Being outdoors in the cold winter air and inside heated homes and buildings can wreak havoc on our skin, making it dry, chapped and sore. Today I wanted to share some ways to protect, nourish and soothe skin during the winter.
It’s not impossible to maintain glowing skin during this season, so read on for my top winter skincare tips.
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Cleansing the skin
The key objective in winter is to maintain hydration and avoid irritating the skin by using lots of different products. So just keep to a simple routine of cleanse and moisturise, with just a little exfoliation if needed.
Go for a moisturising cleanser – nothing harsh or too abrasive that will strip the skin of natural oils. If your skin feels tight after cleansing you need a more gentle cleanser.
I love to use a balm cleanser personally (Emma Hardie, Bodyshop, Clinique for example) as they melt into the skin like butter while effectively removing make up and accumulated dirt and debris. The Emma Hardie one is also exfoliating, but so gentle you don’t notice.
If you like to use micellar water, I have recently bought one which is apparently exfoliating in formulation – good if your complexion is looking dull and you want to slough off old dead skin cells without being abrasive (it’s the Garnier Micellar Gentle Peeling Water All-in-1 – suitable even for sensitive skin).
Another cleanser is Cetaphil which is soap free and hydrates as it cleanses. It has a very soothing feel when you wash your face with it. You can use it with water, or simply on its own, wiping it off with a soft cloth, which will leave a thin transparent film on the skin – good if you suffer from very dry skin. (CeraVe is another popular brand for sensitive skin and like Cetaphil is also reasonably priced.)
Moisturiser is essential
It’s essential in any season to moisturise, as it helps hold water in your skin barrier. For sensitive skin that suffers in the winter, a kind and gentle face cream you could try is La Roche Posay Toleriane or Avene Tolerance, which helps restore the skin’s barrier.
However if you are going to be out in the elements, say on a walk, I personally would probably opt for something thick and protective, like good old fashioned Nivea cream in it’s distinctive blue tin.
Don’t forget you’ll still need SPF beneath your moisturiser because even winter sun exposure is damaging and dries out the skin.
Other ways to protect your skin
- Lips can get cracked and dry at this time of year so do wear a lip balm. For recovery of chapped or very dry lips, I always find that applying Vaseline at bedtime sorts skin out overnight.
- Restore cracked, chapped or sore hands and knuckles to health with a barrier cream such as Neutrogena’s Norwegian Formula Hand Cream.
- Since I began taking a Known Nutrition’s Advanced Collagen supplement a few months ago, my skin is not as dry and delicate. I have really noticed this on my hands which used to suffer in winter. I’ve not had red, sore skin on the back of my hands, no cracked or bleeding knuckles. It has been a game changer for me! (If you want to try a marine collagen supplement for yourself you can save 20% with my code TIDYLIFE20 here at Known Nutrition)
- If regular handwashing is causing a problem, look for handwash with emollients such as glycerin or ceramides to soothe and smooth skin and relieve irritation.
- Use rubber gloves when cleaning or washing up!
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
- Use a humidifer in the home or place a bowl of water by your radiators to add moisture to the air, to help combat the drying effect on your skin. The more humidity there is in the air, the less moisture will be drawn from your skin.
- Eat more nuts and seeds for skin nourishing Vitamin E
- Don’t take very hot, long showers and limit the use of soap, rough exfoliation scrubs, loofahs etc. Moisturise your body afterwards while the skin is still a little damp. Something like Palmers Cocoa butter, which is dermatologist recommended and affordable.
- I love to use a light oil on my skin after moisturising. Some people swear by almond oil in winter it softens and heals skin. I really love to use the Nuxe range of oils as they are a ‘dry’ oil so fast absorbing and non greasy – you can pop this elixir on your hair too if it’s feeling dry or brittle.
- Look for skincare ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid which are moisture-binding, helping the skin to hold water more effectively.
- Vitamin C helps to support the skin’s barrier function by enhancing the production of barrier lipids which act like the mortar between skin cells. A happy, healthy skin barrier retains moisture and keeps irritants and allergens out.
Do you have any winter skin remedies you could share? I’d love to hear!
© Copyright 2023 Antonia, All rights Reserved. Written For: Tidylife
