5 Soothing Skincare Tips During This Midwinter Lockdown

Advanced aesthetics educator and CEO/Founder of Control Corrective Skincare & Global Beauty offers up her sage advice on protecting winter skin.
“Because of freezing weather outside, heated rooms, windy days and temperature extremes,” reports our friend Ellen Clark, top aesthetics educator and founder of Control Corrector Skincare Systems, “wintertime is always rough on skin because it gets so dehydrated. This year, it’s even worse because the safety masks we’re all wearing pull even more moisture out of the skin.
“Wintertime’s dryness, redness and cracking,” Ellen continues, “are all because the skin’s protective barrier function that holds moisture in the skin is compromised. It is literally broken. So we need to do is replenish and balance it out the best we can.”
Here are some of Ellen’s top wintertime tips.
1) Use mild, non-fragranced everything
“Skin is at its most vulnerable when it’s wet. Use the mildest, gentlest cleanser you can find. If you don’t feel it’s doing the job, lather up and rinse twice rather than switching to something stronger or harsher. The colder months may also be the time to pull back on heavier exfoliating ingredients and just stick with moisturizing if you’re experiencing a lot of irritation. Creams, lotions or serums with hyaluronic acid or ceremides are particularly soothing and hydrating.”
2) Before putting on a face mask and going outside, mist your face with Mineral Air Skin Renewal Serum.
With the superfine ElixerMist delivery device, the whole dose is 30-seconds of totally touchless hyaluronic-acid infused humectant that absorbs in an instant. And when you come back inside, immediately remove the mask, wash your face and moisturize as normal. Mist again throughout the day as you wish.
3) Always wear sunscreen (even if it seems counterintuitive)
Notes Ellen, “Even in winter, even on rainy days UV rays are bouncing around everywhere, through clouds, through windows and even from your computer monitor. And if you don’t wear gloves outside or in the car, don’t forget your hands too.”
4) Pamper yourself with a hydrating mask treatments
“Mask treatments work to really push moisture into the skin,” says Ellen. “No matter what your complexion type or condition, there will be one or more out there to suit you. During harsh winters, even those with acne or excessive oil can benefit from extra hydration. Masks that can be left on overnight are particularly good. Ingredients to look for are hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and glycerin. Another tip is to be sure to coat your skin with your regular moisturizer after you rinse off the mask to seal in the benefits.”
5) Invest in a humidifier
Post-holiday sales are a good time to pick up something at a good price. If you find one you like but it is too noisy for the bedroom (which is the best place to put it), just run it during the day when you’re out. For health and safety, be sure to clean it out regularly.
What’s the difference?
Mineral Air offers two device-plus-formula categories, one for makeup, the other for skincare.
Mineral Air original (MA) includes its AirMist Device, an easy to use, everyday consumer tool that rivals professional airbrushing in its cosmetic application of our eponymous foundation, blush, or bronzer. Mineral Air Skin (MAS) features the Renewal Serum System with its ElixerMist Device for lightweight vaporized delivery.
“Wintertime dryness, redness and cracking are all because the skin’s protective barrier function that holds moisture in the skin is compromised. It is literally broken. So we need to replenish and balance it out the best we can.”
Ellen Clark
Aesthetics educator and
CEO/Founder of Control
Corrective Skincare Systems
W ControlCorrective.com
IG @controlcorrective