Costco Connection - January 2008

Skin requires
special care
in winter

WINTER’S CHILLY BLAST can quickly give face, lips and hands a texture resembling the skin of an armadillo. Cooler weather, indoor heating and exposure to the elements all combine to rob skin of its natural moisture. It’s important to revamp your skin-care routine to combat dry, dull skin. Here are some tips to protect your skin during the winter.

■ Don’t get into hot water. When you’re cleansing your face or bathing, switch to warm or tepid water (nothing above 90 degrees F, according to the Mayo Clinic). Hot water dries the skin, stripping it of its protective layer of oil. If you love to soak in a tub, add some bath oils. A gentle cleanser that doesn’t rob skin of its natural oils may be a better choice to wash your face than most soaps. Pat your skin gently to dry. Leave it somewhat moist to let follow-up skin treatments help seal in that moisture.

■ Play a little defense. Smooth on a moisturizing lotion that will hydrate and nourish your skin all day long, as well as provide essential protection from the sun’s harmful rays and environmental pollutants. If you’re going outside, even briefly, and the sun is shining, remember the rays are amplified if there is snow. Amazingly, the sun’s reflective powers are 17 percent on the sand and 80 percent on the snow!

■ Don’t forget the fragile eye area. The thinner the skin, the more vulnerable it is and the more likely it will dehydrate. Meaning that when spring comes you’re likely to see more wrinkles and creases, if left untended. A protective eye cream will rehydrate, restore smoothness and brightness, and help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Apply gently to the surrounding eye area; do not apply to lids.

■ Give your skin a nightly energy boost. A restorative night cream helps to lift, firm and smooth away wrinkles while you sleep. As it aids in skin renewal, it helps to restore hydration, soothe your skin and allow you to awaken with a more radiant, more youthful look.

So let it snow, let it blow, let winter throw everything it wants to at you. Your face will be well protected, well hydrated, and well nourished all winter!—Anita Thompson

Buyer’s pıck

Susan Hudson Pharmacy OTC Buyer

FRANCE FREEMAN

HAY FEVER AND other allergies are the sixth-leading cause of chronic disease, with about 50 million sufferers each year in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health.

In late January, for the first time, Zyrtec^®, one of the few allergy medications approved for both indoor and outdoor allergies, will be available over the counter at full prescription strength.

For those who have wanted to try Zyrtec or are currently using it by prescription, access to this effective treatment will be easier. Users will no longer have to wait in a pharmacy line to have a prescription filled; instead, different forms of the medication, suitable for the entire family, will be available in the allergy section of pharmacies.

Costco members will find Zyrtec 10 mg tablets, grape syrup and chewable tablets on our pharmacy shelves. Due to a federal law that places restrictions on the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine, Zyrtec D will be available only from behind the pharmacy counter. C

Recommended by dermatologists, Cetaphil^® products are formulated for many skin types. Cetaphil^® products are developed to provide effective and gentle skin care.