Montrealers Guide to Healthy Skin this Fall

To help you, here are 5 of the most important tips to incorporate in your skin care routine to help you keep your precious complexion radiant, weather resistant and healthy looking! And remember, while these tips are extremely valuable for women, they also work wonders on men!

TIP# 1: WATER! WATER! WATER!

We are all aware of the importance of water and proper hydration on our skin but often, drinking 2 liters of water each day can become quite boring. While it's true that drinking water can feel a bit tasteless,  it can truly clear up your skin. People often report a healthier glow after just a week of drinking a healthy amount of water! So if you have dry skin, stop wasting money on expensive creams that promise miracles but lead to nowhere, just drink that water. I personally love VOSS water (available at Shoppers' Drug Mart/Pharmaprix) not only because of its purity (it comes from an aquifer in the untouched nature of Southern Norway, protected from pollutants and layers of rock and ice), but also for its cute bottle design...

TIP # 2:  NO LIP LICKING!

First, I'm sure we all agree that a person constantly licking his/her lips on the street is not the nicest thing to look at. But elegance aside, let’s also consider that our fall weather tends to be windy and cold, a combination that can further damage your lips, thereby leading to more of that yucky licking habit. And the more you lick, the more your lips become chapped. The solution? Reach for a chapstick! Always carry one with you; they're small and so useful. There is a wide range of chapsticks on the market. My personal favourite - as well as B-Living hostess Melanie's - is 100% Natural Burt’s Bee chapsticks, which retail for only $4.50 at Shoppers' Drug Mart/Pharmaprix.

TIP # 3: GLOVES!

If you must splurge on something, buy yourself a good quality pair of gloves to keep your hands sheltered from the wind, cold and humidity. Choose the material that is right for you and doesn’t give your hands allergy. I just bought these cute Long Draped Gloves for $40 at Simons on the corner of Ste Catherine/Mansfield. Side note: you can now shop online at SIMONS.CA; it doesn't get more convenient than this...especially when our weather turns to cold...

TIP # 4: SUNSCREEN!

Summer may be coming to an end on our beautiful city, but that doesn't mean those damaging sun rays won’t reach you and affect your skin anymore. Always, always, always wear sunscreen every single day, even on a rainy one! I go for Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 55, $15 (available at Shoppers' Drug Mart/Pharmaprix, Jean Coutu, Uniprix and many grocery stores). Trust me, it’s worth every penny. A little goes a long way, and it dries instantly so you don’t have to wait 10 minutes to let it lock in your skin before applying makeup.

TIP # 5:  MOISTURIZE!

Not only is dry skin unattractive, it can also sting and even cause pain. Cold and windy weather, like the day we are about to have in Montreal, can damage the skin surface. This is why most moisturizers contain water, the moisture and an oil-based substance that recreates our natural barrier. Try BIOTHERM Aquasource Skin Perfection 24h Moisturizer High Definition Perfecting Care, retailing for $40 at The Bay, Shoppers' Drug Mart/Pharmaprix or Sears.

Picture credits: www.vosswater.com, www.burtsbees.ca, www.simons.ca, www.neutrogena.com and www.biotherm.ca

also visit Ekaterina's website at: www.ekaterinaulyanoff.com