Graftobian Winter Skin Care Battle Plan, Part 1

Posted 934 days ago by Graftobian

Suzanne Patterson, Graftobian’s Director of Education, is an Emmy Award® winning makeup and special makeup effects artist who specializes in Ultra High Definition (UHD) makeup application technology and technique. Her extensive knowledge and on-set experience in working in UHD keeps her on the cutting edge of makeup for this format.
Skincare Hacks Everyone Needs to know this Winter

Like it or not we are deep in the winter season right now and living with a variety of skin challenging offensives; from outdoor freezing temperatures, snowfalls and brisk wind chills to indoor heated dry air that is devoid of moisture. No skin type is immune from these skin parching effects and all suffer in some form from the daily revolving exposure to constant cold and heat.

This unfortunate assault causes the skin’s surface mantle (the protective lipid barrier) to leak vital moisture as it pulls in and puckers down into protection from the elements. Skin’s oil production significantly decreases as it goes into a winter induced “hibernation” mode, and skin’s ability to attract and hold hydration to the mantle is noticeably diminished.

The number one problem everyone experiences this season is dryness, no matter what skin type you may be. Even oily complexions suffer some dryness or flakiness when constant winter environment exposure pulls water out of skin. The day to day contact with these indoor/outdoor elements – especially freezing air – continually exhausts the skin mantle’s function to attract and bind moisture efficiently. As such, skin texture often appears more creased, dull or lifeless instead of smooth, supple and glowing. Those that battle year around dry skin problems dread winter, as it intensifies the uncomfortable tightness, itchy redness, chapped, flaking or peeling that seems to shift into higher gear.

To keep “Jack Frost” from nipping at your nose, cheeks and other sensitive areas you need to give skin some extra help and protection. Graftobian has some great skin care products to help you maintain your skin’s natural moisture balance throughout the winter and beyond. They contain a variety of skin loving and protecting humectant ingredients that can help prevent trans-dermal water loss evaporation. I have some great winter skin hacks to share in using these products to boost the effort in keeping winter skin deep freeze at bay with a more comfortable, hydrated and smoother looking complexion.

As with any cosmetic product applied to skin, always do a small patch test first before using to determine your own reactions for any skin sensitivity or reaction. Always avoid product direct contact with the eyes or inside the mouth.
Graftobian’s Castor Seal

This is pure castor seed oil, which is a great natural moisturizer with impressive anti-microbial – bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe inflamed, irritated skin and keep bacteria down. It’s fragrance free and rich in ricinoleic acid which is a moisture binding humectant that promotes much needed hydration during this season.

Medical studies and clinical trials have proven that castor seed oil also helps heal wounds by keeping bacteria out, stimulating the growth of new tissue, reducing dryness and preventing the buildup of dead skin cells.

Castor Seal is a highly effective Makeup Melt

Use prior to skin cleansing. Not only does it dissolve even the heaviest theatrical cremes without undue scrubbing, but it also helps to protect skin during the removal process without stripping down the skin’s delicate lipid layer too. Apply a layer of castor and allow it to sit for a few minutes while gently massaging to dissolve makeup. Use a warm wet washcloth to gently wipe off residue. Finish by applying Graftobian OxyDerm Moisturizer.

As a Warm Oil Treatment

In a warm water bath (put some of the oil in a plastic snack size bag and place that in a dish of warm water), warm 1 – 2 tbsp of Castor Seal and apply as a warm oil treatment to the scalp and hair. It’s intense moisturizing and natural anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce flaking and itching caused by dandruff while it moisturizes the cuticles in the hair shaft. You can also use warmed Castor Seal as a treatment for dry, cracked and rough-textured hands. Simply apply where needed and massage into the top of hands, including cuticles, and slip them into disposable plastic gloves. Wait 20-30 minutes, then rinse well and pat dry. Apply a layer of Graftobian Derma Care Recovery Balm on the top of hands, fingers and nails.

Add Castor Seal to Lotion for an Instant Moisture boost

Castor Seal can be used alone on skin or added into to your favorite hand and body lotions to instantly boost moisture protection during the winter months. It’s great to apply directly to any patchy dry skin areas, especially on nails and cuticles to prevent peeling and hangnails. It’s also been touted by the beauty industry as a great lash conditioner that encourages longer and thicker growth.
Hydrating Lip Scrub

For lips that suffer with winter chapped, red and peeling issues, Castor Seal is a great go-to healing lip balm and a perfect touch of lightweight lip gloss! You can also mix a small amount of Castor Seal into a teaspoonful of turbinado sugar (found at any grocery store) to form a paste for a fantastic hydrating lip scrub that gently smoothes away dry areas.

