WINTER SKINCARE

Winter is already here, and for many of us, that means a daily battle with dry, sensitive and flaky skin. As the humidity drops, skin starts to tighten, and some people are more vulnerable than others. No matter what your skin type, it’s vital to protect your skin with an awesome winter skincare routine. You need to create a robust skincare routine because it can help keep your skin’s natural barrier strong and protected until spring. Lathering moisturiser on every day isn’t the best solution, you need a plan of action, and here’s how you do it.

For some reason, this isn’t ever mentioned in regular winter skincare articles, but it’s essential for supporting and boosting your skincare routine. Eating fish like salmon and mackerel will give you a boost of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which has consistently been found to improve the skin’s barrier, making it supple and hydrated.

You should aim to eat a lot of vegetables too, including avocados, walnuts, sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, broccoli and tomatoes. All have been shown to improve skin health and boost its natural barrier, keeping it firm and hydrated.

Winter Skincare Routines For Different Skin Types There’s no one solution when it comes to skincare. Many of you are probably already aware of this and know that finding the right products is a serious case of trial and error. You can give yourself a head start by identifying your skin type and knowing what ingredients/products work best for you.

The first step to winter skincare is to wash your face. You’ll be amazed at how many people just splash their faces with water, which does very little for your skin’s health. Instead, use a gentle wash product twice a day (morning and night) before applying any other products.

◊ Combination or Oily Skin — use a light foaming cleanser. ◊ Sensitive Skin — use a gel cleanser. ◊ Dry Skin — use a cream or lotion cleanser. ◊ Very Dry/Eczema-Prone Skin — use cleansing balms or cold cream cleansers.

A gentle face wash will help to remove any dirt, grease or grime from your pores without stripping the skin of its natural oils. If you have very sensitive skin, avoid any cleanser using soap or fragrance. Opt for natural products where possible, avoiding harsh chemicals.

Moisturise Moisturising is an absolute must, and no person should go a day without moisturising at least once. As the humidity drops, your skin loses moisture and needs a boost in hydration to stay healthy. Without a boost in hydration, it’s easy for your skin to become vulnerable to the elements. This can lead to dry, irritated and sensitive skin. It can also trigger skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Here are your options for moisturisers: Combination or Oily Skin — lightweight moisturisers that are oil-free or nongreasy, try to find products containing hyaluronic acid. Sensitive Skin — fragrance-free and natural ingredients only. Dry Skin — rich creams or lotions with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides. Very Dry/Eczema-Prone Skin — powerful and rich creams and gels, look for ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronate and ceramides.

When trying to deal with very dry skin, why not test out some K-Beauty products? The K-Beauty movement is centred around super-hydration for the skin, making its products very popular among those with dry and eczema/acne-prone skin all around the world.

Sun cream in winter? You bet! Sun cream should be worn all year round, even in the blisteringly cold winter months. Just because it’s cold, does not mean the sun is any less damaging to your skin.

Applying a sun cream each day will help to keep skin hydrated and protected, and it can even repair sun-damaged skin.

Key ingredients to look out for include vitamin E, which naturally helps to protect the skin from the sun’s UV light, and Photolyase, which will help heal any damaged skin in the process. Always buy a sun cream that offers at least 30SPF.

Combination or Oily Skin — look for ingredients like green tea, tea tree oil or niacinamide to help control oil production.

Sensitive Skin — keep it natural, and only buy products with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

Dry Skin — aim for ingredients like ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid to add moisture.

Very Dry/Eczema-Prone Skin — Follow the advice for dry skin, and keep it natural.