Previously, I discussed my new Kiehl's routine that replaced my Lush products. After a quick review, I also mentioned that I had a couple ideas of things I could do to improve my overall skincare and maybe boost the performance of my cleansers. Now, there's a bit of backstory here to explain why I chose to add one of these things to the routine. The second addition was more of a luxury upgrade. I felt this deserved it's own post simply because of all I had to say about why I'm going down this path. Either way, I hope you find this informative for you own skincare journey.

Way back in January 2017, I mentioned that I have PCOS, Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome, which affects my skin as well as a bunch of other hormone-related things. It basically means my hormone production is really out of wack and I often have a lot more testosterone than I should. This leads to acne, facial hair growth and other problems. I'm on the lucky end of the patient spectrum in that my physical symptoms aren't super noticeable or if they are, my Fibromyalgia trumps all anyway and I don't really have the energy to sort out what is what. That bring me to July, when I was debating the usefulness of my Lush products, during which I decided to do some more reading on adult acne. The number one thing that came up on every page I read was "hormones". This was pretty disheartening to read, especially because every time it was mentioned it was usually followed by, "unable to treat without a dermatologist". Yay....

Then this October I was invited on a ski trip for January. A ski trip to an Olympic ski hill in a whimsical mountain village covered in snow where we would stay in cozy wooden lodge with a hot tub. Only a fool would've said no to this. Problem was I had never skied before and my athleticism was considerably lacking (see reference to failing gym class above).

I was enthusiastic though and since everyone else on the trip was going onto the slopes I didn't want to be the spoil sport. Yes, I totally agreed to jump off that bridge with all my friends. It was certainly an experience and here's my step by step guide for all you ski-newbies out there.

Step 1- Rent Equipment Ahead of Time

If you're a first time skier, you don't really know whether you're going to love or hate the sport. Heck, you don't even know if you'll be any good at it the first time. Skis alone can set you back a few hundred. Your money is better spent on a good equipment rental from a local business on the mountain. 

Most popular ski resorts have rental businesses very close to the lifts which offer packages that will usually include helmets, poles, skis and boots. You can call or go online to order ahead of time. The rental places can run out of equipment some days, so by reserving the equipment ahead of time you don't have to worry about being left out.

Step 2 - Dress Appropriately

Now, most people understand the basic concept of mountain = cold, so they'll dress warm. However, skiing requires certain type of winter wear. The last thing you want to be is both cold and wet while on the slopes so you'll want a water-proof snow jacket and a pair of water-proof snow pants. Make sure to get proper winter gloves, possibly water-proof too. A touq to keep your head and ears warm is also a good plan, make sure it's thin enough to fit into a helmet.

Another must that I learned a little too late was some type of sun-protection either heavy duty sunglasses or ski-goggles. This can be difficult if you wear only glasses like I do, but believe me...You don't want to be blind going down a mountain at top speed.

Step 3 - Practice Makes Perfect
Make sure that once you're fully outfitted in your ski-gear and winter attire that you don't just climb on to the ski-lift and head up to black-diamond runs. You need to know how to maneuver before you can actually ski. There are usually small areas at the bottom of different runs where you can shuffle around a bit to get the hang of skis. I found it much easier to go backwards than forwards for some reason, so taking the time to figure out how to move around and get your bearings is key.

If you have the money, get ski lessons. They are so worth it. You might even get to practice on these neat little conveyor belts for beginners. If you don't want to fork over the extra cash for lessons, get a friend to spend some time showing you the basics. Either way, learning the proper footwork, how to break, and how to control your speed are super important. A move my friends taught me was called the "Pizza". You move the front tips of your skis together, not crossing, to form a pizza slice or wedge shape and this will help you break and slow down.

Step 4 - Get Proper Directions
I cannot stress this one enough. Please, make sure you know exactly which run you're going to and exactly how to get there. If you're a beginner, you should not be on black diamond runs. It can be dangerous and you could get seriously hurt or worse. The signage on the mountains may not be very clear, so you should always double check your directions before riding the ski-lift.

Always be sure to thoroughly examined the ski hill map and pick out a run beforehand. Also, ask a local guide about which runs you should be doing and how to get there. jot down the information and reference your map to be safe. You can also ask a friend who knows the mountain pretty well for advice on different runs and what to avoid. This way, you should know exactly where you're going to have the best experience as a beginner.

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This list was born out of my first ski experience which ended in a spectacularly terrible way that I now look back on and laugh about. I didn't take lessons first, I didn't have goggles or sunglasses, and I only had a vague idea of what runs I should be on. So the fact that I ended up with a concussion in the hospital by midday should be no surprise.

What ended up happening was, after spending five minutes wriggling around in the snow at the bottom of the hill to get a feel for my skis, I boarded the nearest ski-lift and headed straight up the mountain. From there, I hopped off the lift and tried to find any signage for an easy run, but there wasn't any. I was fairly sure I had taken the right lift to an easier area, so I just shuffled over to the nearest slope and attempted to ski. After about 50 m, I was scared by my speed and wobbled. Some how, and even the mountain rescue workers didn't understand how what I did was possible, I managed to flip forward and land on my face with my forehead taking the brunt of the fall. The helmet saved my life, but I still had a concussion when they found me laying in the snow like beached whale. The most fun part was laying in a special stretcher and being skied down the mountain by a rescue worker.

Overall, I had a fun trip and I look back on the experience fondly. It was a good life lesson for me and it became a funny story for me to tell to other ski newbies as a way to get them to smarten up and prepare properly for their own mountain adventures.

Dana~