Health & Wellness

Year-Round Glow

Lynn Beaulieu of Simply Skin on how to care for your face in the winter

The Bay Magazine ·

Lynn Beaulieu, licensed esthetician and founder of Simply Skin, has had a passion for skincare since childhood. She credits her grandmother, a woman who was still getting facials at 105 years of age(!), for sparking her interest in esthetics. We asked Lynn to share her expertise on maintaining healthy skin during these snowy months.

Okay, dish your skincare secrets. What should we be doing during the harsh winter months to maintain our glow?
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: both externally and internally. Drinking water is especially important during the winter due to the dry air both inside and outside. Use a daily and nightly moisturizer. Make sure the daily moisturizer has an SPF, as the winter sun can affect the skin just as much as the summer sun. 

What foods should we be eating to help keep our moisture levels high?
Foods with healthy fats, protein and antioxidants can help keep your skin supple. Nuts, avocados, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, carrots, salmon and eggs are a few examples. 

Can you name anything that should be avoided? 
Be aware of your coffee intake, as that can be dehydrating. Green tea is a nice alternative. Alcoholic beverages cause dehydration as well, so be mindful to drink extra water when you’re consuming alcohol. Resist taking super-hot showers and don’t exfoliate more than once or twice a week. Avoid products with high alcohol content as they can be very drying, as well as dry skin treatments containing mineral oil and lanolin, as they can be very clogging. 

What are some winter skincare-specific services that you offer?
Winter is one of the best times of year to experience my PCA Skin Peel service to help correct concerns such as fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone. These peels target the deeper layers of the epidermis for enhanced exfoliation and cellular turnover which produces healthy, glowing skin. Hydro-microdermabrasion is another great method of exfoliation, leaving skin super hydrated, smooth and glowing. During the winter I also offer a complementary paraffin hand treatment with every signature facial as a special treat for dry, chapped hands.

Can you suggest any products you carry that especially benefit skin during the winter? 
My number one seller in the cold, dry winter months is a nightly moisturizer called Skin Silk Coat Balm, through the PCA product line. Developed for harsh cold climates, it is formulated with anti oxidants, botanicals and hydrolyzed silk protein. Their Skin Hydrating Serum is also very popular and contains niacin amide to support the skin’s ability to attract and retain moisture. For the lips I offer their Skin Lip Peptide Therapy that hydrates with peptides. I also carry 100% raw shea butter for those clients who prefer an all-natural product. Hypo-allergenic, full of vitamins and rich in organic fats that help condition the skin, raw shea butter is an amazing skin healer and can be used on all skin types and from head to toe.

Let’s say there’s a blizzard and you’ve run out of all skincare products. Are there any skincare remedies that can be made at home? 

I love to do facial masks at home and being snowbound is the perfect time. There are many things you can find in your kitchen to help moisturize your skin. Honey would be my number one go-to product. It is antibacterial, full of antioxidants and can be used on all skin types. Coconut oil and olive oil also make great moisturizers. Other ingredients that are tried and true for winter skin are  bananas, oatmeal, yogurt, avocado, cucumber, buttermilk and pumpkin. Have fun experimenting! Leave on 10-20 minutes then wash off with tepid water.

Since Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to eat copious amounts of chocolate, is it true that chocolate is bad for the skin?
I’m happy to say dark chocolate can benefit the skin. The high cocoa content contains antioxidants that protect the body’s cells from free radicals that cause aging. I have a tradition of always leaving a piece of chocolate with a bottle of water for my facial clients. We all deserve a special treat.

Simply Skin
580 Maple Avenue, Barrington
401-965-7546

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