A: Cold winter weather leaches humidity from the atmosphere, which is why skin tends to feel dry and tight while you’re outdoors. To create a comfortable temperature, most indoor buildings have central heating, which also removes moisture from the air. You may notice that no matter where you spend most of your time during winter, your skin always feels dry – even if it’s prone to being oily. 

​As winter approaches, these skin care tips can help your complexion stay in balance:   ​

#1 Rule: Be sure to moisturize!
​Nothing sends skin into a frenzy worse than disruption in moisture levels. As skin recognizes its need for hydration, it begins pumping out even more oil than usual.

This translates to clogged pores, breakouts, and skin that feels dry & tight, but looks extra shiny. 

The majority of moisturizers on the market have a tendency to be overly emollient and thick. They rarely absorb fully into skin, leaving behind a sticky film that attracts environmental pollutants and prevents skin from feeling clean. What’s worse, they combine with foundation, forming a sticky mass that gets lodged inside of pores.  Hello breakouts!

Those with oily skin should always look for gel or serum moisturizers, which hydrate without  contributing to excess oil production. Mattify’s Incredi-Gel and Stop-Zit light weight moisturizers for oily skin and acne prone skin have been formulated especially for those who have had bad experiences with traditional moisturizing products. Their aloe gel base is saturated with essential oils and absorbs within seconds, sending the medicinal properties of these plant oils deep into pores, destroying acne bacteria and balancing oil production – without adding any shine to skin, or disrupting makeup application. 

Rule #2: Spot Treat! 
If you’re using chemical based acne treatments, spot-treat each breakout individually, rather than applying the product to your entire face.

Most chemical acne products contain ingredients intended to dry out the breakout - so when they’re applied to your whole face, they can severely dehydrate skin, which leads to excess peeling and oil production.  

Instead, use a face scrub that helps prevent acne in the first place. During your morning and/or evening routine, apply Mattify’s The Exfoliator in slow circular motions, to remove dead skin cells that can trap debris inside of pores. 
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Once the scrub has been rinsed away, use a face wash that contains Mattify’s Essential Oil Treatment for Acne Prone, Oily Skin. The plant-based ingredients in this additive help to balance oil production, rather than stripping skin of moisture, as some harsh soaps can do when used alone.  The formula also deters acne bacteria, so you end up with fewer breakouts in the first place. 

In a struggle to obtain a harmonious balance, body systems go haywire and hormonal changes can even occur.  Excess hormones, combined with body-wide inflammation can trigger breakouts and excess sebum production.

If a breakout is just beginning, the inflamed area expands, as the body’s fight response goes into over drive.  Acne bacteria also feed off an acidic environment – turning that tiny breakout into a much larger pustule, that can take weeks to heal.  
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By controlling inflammation internally, the pH level of blood becomes neutral, disallowing further bacterial growth. This in turn prevents acne, while minimizing swelling of existing breakouts.  ​

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Wouldn’t it be nice if fast food restaurants offered fresh green smoothies at the drive-through? Unfortunately, most of them don’t – so if you’re short on time in the morning, blend one of these up at night, and pour into a cup with a lid, so you can drink it the next morning. Simply shake & go! 

To create a thick smoothie, mix using a regular blender or a Ninja. For a thinner drink, the fruits & veggies can be pressed through a juicer. You can also sub the ½ cup coconut water with regular water or almond milk. Adjust the amount for desired thickness.