A new study says winter is aging you
Four ways to prevent the cold from adding years to your face
We all know the harsh Canadian winters can do a number on our skin, but now, new research shows the damage might be permanent. According to a study conducted by Olay, not only does the look of fine lines and wrinkles worsen when temperatures drop, but every passing winter actually makes us look older.
“There were a couple of possible outcomes,” Dr. Frauke Neuser, Olay’s principal scientist, says of the yearlong study. “You could start with a certain number of lines and wrinkles, see it change in the winter and then go back to where it was. But what we saw is that skin never fully recovers in the warmer months.”
Before you start to peruse apartment listings down south, Neuser assures us the issue can be avoided with proper care and products. Here, she details how to keep skin glowing and youthful through winter (and for years to come).
1. Moisturize like it’s your job
“Hydration is super important for how well your skin will age over time and how many wrinkles it will accumulate,” says Neuser. “If during winter, you’re never quite in the right hydration range, that will have a long-term effect.” She likens the phenomenon to over-dried clothes that start crinkling and losing their shape. “If that state persists for a certain amount of time, those temporary wrinkles will turn into permanent creases.” Maintaining skin’s moisture is thus essential, though interestingly, only 30 per cent of Canadians purchase facial moisturizer annually.
2. Treat the cause, not the symptom
Keeping skin hydrated goes beyond simply smearing on face cream. The real solution lies in locking in that moisture. Neuser has a nifty analogy for that, too: “Think about a leaky bucket,” she says. “If you don’t fix the holes, you’ll constantly have to refill it.” That’s where one of her favourite ingredients, vitamin B3 (also known as niacinamide), comes into play. A star player in the brand’s Total Effects line, it’s been shown to strengthen skin’s barrier function so that our metaphorical bucket can better retain moisture.
3. Be diligent with exfoliation
You might think using a scrub in the winter would exacerbate dryness, but it’s actually an essential step in keeping skin soft and supple. That’s because the dead cells that accumulate on top of skin prevent moisturizer from getting in and doing its thing. “We can measure that, after a good exfoliation, more of your skin care ingredients penetrate and that’s really what you want,” says Neuser. Instead of abrasive or “scratchy” formulas, the pro recommends opting for a product that’s gentle enough for daily use such as a polishing cleanser or a glycolic acid toner.
4. Don’t forget your eyes
The eye area is much more delicate than the rest of our face, which means it calls for extra TLC. “The first lines you see are usually under the eyes because that skin is so thin and gets really dry,” explains Neuser. “And if you don’t provide enough moisture, those lines will turn into wrinkles.” She therefore stresses the importance of incorporating eye cream into your skin care regimen, particularly during the winter months. And as long as a product doesn’t contain irritating ingredients like retinol, you’re good to smooth it on your lids, too, says the doctor.