I don’t know about you, but this weather has been wreaking havoc on my skin. One day it’s high 90s and the next day it’s in the 50s. As if this schizophrenic seasonal transition isn’t enough, we’ve had seven fires in and around Los Angeles County in October and early November alone! If you’re like me, you’ve probably noticed that your skin is feeling rather dry, despite normal efforts to hydrate. Yes, it’s because of the fires! The particulate matter produced from these fires settle into your skin and cause wrinkles, pigment spots and aggravate inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and acne.[1] Add in cold weather and holiday travel, and it’s definitely time to give your skin some extra TLC.

What can you do, you ask? Renew, Restore and Rebalance – which also happens to be our motto at VHB.

Renew

Exfoliating sloughs off dead skin and debris that’s built up on the surface of your skin, but you don’t want to overdo it. It provides a clean canvas for other products and allows your serums, oils and moisturizers to penetrate deeper into your skin. I’m prone to breakouts, so I exfoliate only a few times a week, but I’m obsessed with Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser! It’s a daily exfoliating treatment that’s super gentle and made from natural, organic ingredients.

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser - 124ml, $84

Restore & Rebalance

For those of you residing in and around areas that have experienced wildfires, your skin has been working some serious OT to replenish new skin cells that the smoke is drying out. The same happens when you’re exposed to drying in-flight cabin air and cold weather. Oils, serums and masks are the saving grace for times like these. Nutrient and antioxidant-rich products replenish the good stuff that’s lost in the fight against oxidative stress caused by environmental changes and pollution.

"But I feel weird about applying oil to my face", you say.

Oil gets a bad rap, but it’s just about finding the right one. The right oil, and application, won’t make you breakout and it won’t make you overly shiny or oily. When it comes to oils, less is more – one to three drops is enough. Apply oil either directly onto your skin, mix into your serum to level it up, or mix into your moisturizer to lock in hydration.

If you have oily skin, use heavier oils, or oils that increase your skin’s sensitivity to light, try using them at night so your skin has time to soak it up. If you have dull skin, you can also use certain oils as primers for a hydrated glow. Remember to allow the oil to fully absorb before applying makeup.

Don't like the thought of another step? VHB’s serums are already infused with nutrient-packed ingredients and oils.

For a lighter serum, Dr. Ellyan’s No. 6 Hyaluronic Serum is packed with millions of moisturizing particles that provide the ideal moisture balance across all three layers of your skin. 

Dr. Ellyan No. 6 Hyaluronic Serum - 30ml, $130

For something heavier, Dr. Ellyan’s No. 4 Revital Serum addresses various signs of aging skin, including loss of elasticity, dryness, dilation of pores and wrinkles. The fast-absorbing water-based formula penetrates the skin easily, providing intense nutrition, promoting cell regeneration, calming dry skin and reinforces the skin’s natural barrier resulting in smoother, more resilient skin.

Dr. Ellyan No. 4 Revital Serum - 30ml, $130

We’re also so obsessed with our Dr. Ellyan 2-Step Bio-Barrier Mask. It’s packed with a powerful botanical blend, ginseng extract and licorice to provide intense moisture, soothe skin and improve skin tone. Hydrogel technology in the mask increases the absorption of active ingredients and minimizes moisture loss, while the bio-barrier cream gives your skin an added nutrition boost while sealing in all that hydrating and replenishing goodness.

Dr. Ellyan 2-Step Bio Gel Mask (Box of 10), $65

What are you waiting for? Put on a corny holiday love story and mask up.

References

[1] Kim KE, Cho D, Park HJ. Air pollution and skin diseases: Adverse effects of airborne particulate matter on various skin diseases. Life Sci. 2016; 152:126-134; PMID: 27018067