As colder weather and winter storms creep in, dry skin can become a real problem. The harsh winds and colder temperatures can cause skin to crack and bleed, both on your hands and face. Preventing dry hands and skin takes a little extra effort during the winter months, but your skin will thank you for it. Here are our top tips for preventing extremely dry skin during the winter, ending the season with smooth and hydrated skin.

Use A Humidifier In Your Home

As the weather cools down, the moisture in the air can decrease, which is the most likely culprit of dry skin. Putting humidifiers around your home or installing one that works with your HVAC system will help put more moisture in the home, helping to keep your skin supple. Winter air can quickly dry out your skin while you are out and about, so having a more humid home can be helpful for those with sensitive skin.

Maintain A Hydrating Diet

Drinking plenty of water is important for your skin, but during the winter, eating hydrating foods can provide additional moisture that your skin desperately needs. Foods like fish, avocados, sunflower seeds, bell peppers, and foods that have a high water content will help you have healthier skin. Maintaining healthy skin and preventing premature aging starts with a good diet all year long.

Use Antioxidant Serum

Serums are an essential part of skincare, no matter the time of year. Using an antioxidant serum will help prevent free radicals from attacking the skin and causing the breakdown of collagen. Any added layer of protection you can add during the winter is important when the environment is less than kind. Antioxidants will protect your skin from UV damage as well, which is still a concern during the winter. Even if you are not spending hours outside, wearing sun protection and keeping your skin from premature aging is necessary. 

Switch To A Thicker Moisturizer

During the winter months, using a thicker moisturizer can help repair your skin faster than a typical lotion or moisturizer. Thick moisturizer after you wash your hands, throughout the day, or after walking outside in the cold weather will prevent flaky and scratchy skin. Dry skin can be itchy and irritating to deal with, so piling on the moisturizer will make winter much more enjoyable. Dermatologists and estheticians recommend keeping a large tub or bottle in your bathroom, smaller containers at your desk, in your purse, and in your gym bag to help you apply throughout the day. If you have extremely damaged skin, using a thicker or therapeutic moisturizer can limit tenderness when going out in the cold.

Wear Gloves When Out And About To Prevent Dry Hands

During the winter season, when wind and snow are flying, wearing gloves can protect your skin while you are out running errands or traveling to and from work. Gloves or mittens will protect your skin from worsening, especially if you have eczema or another skin condition. Wearing gloves will also help hold in the moisture from your lotion or moisturizer, keeping this barrier working for longer. 

Exfoliate Weekly

Removing any dead skin from your hands and face can help them feel less dry and appear brighter. Exfoliating is an important skincare step that helps signal to your body to create new skin cells. Light exfoliation with lactic acid or glycolic acid will remove dead and dry skin that could worsen your dry skin during the winter. Moisturizers and serums will be able to better penetrate your skin if you remove dead cells with exfoliation. 

Skin Treatments From The Skin Institute

The Skin Institute offers high-quality education for aspiring estheticians in the Southern Utah area. Our instructors will help prepare all students to provide great treatments to clients, apply makeup, provide skincare tips, or perform medical procedures. The Skin Institute turns out hundreds of students each year, allowing them to work in a variety of places, either in St. George, UT, or around the country. Esthetics can help you learn how to keep your skin looking young, hydrated, and bright. 
No matter what career you are looking for, you will receive the best education and training possible at our school. Learn more skincare practices on our blog or see when you can register for our next cohort.

When it comes to skincare and makeup, there are ingredients or processes that can cause an allergic reaction to irritate the skin. When this irritation won’t go away and leads to persistent symptoms, that’s where the problem arises. Many people have allergies to foods or ingredients, which means you will need to be careful when applying makeup to a new client. When the body and immune system mistakenly identify an ingredient as a threat, and then releases histamines to fight it. If you want clients to avoid having a rash, itching, blisters, or swelling, here are some ways to deal with an allergic reaction to makeup. 

Symptoms Of A Makeup Allergy

All skin types and allergies are different, but there are some common signs that indicate irritation from makeup products. Allergic reactions are caused by the body’s defense system reacting to something that could be an irritant or attack other elements of the body. The common symptoms of an allergic reaction include:

• Itching
• Redness
• Eczema
• Swelling
• Blisters
• Watery eyes

Every client will be different, so symptoms can vary widely when a client has an allergic reaction. Taking steps to prevent allergic reactions will prevent discomfort for clients and protect your reputation as an esthetician or makeup artist.

Common Allergens

There are some ingredients that a lot of people are allergic to, including things like latex and fragrance. Some ingredients that are used to preserve makeup and skincare can also irritate the skin or eyes. If someone has had skin allergies in the past or is prone to breakouts, using certain beauty products may not work for them. Soaps, detergents, eye makeup, lash glue, or lip stains may cause allergic reactions and redness during a professional makeup session. 

Preventing Allergic Reactions For Clients

When choosing cosmetics you will carry in your kit and use on clients, it is important to choose clean products without fragrance or excessive dyes. Since cosmetic companies don’t have guidance on what to put on their packaging, something that says it is non-irritating doesn’t mean it will be for everyone. Here are some additional tips for preventing an allergic reaction to makeup.

Do A Patch Test

Before applying makeup to the entire face, it can be helpful to do a patch test on the client’s arm or neck to see if they react to the makeup. Doing a patch test on an area that will be covered up during their event or big day, just in case they do have an allergic reaction. Starting on a small area will also prevent the irritation from taking over and causing immense pain for the client.

