Winter is the perfect season to get out the jumpers, hats, scarfs and wrap up warm and cosy. Which may be great for us, but unfortunately not so much for our skin.
It's easy to neglect your skincare routine during winter but this can cause our skin to dry out and appear dull. Get back on track with these top tips and feel fresh and with a radiant glow in no time.
#1 Protect your natural oils
While a long hot shower or bath during winter sounds super appealing, they can actually dry out your skin. So, try to keep your morning showers short but sweet to retain as much of your skins natural oils as possible. Leave the indulgent baths for the weekends when you can really relax and unwind.
Also try to wash your face with lukewarm water, rather than hot or cold water, so not to strip as many natural oils away from your skin.
#2 Cleanse
Use a gentle creaming cleanser that isn’t going to irritate and strip your natural oils. Look out for cleansers which are soothing and anti-inflammatory so they will help battle dry and dehydrated skin, like the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. But be wary of cleansing every day. If you have dry skin, cleansing every morning and every night may not leave enough time for your skin’s natural oils to balance out. However, if you have combination/oily skin you may find that cleansing twice a day allows your skin enough time to rejuvenate.
You know your body and skin better than anyone else. But your skin is also a lot tougher than we realise. So, if you’re unsure about how regularly to cleanse, start by cleansing once or twice a week and increase the frequency once you have a better understanding of how your skin is reacting to your skincare routine, and the wintery elements outside.
#3 Scrub
If your skin is dry, it can take longer to shed dead cells leaving your skin looking dull and unhealthy. Exfoliating during winter is a great way to keep any dryness and uneven pigmentation away. Try the Origins Refreshing Scrub Cleanser, it's great for unclogging pores and making skin appear brighter and smoother.
But exfoliating is harsher on the skin than cleansing, so the same rules apply as above. Go gently and allow time for your skin to replenish the cells. This will leave your skin fresh and rejuvenated... and ready to glow.
#4 Revitalise
Protective and nourishing oils are an absolute essential during the winter months. Applying a layer of serum before bed is the perfect way to lock in goodness and moisture. Look out for brightening, revitalise or protective serums, like the Advanced Night Repair by Estée Lauder to transform your skin’s luminosity. Night oils and protective serums can be quite expensive, but coconut oil or argan oil are great natural alternatives for promoting healthy collagen.
#5 Protect
Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. There is no greater protection for your skin than moisturiser. And we don’t just mean on the outside, keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water throughout the day and before you go to sleep. Hydrated and glowy skin starts from within, so drink up!
Central heating, the wind, and the sudden changes in temperature from outdoor to indoor have huge effects on our skin, so ensure you invest in a thick moisturising cream for winter, such as Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula. If you find the skin around your eyes dries out over winter, invest in a natural eye cream such as the Midnight Recovery Eye by Kiehls. Top tip: keep a hand cream and lip balm in your bag for emergencies.
It can be tempting to hide your skin under more make-up than you would usually wear to make it appear more luminescent. But a winter glow starts from your skin itself. Try to stay away from powders which can dry out your skin even more, drink lots of water, and follow these top 5 tips to replenish and protect your skin. You’ll have a wonderful winter glow in no time!