As the weather gets colder, our beauty routines tend to fall by the wayside. But in actual fact, gloomy winter days are actually the perfect opportunity to get some of your favourite beauty treatments done in time for summer.
Laser hair removal
If you’re planning on wearing an itsy-bitsy bikini on your summer vacay, then you best start preparing to look your best with laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is most effective in winter because it’s designed to target the pigment of the hair in the follicle; so the lighter your skin is, the easier it is for the laser to identify the hair.
Also, once you’ve had a laser hair removal treatment you’ll have to avoid exposing those areas to the sun for at least 2 or more weeks prior to and after your treatment for optimum effectiveness. Therefore if you schedule your appointments in winter, you’ll most likely to be covered from head to toe for warmth anyway.
Experiment with facial treatments
Since the weather has turned cooler, you’ve probably noticed that your skin has become prone to breakouts and dryness. There are a number of ways to help your skin stay glowing and healthy including staying hydrated, eating the right nutrients, exfoliating and using quality skincare.
But for those of us who like to experiment with the latest facial treatment then winter is the perfect time to do this. Chemical peels, vampire facials, and fractional treatments are all great ways to hydrate, tone and smooth the skin, but they have a habit of making the skin look a little angry afterwards. Doing these treatments in winter means that you can easily hibernate inside and watch Netflix for the days following and people will be none the wiser.
Introduce AHAs into your skincare routine
AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) work by exfoliating rough patches to remove dead skin; revealing smoother, softer skin and improving moisture retention and elasticity. The downside is that when you use AHA treatments, your skin becomes more sensitive to UV and exposing the treated area to the sun immediately after can cause the skin to react or even burn from the sun’s harsh rays.
Winter is the perfect time to introduce AHAs into your skin care routine because firstly your skin is dryer, and the added boost in moisture will make you look and feel a million bucks; but secondly because similarly to laser hair removal you’re likely to be covered head to toe for warmth and there’s less opportunity for your skin to be exposed to the sun.
There are plenty of great products containing AHAs on the market including LANÁTE, a dermatologically developed cream that contains 17.5% ammonium lactate (the highest available in Australia), and is one of the gentlest AHAs on the market. It has also proven to be effective in treating common skin disorder Keratosis Pilaris (also known as chicken skin) which is perfect for smooth skin come summer time.
Get a head start on your summer tan
I think we can all agree that life is better with a tan. And we can probably also agree that if you’re after the perfect bronze result, the safest way to achieve one is by faking it. One of the best ways to build a natural glow in time for summer is to give a gradual tan moisturiser a go.
It’s a super easy step to add into your daily routine, simply rub the lotion into your skin after you’ve showered and exfoliated. Some of our favourite gradual tanners include: Eco Tan Winter Skin, Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk and St. Tropez Gradual Tan Tinted Lotion.
