Winter-proof Your Skin - 7 Essential Steps
It has been pretty cold and dry out there! If your skin is feeling tight and dry, it may be time to adjust your skincare to keep your skin glowing during the winter months. Here are some suggestions, and the steps you need to take will depend on your skin type. Some may need to do a complete revision of their skincare plan. Others may need to tweak their skincare by adding or swapping skincare products for more winter-friendly formulations.
Here are some tips:
1. Switch to a milky or creamy cleanser - if you have oily or combination skin, you may love the feel of a gel cleanser during warm and humid days. However, during the cold and dry season, a gentle hydrating and moisturising cleanser may all your skin needs to make it feel more comfortable. One way to tell if your skin needs more hydration is; if your skin is feeling tight or sensitised after cleansing, it's time to switch it up. Incorrect cleansing and dehydrated skin will hinder effective penetration of serums or treatments creams, so make sure your skin is well hydrated.
2. If you are already using a milky cleanser and a good moisturising cream, all you may need to do for your skin is to give it a boost with a hydrating serum. Serums are more potent than moisturisers and penetrate deeper into the skin, so if your skin is deeply dehydrated, you may need to get the big guns out. Serums are beneficial to help the skin cope with seasonal changes and to help the skin adjust. Also, if you are sick or are taking medication, your skin may be dehydrated. If you're not sleeping well, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, your skin will be deprived of moisture, and you may need a serum to help your skin get back into shape.
3. In winter, dry skin may feel more uncomfortable because dry skin is low in essential fatty acids. The lack of fatty acids allows moisture to evaporate faster from the skin. This is what we refer to as an "impaired barrier". Your skin is more "porous" and not only does it lose moisture faster, but irritants can also penetrate the skin and cause allergies. To keep your barrier intact, the matrix between the skin cells needs a right balance of ceramides, cholesterol and essential fatty acids (or omegas 3,6,9). If your skin is lipid dry, dehydrated and flaking, look for moisturisers rich in these ingredients.
4. Exfoliate your skin 1-2 times a week. During winter, the skins cellular turnover slows right down, allowing the skin to build up a thicker dead cell layer to protect the skin from harsh weather. The trouble is, thicker skin and dead cell build-up appears sallow, dull and crepey from the surface. The pores look more noticeable, wrinkles appear more pronounced, and pigmentation looks darker. Dead cell build-up also acts as a barrier to serums and moisturisers so you won't get effective penetration of actives.
Winter season is the perfect opportunity to undergo a course of peels alternated with hydrating facials. Choose AHA or enzyme peels over harsh scrubs which can aggravate delicate skin capillaries.
5. During winter, I like to invest in a thirst-quenching creamy or gel mask to give the skin an instant glow. I love using masks as they are the one thing you can do that will provide you with immediate results. This is why beauty therapists always finish a facial with a mask - for instant results. Masks that are formulated to be left on overnight are called sleeping masks. They give life back to the skin overnight, hydrating, moisturising, rejuvenating. When you wake up in the morning, your skin looks like you've had a facial. These masks are particularly hydrating and nourishing so terrific to use during winter.
6. Winter is also a time people experience chapped lips. Make sure you exfoliate, moisturise and mask your lips too. For soft, plump lips switch from a matt lipstick to a juicy hydrating formula, lip gloss or a plumping lip balm.
7. Your hands can suffer in winter because they are exposed to frequent washing with soap, hand sanitiser, and the cold environment. It's time to invest in a softening and moisturising hand cream. Make sure you massage it well into the cuticles. When you go outdoors, massage in a hand cream just before you put your gloves on—the warmth of the gloves with help to infuse the cream into the skin and protect your hands.
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