Winter skin care and how to protect yourself

The low humidity in these chilly temperatures causes our skin to feel dry, even cracked. Dr. Anthony Youn joins us on The Nine with some tips for keeping your skin moisturized.

You should have three types of moisturizers:

Body
- Apply body moisturizer at least once per day, within 3 minutes after getting out of the shower.
- Use lukewarm, not really hot water when showering.
- Body moisturizers are where you can save money.  Not necessary to pay for a really expensive moisturizer for the body.

Hands
- Any hand moisturizer should pass the "Door Handle Test" - can you turn a door handle after you apply it?
- Good hand moisturizers should withstand several hand washings.  This is the difference between a hand moisturizer and a body moisturizer, which cannot withstand the washings.
- At night, apply the moisturizer, put on a pair of cloth gloves and sleep with them on.  By morning your hands will be soft, hydrated, and rejuvenated.
- Borghese Spa Mani - moisture restoring gloves - for the lazy - a pair of gloves that is infused with skin hydrators - $48

Face
- This is where you should splurge.
- Do not use body or hand moisturizers on your face - our facial skin is thinner, more sensitive, and prone to breakouts.
- Facial moisturizers should ideally do more than moisturize - apply one that also has antioxidants or sunscreen - saves a step and gives you two benefits for one application
- ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense - Apply every morning to moisturize, but also is chock full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.  $150
- Example of facial sunscreen combined with moisturizer

Other tips: Drink plenty of water to hydrate your skin; eat foods high in monounsaturated fats (olive oil, canola oil, walnuts, avocado) to help keep your skin moisturized; and make sure your home humidifier is on. Set your room humidity to 30-50 percent in winter months (above 60 percent can cause condensation and encourages bacterial growth).