having a firming effect. In winter, you can increase the frequency of mask use if your skin requires it. Tip: I prefer to apply masks with a wide brush because it allows the texture to be distributed so evenly.

Do not peel aggressively

Peelings refine the skin's texture and ensure soft, smooth skin. That's right! But in winter they can have the opposite effect if they are too rough. They do remove dead cells and stimulate circulation, but they also upset the balance of the hydrolipid film. And this, our natural protective layer of cell groups, sweat and sebum, prevents too much moisture from "evaporating" outwards from the skin and drying it out. This is especially important in winter, because cold air contains hardly any moisture and draws water out of it like a dry sponge. Therefore, only use very gentle peeling products , for example with crushed cherry stone shells in combination with enzymatic substances. This protects the skin from moisture loss and oxidative stress. By the way: a visible sign of overdoing it are reddened areas that flake off shortly after the peeling.

intensify facial care

Perfumes and dyes have no place in skincare, especially in winter, because they put additional strain on the skin. You should also avoid creams that contain mineral oils. They do not supply the cells with any nutrients, and beneath the protective layer the skin remains just as tense and stressed as before. The beauty and health of the skin benefit most from active ingredients that have been proven through studies, such as retinol , or care substances such as oligo-hyaluronic acid , lactate, panthenol and vitamins . A small amount of such high-quality creams and serums , just the size of a cherry stone, is enough. It is better to reapply if necessary. Too much product can also cause irritation and pimples. At night the skin is in repair mode. That's why I use the night cream with the six percent TECMi!® retinol complex, which activates cell metabolism, alternating with my favorite product RED with an eight percent retinol complex. I now use this deep-acting face cream more often together with the DERMAROLLER so that the active ingredients can penetrate even deeper into the skin and have a more intensive effect. Here's how to do it: first roll, then apply RED and roll again.

faking a tan

Goodbye winter pallor! I feel better with a slightly tanned complexion. That's why I do a mild peeling so that the complexion is completely smooth and no dead skin cells spoil the even appearance. Then I mix a few tanning drops into my daily cream. In beauty terms, this is called dropping. The ingredients in these tan drops correspond to the sugar-like compounds dihydroxyacetone (DHA) in self-tanners. However, I can control the degree of tanning myself very precisely. The more drops, the darker the skin tone. A great alternative for me as someone who doesn't like foundation.

Natural ingredients for the body

Also use unscented, natural formulas for body creams. Shower products should be pH-neutral (pH 5.5) and moisturizing. Showering is better for the skin than bathing. But if you really want to take a full bath, don't use one that's too hot and don't bathe for longer than 15 minutes. If it's freezing outside and the air is dry from a heating system, use a richer cream with hydrating properties like aloe vera and squalane instead of a body lotion. These reduce moisture loss and smooth out wrinkles caused by dryness. It's great if it also contains an effective antioxidant like high doses of vitamin E to prevent cell damage. Hands are often neglected. But especially in times of pandemics, after frequent hand washing and disinfection, they need to be pampered with cream. If normal creaming isn't enough, I do a hand mask overnight: apply cream a little thicker and pull thin cotton gloves over it. I like to take advantage of the opportunity when my husband is traveling for work.

Full winter program

The skin of the lips and eye area has been neglected by nature when it comes to providing protective sebaceous glands. That's why I also like to use an eye cream in winter that provides this area with intensive moisture. If it also contains an active ingredient such as Argireline, it not only promotes the formation of new hyaluronic acid, but also makes a lot of difference visually. This clinically proven anti-wrinkle peptide has a Botox-like effect that minimizes the depth of wrinkles. I always have the rich lip care from DOCTOR MI! in my bag anyway. Its slightly grainy texture, which you feel when you apply it, comes from the high dose of vitamin C. However, it soon dissolves and leaves the lips intensively cared for.

fragrance turnaround

To get straight to the point: I am a fragrance maniac. I don't even go to the mailbox in the morning without a hint of perfume. My fragrance cabinet in the bathroom can compete with any niche perfumery. I collect unusual fragrances. The fresher versions have to stay in their quarters and wait for next summer. In the cold months I prefer to indulge in sultry oriental fragrances. They give me a feeling of warmth. That's why I've expanded my portfolio to include TOUCH Mi!. The EDP smells of sensual, powerful notes like caramel, exotic vanilla, white musk and patchouli. That sweetens the winter for me, which, I must admit, is not my favorite time of year!

Margit Rüdiger

MARGIT RÜDIGER

Margit Rüdiger is internationally known as “The Voice of Beauty”. She is one of the most renowned journalists in the field of beauty, anti-aging and aesthetics. Her career has taken her through the editorial departments of Germany’s most important fashion magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Madame, Bunte, Freundin, Brigitte, Marie Claire and Esquire.

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