Winter can play havoc with our skin. I know mine has become much more sensitive to the usual active ingredients I use. I have had to go back to a simple and basic routine for a week or so quite a few times over the last few months. This is due to many factors including the colder temperatures, the wind and central heating.
Quite often at this time of year we need to shake up our skin routine to adapt to these changes and it can help to look at certain lifestyle changes too.
Firstly, please ensure your cleanser is gentle and hydrating. If your skin is tight after cleansing and you are reaching for your moisturiser straight away, it might be worth looking at using a different cleanser. Hydration is vital to add moisture to your skin and protect the skin barrier from the weather and other environmental aggressors. Hydrators will also keep the skin soft and supple which helps to plump the skin.
If you don’t already have a serum in your skincare routine, winter is the perfect time to introduce one. A medical grade/cosmeceutical serum will go deeper into your skin to hydrate it. Used in the morning and evening, this will really help to combat dehydrated, tight, sensitive skin.
Your moisturiser at this time of year should include hydrating and ceramide ingredients. Our ceramide levels drop in the winter so we need to find ways to add them to our skin.
It goes without saying, although I will say it anyway, UV protection is still absolutely essential in the winter. Just because there are less daylight hours doesn’t mean the UVA and UVB rays are not harmful. UVA rays are the oes that prematurely age us. A decent, stand-alone SPF is THE best way to combat the signs of ageing.
Winter Skin Care Guide
Our skin really benefits from more care and attention in the winter. Weekly intensive hydration face masks have been my savior. Our skin can often be duller in the winter too so professional treatments are a great idea to give your skin all the care it needs be it gentle exfoliation, some LED to kick start the skin cells again, a boost of hyaluronic acid and peptides with mesotherapy….your skin specialist will know exactly what your skin needs. Regular facials help keep your skin clean, clear and hydrated. They also allow for better penetration of the products you use on your skin at home.
Winter is also the optimal time for clinic treatments like chemical peels and microneedling. There is far less risk of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation in the winter. Both are amazing treatments to combat dull skin, boost collagen production and get your skin glowing.
In terms of lifestyle, it is always worth remembering that we tend to drink less water in the winter. So do try to keep an eye on this and still aim for a minimum of 2 litres of water a day. Caffeine and alcohol dehydrate our skin so as much as I hate to be boring, your skin will really benefit from you avoiding these as much as you can. Try to opt for herbal teas or decaffeinated tea/coffee.
