Beauty Versus the World

Culprit: Cold temperatures and harsh winds
“Wind and cold weather, especially when humidity is low from dry indoor heat, as well as wind, causes water to quickly evaporate off skin’s surface,” says Dr. Geyer. “This leads to a breakdown of skin’s outer protective layer.”

Issue: Blotchy, dry, flaky skin
When skin’s barrier to the outside world is compromised, not only does more moisture seep out, but more skin saboteurs (as in pesky pollution) can get in, too.

Remedy: Just as you throw on a cozy sweater to keep warm once the thermostat plummets, your skin needs TLC and an extra layer of protection. Look for products that contain mega hydrators such as ceramides and squalene, both of which are moisture-boosting lipids that mimic those naturally found in skin. Humectants like hyaluronic acid draw water from the air into skin, and keep the water laced in the very cream you’re applying bound to the skin.

Turn on a humidifier, and turn up skin’s moisture: According to the American Academy of Dermatology, once humidity drops below 60 percent, skin is more prone to irritation. Supercharging your diet may help keep skin supple. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-linoleic acid allow the body to produce more ceramides from the inside out, explains Dr. Baumann. Your best bet: Munch on walnuts, flaxseed oil and salmon, or take omega-3 supplements.

Try: 
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, $25
Crane Cool Mist Humidifier, $50

Culprit: The sun
Consider the sun your skin’s ultimate frenemy. You love the way your skin looks with a touch of sunny glow, but it comes with a hefty dose of damage. “Ultraviolet radiation is one of the harshest environmental aggressors out there,” says Adam Geyer, M.D., founder of Tribeca Park Dermatology in NYC.

Issue: A laundry list of skin concerns including fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, loss of elasticity, uneven skin tone and, of course, skin cancer

UV exposure is responsible for up to 90 percent of the visible signs of aging, The Skin Cancer Foundation in NYC reports. Daily sun exposure generates free radicals, electron-hungry molecules that age skin, and over time they can also lead to potentially deadly DNA damage in the form of skin cancer.

RELATED RESEARCH: Sun-Damaged Skin Looks Older

Remedy: Protect skin from both UVA rays (the aging rays that damage skin cells in the deep layers, leading to skin wrinkling) and UVB (which cause skin reddening and sunburn in the skin’s outer layers), rain or shine. Just because you aren’t a beach bum, doesn’t mean you’re safe, since at least 50 percent of UVA rays penetrate glass.Office workers who sat in front of the same window for 20 years looked a whopping seven years older on the side of their face directly exposed to UV rays, a recent study in Clinical Interventions in Aging, finds.

Slather on a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has a minimum of SPF 30 and a mix of chemical sunscreens such as avobenzone and oxybenzone, which absorb and break down rays, or physical blocks like titanium and zinc oxide that deflect light off of skin, suggests Dr. Chapas.

Try:
Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50, $30
DDF Weightless Defense Oil-Free Hydrator (with SPF 45), $48