Winter skin saviours to keep your complexion healthy and glowing
Icy winds, colder temperatures and the harsh blast of central heating can all play havoc with our delicate skin, leaving us with a dull, tired complexion. “The focus of your winter skincare should be hydrating, nourishing and protecting your skin from the harsh weather and environmental stressors,” says beauty and skincare expert Jane Scrivner. “Skin can easily become dry, irritated and unbalanced during the winter months due to cold temperatures, central heating, lack of humidity and layers of clothing! Making a few simple changes in your skincare regime will help keep your skin healthy, happy and glowing.” We’ve pulled together some of the best tips from the experts to help you maintain a year-round radiant glow.
Turn down the heat
There’s nothing we crave more than a steamy shower during colder months, but according to Sarah-Jane Malins, owner of Farmgirlbysarahjane.co.uk hot showers can strip your skin of moisture. “Use lukewarm water and apply your moisturiser or oil as soon as you step out,” she advises. Try Farm Girl’s CBD facial oil, £46. It contains a whole host of nourishing oils and vitamin E to help keep that vital moisture in.
Smooth on the shea
“In winter we tend to subject our skin to extreme conditions, from central heating to exercising in the frosty outdoors,” says Philip Taylor, Founder of Carbon Theory. “These conditions can lead to dry, dehydrated skin which can trigger flare ups of skin complaints such as acne.” He recommends trying Carbon Theory’s Facial Moisturiser. “It contains shea butter which has ingredients that not only mimic the body’s own hydrating properties but are also antibacterial and antiinflammatory,” he adds. “Shea butter’s fatty acid and vitamin K concentration help the skin to heal faster when its barrier has been compromised by winter weather conditions. At the same time, natural Tea Tree Oil reduces inflammation and clears breakouts.” Carbon Theory Mosituriser £13, Carbontheory.com and Boots.com
Use lanolin
“Lanolin is truly a wonder ingredient that has magical dryness and anti-ageing benefits that has a long history with nursing mothers and their nipples,” says Dr. Lipp founder Pontine Paus. “It’s molecular structure is almost identical to our skin’s natural lipids so it is like applying more of what you don’t have enough of. Lanolin is proven to reduce skin dryness by 40 percent in the first hour, so you can immediately feel its instant effects and see more supple skin!” Try The Original Nipple Balm, £12, drlipp.com – it contains only one 100 percent natural ingredient (Medical Grade Lanolin) and is totally multi-use and can be used for fine lines, lips, cuticles and so much more.
Stop stripping
“The most common skin concerns during the autumn/winter months are dryness and irritation, so avoid any products that will strip your skin of its natural oils,” says Jane. And apparently the worst culprit tends to be cleansers – face wipes, harsh mechanical scrubs, foaming washes or anything with a high alcohol and/or fragrance content. “During the colder months you want to focus on putting on and putting in good, nourishing ingredients – not taking away the natural moisture you already have,” Jane adds. Try Jane’s Nourishing Cleanser (£33, janescrivner.com ) that not only cleans the skin and melts away make-up but also feeds, replenishes, revives and refreshes dry, winter-worn skin.
Make your own exfoliant
To keep winter skin looking fresh and youthful instead of dried out and tired, using ingredients that help to exfoliate and smooth are key, and surprisingly, you can find a lot of these in your kitchen cupboards. “You can create your own exfoliating scrub at home using coconut oil, oatmeal and rose hip,” says Sophie Lauren, founder of Simba Skin (Instagram @simba.skin). “It’s a perfect blend to use nightly before bed”.
Hydrate from the inside
It isn’t just about what you put on your skin, but what you put in your body that helps keep you hydrated. “Increase your water intake,” says green beauty expert Lynda D’aboh (@wonderlustinglynda, wonderlusting.co.uk ) “Drink hot water or herbal tea if cold water is a struggle and increase your intake of good fats like avocado, flaxseed or salmon.”
Prevent and protect
During the winter we need to prevent and protect against dehydration by using the right moisturiser. “To prevent Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL), aka dehydration,” says Jane, “you need to use a protective moisturiser that will seal in moisture and prevent it from escaping.” Jane’s OO Cream (£27, janescrivner. com ) contains colloidal oatmeal which creates a very fine protective film over the surface of your skin, which will seal in moisture, lock in all of the nutrients from your skincare and prevent dehydration.
Nourish by night
The constant see-sawing between low temperatures outdoors and central heated indoors can take its toll, zapping the moisture our skin needs and leaving it feeling dry and uncomfortable. “As skin repair is most active at night, that’s the time to give your skin the nutrients it needs to stay healthy,” says Jo Foster, beauty and wellness expert and founder of Kiss The Moon. “Look for essential oils which can work wonders to help dry and dehydrated skin and choose a non-pore clogging, oil based treatment. Apply a few drops before you go to sleep to deeply moisturise overnight.” Try Kiss the Moon Love After Dark Face Oil (£48, kissthemoon.com ).
