Real Talk on Winterizing Skin…Bye-Bye Ash!
We are now into January and you know what that means. Cold weather, the flu and for many people, dry skin. Black folks know about skin that cracks and loses moisture. Not that we’re the only race to get ashy skin. Real talk: White folks get ashy too! It’s just that the condition is more visible on Black folks because it clashes with our skin tone.
Haven’t we been fighting it all of our lives? I remember my mother had a saying, “No child of mine is going to be ashy.” This statement was usually followed by a heavy slathering of Vaseline (sometimes mixed with Jergen’s lotion, with extra attention paid to my elbows and knees. After her inspection, I could be seen by the world again. I’d be so greased down that at Sunday school, I would just about slide off the pew! That was fine by mom. Better to get blinded by the glare off my legs, then to spot the least bit of ash. Back then, folks didn’t know much about preventing dry skin, nor getting rid of it.
“One of the most important things to do for your skin is to exfoliate,” says Germaine Williams, aesthetician and owner of The Red Bloom Wellness Spa in Bethesda Maryland. “Moisturizers can not do their job if dead skin isn’t removed first.” For the body, use salt scrubs and your facial scrub should be a gentle formula.
Germaine offers more cold weather cautions:
- Watch your water temps! We all love long hot showers, but it’s dehydrating to the skin. Use warm water instead.
- Moisturize. While skin is still damp, apply moisturizers. Germaine’s favorites include jojoba, grape seed and sesame seed oils.
- Protect. Sunscreen is a must! The sun is still damaging in colder months.
- Humidify. It’s a good idea to keep a humidifier in your bedroom. You’ll reap the benefits while you sleep. Also, remember to close the heating vent that is nearest to your bed to minimize dryness in the air.
- Replenish. Drink lots of water to build moisture within your body.
And what about mom’s beloved petroleum jelly? “It’s not that bad,” says Germaine, “but it has absolutely no moisturizing benefits because it only seals in moisture that is already there.” Good enough. After all, THAT was mom’s mission.
Real Talk: Bad things do happen to good skin, but not always for the reasons you suspect! Don’t blame it all on the cold weather or “that time of the month,” because when it comes to healthy skin, what you put in your body is just as important as what you put on it. Take responsibility for your skin. Invest in grown up, “big girl” facial products. Schedule regular facials with a qualified aesthetician. Revamp your diet to include nutritious, fresh whole foods that will feed your skin what it’s starving for, and in return it’ll give you glowing clarity! Remember, your body’s largest organ is only as good as how YOU treat it! That’s real talk!
** Join “Real Talk with TC LIVE” on Wednesday, January 27th at The Red Bloom Wellness Spa in Bethesda, Md! 7215 Arlington Road from 6-8 PM. Meet TC’s Sistapreneur, Celebrity Aesthetician Germaine Williams, network with other sista-preneurs, get a free personal consultation and skin assessment from Germaine, and have free refreshments too! Sponsored in part by Heart & Soul magazine!
