How to take care of your skin while skiing?

While people are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of ultraviolet radiation in the summer, this is not yet entirely the case in winter. Indeed, with cold temperatures and snow on the ground, it may seem that the risk of sun damage is rather low or even non-existent, but this is not the case. Firstly, more UV radiation reaches the Earth's surface in mountainous regions than at sea level, as the atmosphere is thinner at high altitudes. Secondly, snow strongly reflects UV rays.

Finally, it is important to note that the cloud cover on snowy winter days does not provide sun protection. In fact, up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate through the clouds. Consequently, this means that exposed skin is at risk of sunburn and skin damage, particularly during outdoor winter activities such as skiing. Therefore, it is recommended to protect yourself from the sun at all times when you are outside in the snow.

Snow can reflect up to 80% of UV rays, compared to approximately 10% for water and 15% for sand.

What to do?

• Cover all exposed areas of the skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen (UVA/UVB) with a minimum SPF of 50 and reapply every two hours as a precaution.

  In addition to UV filters, our sun creams, for face and/or body, are also enriched with antioxidant agents (karanja oil, limonium extract) and moisturising elements (aloe vera, hyaluronic acid).

• In conjunction with sunscreen, wearing long clothing (scarf, high-collared jacket, high-necked sweater, gloves, etc.) as well as a balaclava or a hat that covers the ears.

• Seek the shade as much as possible, especially in the middle of the day when UV levels are at their highest.

It is also necessary to protect the eyes from the harmful effects of UV exposure (cataracts, pterygium, photokeratitis, etc.) with sunglasses that comply with the NF EN ISO 12312-1 standard of category 3 or 4, which are perfectly adjusted to ensure that no UV rays penetrate the top, bottom or sides of the glasses and are equipped with dark lenses effective against glare.

Windy conditions, arid air, high altitudes and the cold can negatively impact the skin, leaving it dry, dull, flaky and visibly irritated (redness) instead of a once healthy and radiant complexion. Hydration is therefore paramount and certain measures can be taken to prevent these aforementioned conditions.

What to do?

• Invest in a face cream with nourishing, repairing, and soothing properties, which can be complemented by a serum rich in nourishing squalane if your skin is particularly dry at this time of year. The same applies to the body, even if it is fully covered.

• Do not forget to protect andapply a treatment to the skin around the eyes, which is thin and naturally poorly protected, as cold and wind can also dry out this delicate area.

• Apply a hand balm with a rich texture even if you plan on wearing gloves, as your hands can become chapped and painful, especially after a long day of skiing.

The skin of the lips lacks sebaceous glands, thus producing less sebum than the rest of the face, and therefore cannot remain hydrated. However, the lips are subject to the same issues as the face. Cold conditions and high levels of UV radiation can lead to dry, chapped, irritated, and sunburnt lips. To avoid damage caused by UV rays and dehydration, it is therefore important to take particular care of them.

What to do?

• lip balm that is nourishing with a broad spectrum SPF 50 . And just like with sun protection, reapply it throughout the day.

• Intensely soothe and hydrate the lips at the end of the day by applying a thick layer of a lip mask overnight.

As the skin becomes more vulnerable, it is recommended during the winter months and especially during winter sports toapply a night mask with a cream texture that has a formulation rich in fatty emollients, proteins, etc. This will help to restore the water balance, repair the damaged skin and relieve skin discomforts thanks to its occlusive property which offers an additional advantage. Indeed, the active ingredients will have enough time to be fully absorbed by the skin and have the greatest impact.

• PAULIN K. J. & al. Effects of snow cover on UV irradiance and surface albedo: A case study. Journal of Geophysical Research (1998).