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Pro Secrets for Beautiful Winter Skin

Original Source: http://living.health.com
Author: Jennifer Goldstein
Original Publication Date: February 2010

If you gathered a group of female dermatologists in one room in the dead of winter, you’d notice something immediately: they all have great skin, despite the fact that the rest of us are dealing with dull, flaky, irritated complexions right about now.

To find out how they do it, we grilled doctors about their own skin-care routines. Turns out, most of them rely on the same six tricks. Read on, and steal their secrets.

Related links:
Your Winter Facial: Defend Your Skin Against the Elements
Our Beauty Team’s Secret Stash of Skin Products for the Winter
Your Secret Dry Spots Uncovered!

They stay young with vitamin C

If we had a dollar for every dermatologist who mentioned that she used a skin-care product with vitamin C, we could buy an orange grove! The antioxidant boosts skin’s ability to protect itself and is a key ingredient needed to manufacture the collagen that keeps complexions plump and smooth.

Lisa A. Zdinak, MD, chief surgeon at Precision Aesthetics in New York City, says applying an over-the-counter serum with vitamin C every morning before you moisturize can make a huge difference.

“I can tell when my patients are using it, because their skin looks 10 years younger after only a week,” she says of her favorite serum, Ultraceuticals C-10 Serum ($93). Another good one to try: Obagi Medical Products Professional-C Serum 10% ($65).

They protect their skin from the sun—even in the winter

The skies may be gray and the days short, but dermatologists are still vigilant about sun protection in January and February. “Snow can actually reflect up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays, while sand reflects only 15 percent and water reflects 10,” notes Jennifer Linder, MD, a dermatologist in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Because UV light can exacerbate conditions like rosacea and cause age spots and wrinkles, it’s important to stay protected year-round. All the pros we spoke to apply a lotion with SPF every morning.

Try Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Sun-Damage Daily Moisture Lotion SPF 28 ($12.99). And many docs increase their protection (while adding color) with SPF-enhanced makeup. Hema Sundaram, MD, a dermatologist in Washington, D.C., uses Colorescience Pro Sunforgettable SPF 30 ($50).

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