Feeding Winter Skin
Winter is the most challenging time of year for our skin. Dropping temperatures, indoor heating and low humidity all create potential problems but our skin’s not totally defenceless. As it senses conditions are changing it starts ramping up its production of certain substances that strengthen and increase its level of protection. Isn’t the skin so amazing! We used to think that the outer layers of our skin were completely lifeless but we now know there is quite a bit of metabolic activity in these supposedly dead layers. In fact, the cells here can actually communicate with the deeper more productive layers, telling them life is getting tough now its winter. These deeper layers then really rev up and start producing things like humectants which help your skin trap and hold on to precious moisture. Your skin also produces ceramides. These are waxy substances that not only prevent your skin from losing water but also act as a barrier, preventing harsh environmental threats from damaging your skin.
However, there are two things your skin needs in order to go through this strengthening process.
The first one is time. It takes at least two weeks for the substances being produced in the deeper layers to make it out to the front line where they fortify our skin’s defence. This is why sudden drops in temperature can leave our skin’s feeling out of sorts for a couple of weeks until it’s had time to adjust. You may notice this happen when you return from an overseas holiday from somewhere warm and sunny. When you return home to New Zealand the change in climate can mean your skin struggles for the first few weeks.
The second thing your skin needs is raw materials. You can’t make something from nothing and your skin is the last organ of your body to receive nutrients so the most likely to lack the required building blocks.
The key nutrients your skin needs for winter strengthening is your Essential Fatty Acid’s. These are especially important for producing those vital ceramides. There is a trick though. There are lots of different types of ceramides. Some are great for the skin and others, not so great. So of course you only want the goods ones and the way you can determine that is the types of fats you eat which form the raw material for these ceramides. You want lots of a fat called linoleic acid because this encourages your skin to produce the very best ceramide you can get, ceramide-1-lineolate. Our Bestow Beauty Oils specifically contain this important fat because it has been designed with not only our health in mind, but also the beauty of our skin.
Other key nutrients for winter skin are the B complex family. All of the B vitamins do something for the skin, they are skin super-hero’s. Zinc is also vital as it does many things to reinforce your skin. The Bestow Beauty from Beneath contains these nutrients and more. So winter is not the time to forget to take your Bestow Beauty from Beneath or your Bestow Beauty Oil. These products take on a new level of importance over the next three or four months.
Lastly, eat your fresh fruit and vegetables to get ample amounts of vitamins C. Your skin needs this important vitamin for health and healing. Vitamin A is also key. Eggs, leafy greens, pumpkin, kumara and carrots are all great sources and needed for strong, healthy skin.
So don’t forget to feed your skin and make sure it has all the building blocks it needs to protect itself from harsh winter weather.
