The Autumn/Winter season brings in cooler temperatures and drier air, which means that lightweight skincare products ideal for Spring/Summer may not be nourishing enough for the colder season.
It is important to make sure we have the perfect winterized skincare regimen. In our extra dry and freezing elements, we need daily care and protection for healthy skin. NOW is the time to make sure you have your winter skincare survival kit stocked and ready.
1.Change your cleanser
Lightweight foaming cleansers feel great in summer, when sweat and sebum can be an issue, but in winter when things are altogether drier, it’s worth switching to a hydrating cleanser to cleanse without sacrificing our skin’s protective barrier. Luckily CeraVe have recently launched a gel-foam Foaming Cleanser that promises to give that satisfying clean, whilst still maintaining the strength of the natural skin barrier function with it’s important hydrating ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid and skin-calming Niacinamide.
2.Use Hydrating Toners or Essences
The first step of post-cleanse skincare is toner. Swap more astringent formulas that focus on removing surface oil and residue with more hydrating alternatives or treatment essences that leave a glow. In the cooler season, your skin will drink up these lightweight hydrating liquids like a glass of water, leaving it soft and supple and prepping it for more emollient products to follow.
3.Add a Skin-plumping Serum
Hydration is key for optimising skin plumpness and glow, so it’s worth layering your day cream over a quenching serum (hyaluronic acid is good for this) if you don’t already do so. We recommend This Works’ Morning Expert Hyaluronic Serum for a slow-release daily dose of super-moisturising hyaluronic and vitamin C in one go.
4.Invest in a Winter Moisturiser
It’s worth trading in our moisturising lotions, gels and sorbets for something with a creamier consistency – unless your skin is very oily, then opt for light hydration over anything oily with Dermalogica’s Active Moist.
If your skin’s on the dry side, look for creams with barrier-repairing ceramides and fatty acids which are good at preventing water loss.
5.Don’t Forget SPF
We all know that the sun transmits UV radiation but it’s UVA and UVB rays that are worth understanding. UVB is what causes our skin to burn if over exposed to the sun, while UVA causes skin to prematurely age. Clouds can block out UVB, which is why we tend to burn less in winter. However, this is not the case with UVA, meaning that premature aging is still very much happening.
6.Try An Oil
Nothing’s more useful in winter than a good quality facial oil. A couple of drops mixed in to your day cream (or your cleanser, or your night cream or just used neat on warm, freshly-cleansed skin) helps to lock in moisture and keep skin petal-soft. After cleansing and toning, apply oil for an extra dose of moisture. This is a good habit no matter the season, but it’s especially helpful during the cold and dry months. For a lightweight oil, try Huxley’s Oil: Light and More. It’s a clean-smelling, thin and viscous dry oil made from Sahara prickly pear cactus, jojoba, and sunflower, and skin drinks it up within minutes of applying.
