Winter Skincare Tips

The changing of the seasons does not just require alterations in your wardrobe and the way you accessorise - it also affects your skincare routine and the way you protect your skin from outside conditions. 

Everything from the wind to that extensive variation as you move from heated inside spaces to the cold outside, can cause your skin to become dry and dehydrated - and so it is the job of your skincare products to create a barrier atop your skin. 

Without further ado, here are some of our top tips for winter skincare. 

Implement a Barrier Cream Into Your Routine

The clue is in the title with this one - investing in a good barrier cream is a great way of supporting your skin’s own natural protective barrier with an added sealant. A good barrier cream is one which is labelled as organic and is made with natural ingredients, swapping out chemicals and artificial fragrances with naturally supportive ingredients like witch hazel and aloe vera (ideal for soothing your skin and minimising irritation).

Don’t Force Too Much Change in Your Routine

It can be tempting to replace all of your products with the changing seasons however this forces your skin to adapt not only to the new surrounding conditions but to new ingredients and formulas - creating a recipe for upset and irritated skin. The best thing to do is to know what impacts your skin, which ingredients help to combat its primary issues, and make small changes which support your skin in the colder weather. 

Take Hand Cream Wherever You Go

It’s not just your facial skin that needs protecting in the winter - your hands go through a huge change as you move from summer into autumn and winter, and you will likely find that the frequent exposure to harsher and colder conditions causes your hands to become dry, cracked, and sore. Invest in a good hand cream and apply it regularly before any issues arise - thus playing into the concept of avoiding the problem rather than curing it.

Don’t Ditch Your SPF

You need a good moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated in the winter - and that moisturiser either needs to have SPF in it or it needs to be partnered with an SPF as part of your routine.

Far too often we see consumers ditching their SPF when winter comes around, however the UV rays which come from the sun are still very much there and they can cause as much harm in winter as they can in summer. You might not burn or even tan, but that doesn’t mean the sun isn’t there and working its power. 

Cleanse Then Moisturise

It is a well known fact that applying moisturiser directly after washing and cleansing helps to keep some of that water contained in your skin. But be aware of how the changing season impacts your skin’s response to cleansing - for example, it might be drier and so react differently, or become irritated more quickly by hot water. Use a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water, then follow up with a high quality moisturiser to seal that hydration in. 

Layer Up Overnight

Back to barrier cream again - one of the best go-to overnight products for sensitive and dry skin. Barrier cream has been specifically formulated as an overnight treatment and so it is ideal for layering up and leaving on your skin, creating an extra layer which not only seals moisture in but keeps external pollutants out. This is a great solution for sensitive skin, especially if you select an organic product with a simple ingredient list. 

Don’t Forget Your Lips

The only thing worse than burnt lips in the summer is dry lips in the winter. Rather than waiting for your lips to become chapped and cracked, seal them with a balm that will stop you from licking them and causing them to dry out even more. You will also want to seal your lips with a good balm before eating and drinking as certain foods can irritate chapped lips due to a high level of acidity. 

Check It’s Not Something Else That’s Causing the Dryness

Dry skin in winter is common, and that can mean that we sometimes ignore what could potentially be something different causing our problem. Dry and scaly skin around the nose and eyebrows can, for example, be a form of dermatitis which is exacerbated by yeast and made more irritated in the dry and cold weather. This will require a different kind of skincare routine, so be sure to check with a GP if your dry skin is not easing. 

Exfoliate, Moisturise, and Focus on your Skin

Just because more skin is covered up during the winter, doesn’t mean you should neglect it. Instead, use the dark nights in, long baths and relaxation time to exfoliate and treat your skin to some TLC, so that you can bring out your legs next summer and be proud of them.

Create a routine which works for you, stick to it, and consider some of our favourite organic skincare products to give your skin a little extra boost.