Expert tips: winter skincare

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It’s been a crazy old winter – almost hot one day then freezing cold the next. The tumultuous climes mean our skin takes a battering. As the days finally start to get longer and spring teases us with lighter mornings, we’ve been left with dry, dehydrated, even scaly skin.

“Dehydration and dry skin can lead to wrinkles – and this can be most prominent in winter,” says leading Sydney cosmetic nurse (including to stars so hot she can’t reveal their names!) Sophy Dennett. “It’s what I get asked about most in the colder months!”

So if your skin has suffered from mid-year blues now’s the time to take action. Sophy shares her top tips for emerging in to spring with a glowing complexion.

How do you prevent dry skin in winter?

Skin cell renewal slows down in winter so everyone needs to exfoliate more and hydrate more deeply with richer moisturising creams. Drinking at least eight glasses of water a day helps as heating and air-con add to our dehydration.

What's your winter skin care regime?

Daily I use a potent antioxidant, medical grade eye cream and now use a 15+ rather than a 30+ as I know most of us are so careful about sun exposure now that we are diagnosed as Vitamin D deficient. Nightly I alternate with a Vitamin A/lactic acid and rich hydrating cream. I also use a cream cleanser as it strips my skin less than a foaming one.

Sophy Dennett explains non-invasive cosmetic treatments

Why is it we often feel like we look older in winter?

Our cellular renewal has slowed down so our skin is usually dull and dry in appearance.

If you had to choose just three face products for winter what would they be?

Cosmedix Define which has a mixture of Vitamin A to reverse damage and lactic acid to speed up cellular turn over, and Skinceuticals B5 serum which is very hydrating and of course a sunblock to always protect in our harsh environment.

Are there any cosmetic procedures that can help winter skin?

I do a fantastic hydrating treatment with Restylane Vital by injecting into superficial layers of the skin which hydrates and stimulates collagen. Most fillers are used to fill hollows, folds and plump out cheeks and lips. Vital has a much smaller concentration of the active ingredient hylarunoic acid therefore it's more hydrating and less volumising. Hyaluronic acid is found in all living things including us so becomes part of our tissue and has very few side effects. It gives a youthful glow to the face which can last up to six months. Hyaluronic acid is a hydrophiliic molecule which just means it likes water so I inject it into the skin and encourage clients to drink eight glasses a day so you start to see results pretty much immediately. Studies show this also stimulates collagen so it repairs the skin and smooths out lines.

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What are the most common requests you see from people in winter?

My skin looks flat, dull and tired - what can I do? Apart from using good active cosmeceutical skin care, winter is the best time to do light treatments like laser, IPL, and LED. As we have less sun exposure it's safer and we get better results with less risks. I recommend to alternate through winter with medical grade peels and IPL both which lift damage, even out skin tone, stimulate collagen elastin and and make your skin glow.

What are the winter make up trends you're most excited about?

Make up is heading back to the old Hollywood look of the 20s and 40s, glamorous, classic with a modern twist of metallics, false lashes, defined burgundy lips and full plump cheeks. We have to thank 'The Great Gatsby' for this glamourous trend.

What emerging cosmetic trends are you most excited about?

The holy grail of my industry is to eliminate wrinkles. Anti-wrinkle treatments like botox/dysport work well as they limit muscle movement therefore improving wrinkles and preventing them from deepening. So far nothing has come along in the beauty industry that can reverse the years in five minutes with minimal side effects and no down time like botox/dysport can.

Stem cells are the future as they will correct the wrinkle while still having all the facial muscle movement. Unfortunately current physical delivery devices still don't work. If scientists will find a way to drive stem cells to the bottom of the wrinkle then we could improve their appearance dramatically.

Visit Sophy Dennett at GP on Ebley, 108a Ebley St, Bondi Junction, or call her on 02 93871171.

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