Winter Skin Care: Hydration from the Inside Out

Winter can wreak havoc on your skin, leaving it dry, flaky, irritated and uncomfortable. Combatting dehydrated skin during the colder months isn’t just about slathering on lotion—true hydration starts from within. To keep your skin healthy and hydrated, you need a combination of internal and external care. Here's how drinking more water, eating essential fatty acids (EFAs), and moisturizing can help combat dehydrated skin this season.

Drink More Water

When temperatures drop, we often forget to hydrate as much as we do in summer. However, dry indoor heating and cold winds can deplete your skin’s moisture. Drinking more water helps keep your skin hydrated from the inside out, supporting cell health and maintaining elasticity. Even mild dehydration can make your skin appear dull, so aim to drink consistently throughout the day. Aim for at least 8 glasses a day, and consider herbal teas or infused water for added variety.

Add EFAs to Your Diet

Essential fatty acids (EFA’s), found in foods like salmon, avocados, nuts, and seeds, are key to maintaining your skin’s natural barrier. EFAs help your skin retain moisture and reduce inflammation, which is especially important during winter when dryness can exacerbate irritation. Including these healthy fats in your diet can give your skin the support it needs to stay soft and supple.

Don’t Skip the Moisturizer

Hydration doesn’t stop at the surface. Use a rich, hydrating moisturizer on your entire body daily to seal in water and protect your skin barrier. Apply it immediately after bathing when your skin is still slightly damp to trap water in the skin and maximize hydration. Look for ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, or shea butter to lock in hydration and fight winter dryness. Avoid ingredients listed as “fragrance” or ‘parfum” as they can irritate dry skin. Petroleum products can help prevent water loss, but they will not hydrate the skin. So if you choose to use them, apply moisturizers/lotions first and try to avoid on the face entirely.

How to Treat Dry Skin

When your skin is dry and irritated, it's best to avoid using AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids), BHA (beta-hydroxy acids) and retinols. These active ingredients, while effective for exfoliation and anti-aging, can exacerbate sensitivity, stripping away essential moisture and impairing your skin barrier. Milk- and oil-based cleansers such as Rhonda Allison’s Soothing Cream Cleanse or Luxe Cleansing Balm will help to cleanse and retain moisture without over stripping your skin. Reintroduce actives slowly once your skin feels balanced and resilient.

The Bottom Line

By drinking more water, adding EFAs to your diet, utilizing hydrating cleansers and consistently moisturizing, you can protect your skin from winter's harsh effects and maintain a soft, glowing complexion all season long. Take care of your skin—it’s your body’s largest organ, and it deserves the TLC! 

All Things Pumpkin

The Benefits of Pumpkin for your Skin

 As the weather starts to cool (at least here in PA it’s getting cooler) we are all getting excited for the Fall season and everyone is craving everything pumpkin flavored. We’re decorating with pumpkins, ordering pumpkin spiced lattes, burning pumpkin scented candles and the list goes on. Not into these seasonal rituals? You can get your pumpkin fix through your skincare routine! Were you aware of all the benefits that pumpkin can have on your skin?  WELL!  Let me share some of them with you!

 Did you know that pumpkin has the highest content of naturally occurring Vitamin A (which helps minimize acne scars), salicylic acid (helps to reduce acne), and beta carotene (helps decrease wrinkles and dark spots). In addition, its high zinc content helps keep your skin protected from UV rays. No need to wait until Fall to take advantage of all the benefits of Pumpkin!  Let’s chat about our favorite ways to incorporate pumpkin into your daily skin care routine:

 Pumpkin Lactic Cleanse

Rhonda Allison’s Pumpkin Lactic Cleanse is the foundation of our Autumn inspired skincare routine (your cleanser is really the backbone of any skin care routine for that matter). We typically recommend this specific cleanser for those with age spots, dehydrated skin, even for those with acne as its ingredients are able to provide a deep and nutrient dense cleanse. Its L-Lactic acid helps soften and loosen dead skin cells while the pumpkin extract feeds the skin a healthy mix of antioxidants, vitamin and nutrients. Added benefit: the scent of Fall - it’s better than any of your Fall scented candles! You can shop the Pumpkin Lactic Cleanse online or in person at our spa. 

Pumpkin Tonic

Pumpkin Tonic is a valuable second-phase cleanse for ultra-sensitive to normal and combination skin types. This nutrient dense toner helps maintain proper skin pH and has antioxidant, humectant and nourishing properties. Due to the naturally occurring nutrients in pumpkin, the rinse will bathe skin with valuable antioxidant and regenerating support.  Pumpkin Tonic is designed to freshen and tone skin after cleansing, and to provide a balance of moisture that hydrates and plumps skin tissue, giving the skin a daily vitamin treatment. Check out the Pumpkin Tonic.

 Pumpkin E Serum

Pumpkin E Serum is an excellent treatment serum! Known for its silky, hydrating texture, this serum boosts healing and antioxidant protection.  Replenish dull, depleted skin with our year-round “super serum”! Pumpkin E Serum bathes skin with naturally-occurring antioxidants and regenerating support, providing vital nutrients for much needed nourishment and cell protection. Learn more about Pumpkin E Serum here!

 Pumpkin Parfait Enzyme

Take your fall inspired skin care routine beyond your at-home regime, by adding the Pumpkin Parfait Enzyme to your next facial treatment. Pumpkin Parfait Enzyme may smell like pumpkin pie, but it exfoliates the skin beautifully. The pumpkin ferment is the equivalent to a 10% glycolic acid making it great for those with thicker, photo-aged skin or individuals struggling with pustular acne. How is it applied? After cleansing, apply the Pumpkin Parfait Enzyme to your face and neck for 8- 10-minutes  leaving your skin with a smooth and polished feel (yes this is a little tingly, but oh it is worth it!). Pumpkin Parfait Enzyme is not for the treatment room only, use this at home for spa-like results!

We recommend this treatment all year round, but especially during the Fall season as your skin is likely recovering from a few months spent in the summer sunshine. Exfoliating your skin is an important step in correcting sun damage and uncovering a fresh new layer of skin cells. 

Incorporating Pumpkin Into Your Diet

A healthy skin care routine starts from the inside out. With all of the health benefits that come with our favorite flavor of Fall, you should do more than just incorporate it into your products. We recommend adding pumpkin into your diet (Um no, we don’t mean doubling up pumpkin spice lattes).  

 Need a few recipe ideas? Try some of the following: 

•  Pumpkin smoothies or acai bowls.  

• Adding pumpkin to your morning oatmeal - a holiday favorite!

• Pumpkin soup. Yum!

• Or pumpkin seeds make for a great snack. 

 Aside from the delicious taste, pumpkins are packed with an assortment of vitamins and nutrients that are able to penetrate deep into the skin. Similar to the benefits found in our pumpkin based skincare products, consuming pumpkin in your diet can help keep your skin hydrated and repair damage from the inside out.