Winter is coming and — whether you’re excited about hot chocolate and snowball fights, or you’re curling up by the fire and nesting until spring — there’s no denying that the harsh weather can have a big impact on the skin. Read on to find out about some of the best spa treatments for winter and how to help your Clients navigate this cold, crisp season looking and feeling great.
Seasonal Skin Care Transition
The transition from fall to winter looks different depending on where you live, but it’s safe to say that the temperature is dropping and the heat, cranked. What this means is that the hot, dry air indoors is wreaking havoc on your skin, and the cold air and wind outside are doubling down. Not to worry, though, there are a lot of skin care treatments that can hydrate, reduce irritation and even warm up cold skin during these long, dark months. Clients could use some major replenishing from head to toe, and they look to you to expertly guide them through this transition, preparing them for the onslaught of harsh, cold weather.
As winter arrives, any dry skin or flakiness is probably getting more intense as the temperature drops and the weather gets more extreme. Snow, you’re beautiful but not always great for the complexion. On top of that, many of us turn to artificial sources of heat and long, hot showers or baths to help escape the cold. Both central heating and exposure to hot water can further strip skin of its natural oils, and you may find your skin becomes dry, itchy, cracked and flaky. That’s why winter skin care is so important.
Facial Treatments
If windburn on cheeks or dry, dehydrated skin is an issue, Clients can reap the benefits of a moisturizing, rejuvenating or restorative treatment. And while many types of facials can provide benefits any time of year, certain treatments stand out as ideal choices for this season.
If your Clients are experiencing weather-related skin irritation, a rejuvenating facial is a great place to start. The Paprika Herbal Treatment is a spicy option perfect for mature, uneven or problem skin. The paprika and cinnamon rejuvenate and invigorate while sage, honey and lavender work to soothe, replenish and hydrate wind-ravaged skin, leaving Clients with a fresher, firmer, more radiant complexion.
The extreme temperatures and shifts in humidity can create the perfect storm of skin issues. Any glow that was left over from summer is long gone and dullness may have set in. Now is a good time to recommend a peel since gentle exfoliation encourages faster cell turnover, which gently breaks down the glue that holds dead skin right where you don’t want it.
The Blueberry Detox Firming Peel has lactic acid which sloughs off dead skin cells, while juice from blueberries, raspberries and blackberries provides a shot of vitamins and antioxidants. An esthetician and a customer, Pamela S., reviewed the peel on our website saying: “I LOVE this treatment … I count on this for skin in need of a detoxifying exfoliation and a glow that lasts for days. It contains paprika, which warms the skin and increases blood flow, which is SO GOOD. A secret weapon that every esthetician needs in their back bar.”
Nothing hits quite like hot cocoa in the winter, and the Chocolate Mousse Hydration Masque is a real indulgence for dry skin this time of year. Full of moisturizing oils from macadamia nuts, almonds and jojoba, plus antioxidants in cocoa and Vitamins C and E, this treat for your skin will leave it hydrated and looking firm and plumped. It’s also available in retail size, so your Clients can indulge in this decadent mask in the comfort of their homes.
Body Exfoliation
Another great way to replenish parched winter skin from head to toe is with an exfoliation treatment. Too much time spent warming up by the fire or relaxing in a hot tub or sauna can do a number on the texture and hydration levels all over the body, causing tightness, flakes and itching. An exfoliating scrub gets rid of the dead skin cells to reveal fresher, smoother-looking skin. A beneficial treatment on its own, a body exfoliation is also a great add-on before another treatment, like a body wrap.
A professional scrub is a wonderful way to get rid of that top layer of dead, itchy skin and reveal a smooth, hydrated glow. Our Cranberry Pomegranate Sugar Scrub creates the perfect mood for the winter season. Cranberry is high in vitamins and antioxidants, as are other ingredients like green tea and pomegranate. Our Coconut Sugar Scrub is another great option in the winter. Hydrating coconut oil is paired with revitalizing cucumber, while exfoliating natural cane sugar leaves skin feeling soft and silky. And the beachy aroma of coconuts might conjure up images of a tropical paradise, even with a foot of snow on the ground. Follow with a wrap, massage, shower and a soothing moisturizer, and your Client will leave feeling hydrated and happy.
Body Wraps
Body wraps are another year-round treatment, but there’s something about coming in from the cold to a warm and cozy wrap that sounds especially appealing. Here are some your Clients will love:
Eminence Organics herbal body wraps are designed to heal, restore and detoxify and can be used to tighten skin along the entire body. Continuing on the hot cocoa theme, the Chocolate Truffle Body Wrap is a real indulgence this time of year. Made with cocoa, which is high in antioxidants to moisturize the skin and remove the appearance of fine lines, plus softening macadamia and almond oils, this wrap is a decadent treat for your skin.
For a warming option, our Herbal Cellulite Treatment nourishes and hydrates the skin with honey, while paprika and stinging nettle create the sensation of heat — which is welcome during these cool months. This spicy combo helps energize the appearance of skin for a healthy-looking glow. If your Client’s skin is feeling parched, the Stone Crop Restorative Body Wrap contains aloe and powerful actives to hydrate, rejuvenate and brighten the look of skin from head to toe.
Massages
While we’re getting cozy, the idea of a nice massage is definitely on the table. What better way to calm down during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season than with some relaxing downtime?
Our Apricot Body Oil is a massage oil go-to that will leave the skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth and nourished. Apricot kernel oil is high in Vitamins A, C and E, and both grapeseed and jojoba oils are incredibly nourishing and hydrating.
Another Eminence Organics oil that is perfect for massage (in the spa or at home) is the Stone Crop Body Oil, which is formulated with arnica and oils from stone crop, rosehip and avocado to moisturize.