WINTERIZE
Frigid weather wreaks havoc on our skin. If I neglect to Winterize during the winter months, my aging skin gets extremely dry and ashy, especially my face. Massachusetts might not be as bad as the glacial winters in the windy city of Chicago, but our skin still takes a beating. Saundra Underwood, principal owner of Chicago-based Lady Alexandra Skincare Systems, an online natural skincare business, knows a thing or two about winterizing. Underwood developed Lady Alexandra Skincare Systems more than 20 years ago as a hobby after making egg and honey face masks and milk baths for herself. “For many years there was no brand; just me making products for myself, friends and family,” said Underwood, who, when she was an international flight attendant, would make salves after long flights dried her skin. “Then I finally realized that I could produce and sell a product line using ingredients that leave the skin soft, smooth, well oiled and smelling sweet.”
TREATMENT
The best way to take care of skin during winter is to focus on rehydration. Avoid taking extra-hot showers and baths, which cause our skin to become extremely dry, itchy and scaly. Warm showers are better. My lips get really dry in winter, but Lady Alexandra’s Lip Cream made my lips feel soft like satin. Underwood prefers to moisturize at night, as skin cells renew themselves overnight. I find the weekly Body Scrub’s exfoliation makes my skin feel healthy and rehydrated, and I can skip body lotion.
The company’s body creams are made with oils — olive, carrot, sweet almond, safflower and castor oils. A tip — look for ingredients that you would also eat. “What’s good inside the body is also good for the outside.”
The company is being revamped – name change to Lady Alexandra Wellness Concepts. For more information, check out www.ladyalexandra.com or contact [email protected]
SKIN
Did you know that skin on the face and body are very different? Both require separate products — don’t use body lotion on your face, which has sensitive parts such as the skin around the eyes. Skin on knees and elbows is much thicker.
HYALURONIC ACID
What’s the difference between natural and clinical skincare products? Preference! Natural vs. Clinical Skincare basically comes down to what works best on your skin and how much you are willing to spend? The main ingredient for both is hyaluronic acid, which moisturizes and hydrates. Hyaluronic acid plumps the skin’s fine lines and wrinkles for the appearance of youthful looking skin. In winter, find a skin product that has heavier moisturizer or serum with SPF designed for the winter days and a lighter ingredient for winter nights.
Once you find a Natural or Clinical product that works for your skin type, practice the six steps of a Beauty & Skincare regimen:
FACE: Daytime Beauty & Skincare regimen
- Step 1: CLEANSER
- Step 2: TONER
- Step 3: ANTIOXIDANT SERUM
- Step 4: EYE CREAM (day or night)
- Step 5: SPOT TREATMENT (acne)
- Step 6: MOISTURIZER w/ SPF
Menervia Akers, The Fashion Monger, is a self-taught artistic designer born and raised in Lynn. She developed a flair for fashion at a young age. She started a fashion club for Lynn Vocational Technical Institute students and served as club adviser. Her biweekly column offers strong opinions, tips, advice and insights from industry professionals. Tell her what you think at [email protected].
