This week marks the official start of fall. This might make some of you happy and others sad. So as the summer draws to a close, we transition from hot, humid days, to cooler, dry temperatures. Our summer clothing will go to the back of the closet and slowly be replaced with cozy sweaters and boots.  And like our clothing, our skincare products should also be rotated to reflect the changing climate and needs.

One of the best transitional skincare ingredients is COCONUT OIL. Many of you may have been using this wonderful oil all summer for light hydration and summer sunning. The unmistakable aroma of coconut embodies the summer experience of relaxation, while the silky texture feels like pure indulgence as it sinks into your skin.

Coconut Oil provides excellent healing and hydration for skin all year round

COCOS NUCIFERA, as the coconut is scientifically known, was believed to have originated in the tropics of the South Pacific, but managed to spread across the globe thanks to its very useful ability to float. Over time and across the oceans, the nut washed ashore to other similar climates, allowing the natives to use the seed, nut and palm for numerous dietary, medicinal and practical purposes. The coconut fruit offers more than just a relaxing experience. As one of nature’s most nourishing fruits, coconut can revitalize skin from the outside and inside.

Used in combination with other rich emollients, coconut oil, provides the perfect base for your skincare needs in cooler weather. Using coconut oil in your diet, helps to strengthen the connective tissues in the skin and keep it pliable and smooth. You can get the beneficial antioxidant properties by  using coconut oil in your salad dressing or cooking as wells as drinking coconut water. Both help the skin prevent infection, increase radiance and fight free radicals.

Coconut oil contains mostly fats, which make it ideal for skincare treatments. Acting  as an emollient that naturally softens, restores and moisturizes.  It also helps protect the skin for the aging effects of free-radicals.

BENEFICAL PROPERTIES OF COCONUT OIL

• Forms a protective barrier against moisture-loss and re-hydrates the skin cells
• Prevents brittle, dry hair, hydrates the scalp and limits breakage
• Helps heal chronic dermatitis and psoriasis – reducing inflammation and itching
• Reduces scarring caused by acne or skin eruptions
• Eliminates dead skin cells and reduces flaking, improving the quality and appearance of skin

Modern biochemists also consider coconut oil to be an antioxidant due to its stability and resistance to oxidation and free radical formulation.  Extra virgin coconut oil is the preferred ingredient in the Vivoderm skincare products for dry to extremely dry skin, such as our INTENSE MOISTURIZER, CHAMOMILE BODY BUTTER AND ANTI AGING EYE CREAM.

As the temperature cools, the humidity drops and pulls more moisture from your skin than in the summer months. Re-hydrating is crucial to keeping your skin soft and plump.

HYDRATE YOUR SKIN

After each bath or shower, be sure to re-hydrate your skin with an all-over body butter or lotion; this will prevent dry flaking and scaling skin. Include a super-rich, facial moisturizer and eye cream to your skin care routine each time you wash your face to reduce wrinkles, dryness and flaking and your skin will glowing in no time.

A contributing factor to dry, flaky, skin in winter is a drop in temperature. Although winter sometimes feels damp, there is usually less water in the air than on your skin and that creates a moisture vapour loss from the skin. As skin becomes drier, its surface layer stops producing the natural lipids which prevent moisture loss, and water cannot be retained so easily. Dry skin will also show wrinkles more easlit and contribute to an aging appearance.

Herbalist Greta Breedlove came up with this natural homemade skin care recipes face utilizing the seed of the avocado. It makes a moisturizing face scrub, especially for dry skin.

AVOCADO FACE SCRUB

Let an avocado dry a few days until you can remove the skin easily. Chop, then pulverize in a blender or food mill. Moisten with a little milk and smooth over your face, throat.

AVOCADO FACIAL CLEANSER

One egg yolk, beaten until light and frothy
1/2 cup milk
1/2 avacado, peeled and mashed

Beat the mixture with a fork until you have a thin cream or lotion consistency. Apply with cotton balls as you would a cleanser.

As a result of all these factors, sometimes skin on the face and body tends to be in worse condition in the winter months than at other times of the year. In extreme cases, a constant drying effect can even lead to cracking, flaking and redness.

These four tips for helping to keep dry skin at bay during the colder months come from Dr. Kucy Pon, Olay dermatologist.

1. A moisturizer is essential – A moisturizer performs several important functions, including replacing lost water. Water-binding ingredients, such as glycerin, help keep it in the skin.

2. Create an oasis – Put some moisture back into the air by using a humidifier in your home or office. It will counteract the drying effects of indoor heat.

3. Drink lots of water – Increase your body’s natural moisture level by staying hydrated throughout the day.

4. Keep wrapped up – Dress for the season and try to limit your skin’s exposure to harsh temperatures and damaging winds.

If you have dry skin, then you probably already know it can be really difficult to care for. When you don’t look after it properly, it can become flaky, and if it gets really bad, may even become irritated and red. Although it’s possible to find plenty of products that claim to be able to solve dry skin problems, unfortunately most of their claims are sales hype.

Although most over the counter products don’t do much to combat dry skin, there are a number of things you can do to improve the condition of your skin. It’s mostly a question of making some basic changes to your daily skincare routine. It won’t take long for your skin to appear more healthy and vibrant.

With dry skin, you have completely the opposite problem to someone with oily skin. Basically, your skin is suffering from a lack of sebum, the oil that helps to keep the skin moist and supple. People with oily skin produce far too much sebum. Sebum is actually made from skin cells, and is an essential ingredient in healthy, supple skin. Because dry skin has insufficient oil, you need to replace it from both inside and outside.

5.  Moisturize

One of the best things you can do for your skin is to use a good quality moisturizer. Choose a cream that is rich, but not heavy. Consider choosing a natural cream with aloe vera and chamomile. Both these ingredients are very soothing, as well as helping to reduce dryness and improve the skin’s healing abilities.

6. Choose Healthy Foods

You also need to look at the type of foods you eat. It’s important to choose healthy foods, because the healthier your body, the healthier your skin will be. You may not realize this, but your skin is actually the largest organ of your body. So it needs to be nourished just like all the other organs in your body.

7.  Supplement

Depending on the types of food you already eat, you might need to consider taking a supplement, such as Vitamin E, Omega-3 oils and B-Complex vitamins. Making sure you get enough of these important nutrients is a great way to improve the condition of your skin.

By nourishing your skin in all these ways, you should soon a marked reduction in the level of dryness. Helping your skin to be more supple and moist also helps to slow down the process of aging, so you’re the winner in two ways.

By Tom Turner