Mix with Essential Oils

Castor Seal is also the perfect castor “carrier oil” to mix with other types of oils for a variety of other skin care uses. It’s used most often in the beauty industry as the base oil because of its anti-microbial – bacterial properties, and it mixes beautifully with essential oils such as Neem, Olive, Rosehip Seed, Sweet Almond, Argan, Coconut, Grapeseed and Jojoba oils.
Graftobian’s Liquid Pain and Sorrow: Liquid Glycerin

This vegetable based glycerin is a water-dissolvable emollient and highly effective humectant that also helps hydrate and protect skin. It’s fragrance free, non-occlusive, non-comedogenic and non-allergenic so it’s great for all skin types including, aged, dry, oily, even sensitive ones. The lightweight consistency makes it easy to use alone or mixed with other skin beneficial ingredients for all kinds of winter skin uses.

Dual Duty Makeup Remover

Liquid Pain and Sorrow is great to use as a dual duty makeup remover for daily street wear makeup and face wash. Wet skin and apply a layer of glycerin, and allow it to sit for a few minutes gently massaging with fingertips to dissolve makeup. Use a warm wet washcloth to gently wipe off, and rinse. Finish by applying Graftobian’s Aloevation Toning and Smoothing Veil.

Ultra Smooth Makeup Applications on Dry Skin

For a more even flake-free makeup application: dab Liquid Pain and Sorrow directly onto any patchy, dry or flakey/peeling skin areas to instantly smooth them down. Let it sit for a few minutes to absorb then blot away any excess.

Custom Tinted Lip Balm

Turn a small scoop of your favorite Graftobian color lipstick (from the tube or palette) into an instant tinted lip balm by mixing a few drops of glycerin into it on a Graftobian mixing palette to the desired color tint and consistency. You can custom blend colors into balms this way and handily store them in an empty Graftobian 5 well palette for later use.

Skin Refreshing Spray

One of my favorite winter skin preps is a glycerin toner spray: a diluted solution of Liquid Pain and Sorrow (4 parts distilled water with 1 part Pain and Sorrow) and mix in a spray bottle. Mist onto skin and gently pat into skin until absorbed. I also sometimes use rosewater (found at many beauty, variety and drug stores) in the mixture because of its added anti-inflammatory benefits and will adjust the mix to 1 part distilled water, 3 parts rosewater and 1 part Pain and Sorrow. The great thing about this is that you can customize the mix according to your desired needs.

Moisturizing Face Mask Recipe

A soothing, moisture rich facial mask remedy for dry, itchy red irritated skin (including those with rosacea or eczema) is a paste made with colloidal oatmeal and glycerin. Colloidal oatmeal is finely powdered dissolvable oatmeal found at most drug stores and online. Mix 1 tbsp each of Liquid Pain and Sorrow and oatmeal creating a paste. You can also add ½ tbsp of live culture yogurt to boost the soothing effects. Wet skin with warm water and apply gently to face in a circular pattern. Leave on for 10 minutes. Remove with lukewarm water and washcloth. Finish with Derma Care Recovery Balm.
Cleansing Oil

To finish off Part One of this series is my favorite DIY Cleansing Oil hacks, that mixes both Castor Seal and Liquid Pain and Sorrow along with Graftobian Makeup Remover. I have very dry sensitive skin, so my basic ratio mix is 20% Castor Seal, 20% Liquid Pain and Sorrow, and 60% Makeup Remover.

Blend oils together and store in a bottle with a tight lid away from sunlight. You can adjust up or down on the percentages for your own skin type needs, but this is a good baseline formula for dry sensitive skin. I like to use this as a “pre-cleansing” part of my nighttime routine to remove makeup and environmental impurities that have collected over the day’s wear.

To use: place about 5 -6 drops of the oil mixture into palm of hand; distribute between hands and apply to face and neck, massaging gently in circular movements for about a minute or two while it loosens up surface makeup and residue. With a wet warm washcloth gently wipe away the oil. Rinse out washcloth and repeat until all excess oil is removed.

Stay tuned for Part 2 where I share more winter skin care tips and hacks especially using Aloevation Toning Veil.

If you have any questions about Graftobian skin care or makeup email me at Education@Graftobian.com