Use Hypoallergenic Skincare Products

Prepping the skin with clean skincare products or hypoallergenic moisturizer will limit allergic reactions. Skincare products are more likely to irritate, so choosing quality products can set the tone for the rest of the makeup look. 

Ask About Known Allergens

When a new client shows up for a service, they often expect to fill out paperwork and answer questions about their allergies and current medications. Asking your clients about any allergens will help you avoid using these products during their service. Many people will know if they have an allergy to something, so you can typically determine if you are safe to use a certain product if they don’t provide any allergens. 

Additional Tips For Doing Makeup On Clients

For estheticians or makeup artists working on clients, having makeup tips in your back pocket can help you in a pinch. While you don’t want your clients to experience an allergic reaction to makeup, poor blending, or be unhappy with the final makeup results, sometimes it happens. As a makeup artist, having a kit full of different makeup products in different shades and different ingredients will help you be prepared for even the worst-case scenario.

Doing a trial on clients can also help you correct before the big day. Makeup trials will allow you to test out different looks and shades of makeup, without worrying about time or environmental factors. While a trial won’t prepare you for everything, it can help you feel more confident in the makeup application if things were to go wrong on a wedding day, prom day, or before a proposal. 

Esthetician Schooling From The Skin Institute

The Skin Institute in St. George, UT, trains estheticians in skin care, massage, makeup application, and cosmetic procedures. Our school is dedicated to preparing the next generation of estheticians to work in a variety of industries, building a well-rounded career. Whether you want to be an independent makeup artist, work in a medical spa, or in a salon, your education from The Skin Institute will set you up for success.

Having glowing skin, hair, and strong nails is due to a variety of vitamins and a healthy lifestyle. People will spend a lot of money on creams, supplements, or other beauty products that claim to help improve these areas. If you or a client wants to achieve better hair, skin, and nails, combining nutrients, lifestyle, and hydration is the best way to do it. Working with an esthetician and even a nutritionist can help strengthen all areas of your body, including these fast-regenerating cells. 

Biotin/Vitamin B7

Biotin is often seen as the key to better hair, skin, and nails. Vitamin B7, or Biotin, helps you to produce more keratin, a protein linked to creating a strong base for your hair and nails. Getting enough biotin will help prevent hair breakage, hair loss, and weak nails. There are many Biotin supplements on the market, so there is a dosage and form for everyone.

Vitamin E

There are many benefits of Vitamin E because it is an antioxidant and protects the cells from free radicals. Taking Vitamin E or eating vitamin-rich foods like dairy, leafy greens, or seeds will help improve your overall health. For your skin, Vitamin E is important to help reduce signs of aging. Helping to slow down aging keeps the skin more elastic and allows it to bounce back from any type of damage. 

Protein

Proteins are the building blocks for our cell growth and the health of things like skin, hair, and nails. It helps your cells to regenerate quickly and is helpful for all other vitamins and minerals you may take. Eating meat, taking iron, or other high-protein foods will increase the likelihood of small cell growth.

Collagen

This structural protein helps with connective tissues and can be found in many skin and hair care products. Collagen is essential for skin regeneration and anti-aging techniques. It makes up 30% of your body’s protein, so it is important to ensure you have a proper amount to keep your entire body healthy. Eating chicken skin, fish skin, egg whites, or bone broth is a good way to help boost your collagen. Making tissues strong is important if you want to have glowing skin, thick hair, and strong nails.

Foods That Boost Hair, Skin, And Nail Health

Your diet can be just as important for your external health as it is for internal health. Eating a well-balanced diet can help you improve skin texture, hair length and strength, teeth, nails, and much more. Here are some of the best foods to incorporate if you are specifically targeting better hair, skin, and nails.

Water

Staying properly hydrated is important for overall health, but especially for your skin. When the skin is well hydrated, it is less prone to inflammation, irritants, and other environmental stressors. Dry skin can also lead to faster aging, which could lead to fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, or flaky areas. Drinking water is important for skin and nails if you want to keep them from becoming brittle.

Berries

Antioxidants are the best thing for your skin cells if you want to keep them from damage. They are found in many berries like blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Antioxidants can also help if you are sick or have an infection to help you fight it and keep other cells from being attacked. 

Salmon

Fish is full of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial to smooth and shiny hair. Boosting the hair follicles can be done by eating salmon or other fish like mackerel. The nutrients in fish are also healthy for your heart, skin, and other parts of the body. 

Can Lifestyle Improve These Areas?

Eating a well-balanced diet, getting enough vitamins, and using the best products for your hair, skin, and nails will all work together to ensure optimal results. Choosing the right shampoo and conditioner and following proper hair care steps will keep your hair intact. Staying consistent with a skincare routine and spot treating acne spots will ensure smooth and clear skin. Using cuticle oil, avoiding biting your nails, and keeping them trimmed will help them look their best. Lifestyle will work in combination with nutrients for your benefit. 

Helping Your Clients Achieve Their Skin And Hair Dreams

If you are an esthetician who has clients wanting to improve their hair, skin, and nails, you can use these tips to help guide them on their journey. Keeping clients consistent with skin care, helping them with anti-aging treatments, or scalp treatments will help them achieve a healthy look. 

The Skin Institute teaches estheticians how to care for a variety of patients, skin types, and hair types. When you work through our education program, you will be prepared to work in multiple settings and grow your own business. Estheticians are crucial for our overall health as they help to provide relaxing and cleansing services necessary for us to look our best. Reach out to us to learn more about cohorts and start dates for upcoming courses.