Skincare for Colorado Gardeners: Protecting & Repairing Your Skin

By Cindy Jones, PhD

Cindy on her Herb Farm, East of Longmont

Gardening in Colorado is a joy and a challenge. The dry climate, fluctuating temperatures, intense sunlight, and drying winds challenge the plants we grow, but also our skin. It’s important for gardeners to protect and take care of our skin.

Colorado gardeners are exposed to direct sunlight and damaging UV radiation at our high altitude. This causes dry skin and premature aging (photoaging). Strong, dry winds also contribute to dehydration and skin irritation.

Although UV light can cause redness and sunburn that appears within 24 hours or so of exposure, photoaging occurs gradually over years. UV light creates free radicals that cause oxidative damage to the skin, affecting cell membranes and structural proteins like collagen and elastin fibers. When these proteins are damaged they rearrange and can result in leathery, dull skin.

Even if you use sunscreen, prolonged sun and wind exposure that gardeners experience can cause the following:

• Dry, rough, inflamed, irritated skin

• Sunburn

• Hyperpigmentation (sun spots)

• Breakdown of collagen and elastin proteins, causing wrinkles and decreased elasticity

• Increased risk of skin cancer

• Damage to the immune system

• Weakening of the protective skin barrier 

While fair-skinned individuals are more susceptible to sun damage, darker skin tones are also at risk. Skin cancer can affect anyone, and the effects of UV damage impact people of all complexions.

As we age, our skin’s ability to repair damage slows, making it more important to take proactive steps. A well-rounded skincare approach includes protection, hydration, and repair.

Daily Protection

Protect your skin from UV light as much as possible. This can be done with:

• Protective clothing: A wide-brimmed hat, long sleeves, and gloves reduce direct exposure.

• Sunscreen: A broad-spectrum SPF shields skin against UVA and UVB rays.

• Limit time in the sun: Decrease mid day hours in the sun.

• Hydrate your skin: Apply a nourishing face and hand moisturizer before heading outdoors.

Cleanse After Gardening

Remove sweat, dirt and sunscreen with a gentle cleanser. This can prevent clogged pores, changes in skin pH and prepare the skin to better absorb moisture and nutrients.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

Because Colorado’s dry air rapidly pulls moisture from the skin you will need to moisturize your skin more often. Don’t hesitate to apply in the morning, bedtime, and even mid-day. A hydrating facial mist throughout the day is a convenient way to cool the skin and moisturize without having to apply cream.

Cindy with her Distilling equipment

Ingredients to Look For and Why

The most effective skincare ingredients don’t just moisturize – they repair, soothe, and revive your skin. Here are some ingredients that can help your skin recover from the effects of Colorado’s harsh climate and long days in the garden. Look for skin care products that contain these herbs or make a tea from them to use for cleansing your face.

• Calendula (Calendula officinalis). That bright orange color of calendula is due to carotenoids. These pre-Vitamin A compounds are great antioxidants to help your skin recover after exposure. Calendula can improve skin elasticity, increase skin hydration, promote wound healing, increase collagen production and decrease oxidative damage to the skin. It helps strengthen the skin barrier and prevents moisture loss.

• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). Fennel can improve skin hydration, decrease melanin production to decrease hyperpigmentation, decrease skin redness and improve skin texture. It is rich in antioxidants to combat free radicals and it soothes irritation.

• Hops (Humulus lupulus). Extracts from the cones of the hop plant are gaining attention as a skin care ingredient. Hops helps attract and retain moisture in the skin and can help stimulate collagen production to reduce wrinkles. It’s a great antioxidant to combat free radicals too.

• Green Tea (Camellia sinensis). Green tea is another antioxidant packed plant that helps decrease photoaging of the skin. Polyphenols in green tea can improve skin hydration, protect against UVB induced immune suppression and skin inflammation, while increasing collagen and elastin fibers to decrease wrinkles.

Other Important Ingredients

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that brightens the complexion, boosts collagen production, and aids in skin repair. While ascorbic acid (pure vitamin C) is unstable in skincare products, vitamin C esters offer a more stable and effective alternative.

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3). Niacinamide can help reduce inflammation, strengthen the skin barrier, and even out skin tone. It is commonly found in face mist products.

Gardening brings many benefits to your life and health. But take care of your skin! It plays an important role in your overall health. You can decrease the effects of sun, wind, altitude and dry air by following the tips set out here to keep your skin healthy, resilient, and radiant. 

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Cindy Jones, Ph.D. owns Colorado Aromatics Skin Care, coloradoaromatics.com and grows her own herbs on a farm east of Longmont.