Well-being: prepare your skin for extreme cold (DIY)

Temps de lecture : 2 minutes

The Swiss winter is beautiful, but the icy wind, the extreme temperature changes (between the heat inside and the cold outside) and the dry air of the ski slopes are our skin’s worst enemies. Skin becomes red, tight and loses its radiance.

At Les Paillettes Vertes, we believe that the best protection comes from nature. It’s time to adopt simple gestures and “homemade” recipes to strengthen the skin barrier before the cold attacks.

1. Understanding the Enemy: The Cold Effect

When the temperature drops, blood vessels contract to conserve body heat. This reduces the supply of sebum (the skin’s natural protective oils) to the skin’s surface. The result? A weakened skin barrier that loses moisture (dehydration) and becomes more sensitive to external aggression (redness).

The golden rule: you need to add lipids (fats) to compensate for this loss of sebum and seal in moisture.

2. The Essential Daily Ritual (The Basics)

Before moving on to DIY, here are a few things to remember:

• Warm water, never hot: Avoid showers and facial cleansing with scalding water. Hot water removes what little hydrolipidic film remains.

• Gentle Cleansing: Use a very mild cleanser (such as a milk or oil), not an aggressive foaming soap, to preserve the skin.

• Constant hydration: Drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Skin hydrates from the inside out.

3. Our DIY “Great Cold” Recipes (Protection and Calm)

All you need are a few natural ingredients to create ultra-protective skin care.

Recipe #1: Intensive Repair Balm (for cheeks and hands)

This rich balm creates a protective film for areas most exposed to wind and extreme cold (cheeks, lips, hands).

• Ingredients:

• 30% Shea Butter (Nourishing)

• 60% Vegetable Oil of your choice (Sweet Almond, Jojoba or Macadamia)

• 10% Plant Wax (Candelilla or Beeswax, for film-forming effect)

• Preparation: Melt the wax and shea butter in a bain-marie. Remove from heat, add vegetable oil. Pour into a small jar and leave to cool. The Balm is ready!

Recipe #2: Calming and Nourishing Mask

A mask to be applied once a week to soothe redness and deeply nourish the skin.

• Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon Honey (Moisturizing and antibacterial)

• 1 teaspoon plain yoghurt (soothing, provides probiotics)

• 1/2 teaspoonWhite Clay (Kaolin) (Absorbs without drying)

• Application: Mix ingredients well. Leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off with lukewarm water.

4. L’Allié Post-Aventure (Le Soin Concentré)

After a long day of skiing or hiking in the cold, the skin needs concentrated care.

If you don’t have time to make your own balm or need an immediate solution for muscles and skin:

• Sports Muscle Balm Don ‘t just reserve it for your muscles! Our Sports Muscle Balm is rich in high-quality oils and waxes. It can be applied in a very thin layer to hands and cheekbones before or after exposure to the cold. The plant oils it contains act as an excellent protective film against the wind, while offering you the soothing benefits of camphor and menthol after exercise.

• Purifying Mask For a real in-depth reset before winter sets in, our Spirulina & Clay Mask is perfect. It detoxifies your skin while providing essential nutrients before the onslaught of cold weather.

Conclusion: Adopting a more conscious lifestyle also means looking after your body in the face of the elements. By choosing natural ingredients, you can offer your skin the healthiest, most effective protection against Swiss winters.

Take care of yourself! 💚