Hands up if your skin also gets petulant during the winter. It’s like as soon as the temperature drops and the central heating comes, on my skin feels so dehydrated and looks really washed out. Because of this I really have to up my glow-giving skincare and inject hydration back into my skin.
I really focus on layering complimentary products for juicy-looking skin. Combining ingredients like vitamin c, hyaluronic acid and ceramides have been great for soothing, protecting, smoothing and enhancing glow. I’ll avoid stripping foams or gels when it comes to cleansing and reduce my level of exfoliating. All of this has helped me towards better seasonal skin and achieving a winter glow.
1. More Moisture
"Moisturising is key this time of year,” says Treatwell facialist Helen Wyre Charkham, founder No. 23 Skin. Helen suggests opting for a thicker cream for winter but if you have oil-prone or combination skin you don’t have to go for the thickest consistency– instead, look at the ingredients that will protect the skin barrier like ceramides and fatty acids that will help against moisture loss.
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The texture of this cream can only be described as silky. It manages to intensely hydrate and soothe while feeling lightweight on the skin. The addition of prebiotics ensures that your skin barrier remains healthy in the depths of winter weather, too.
The rich yet lightweight cream is soothing to apply and contains peptides to plump and restore the skin, leaving it hydrated and bouncy.
This is the moisturiser I go back to when I’ve gone too crazy with actives or exfoliants. It’s so gentle and contains squalane, which mimics the natural sebum in our skin to moisturise and protect from harsh conditions.
2. Less Exfoliants
"If you are using an exfoliating acid in the evening, such as a glycolic or even a retinol, you may need to cut down on the usage of this,” warns Helen. "Follow the rule ‘listen to your skin’– if your skin has been very dry throughout the day then hold off using anything exfoliating (even if its flaking and you want to scrub those flakes off)”. This is a rule that I definitely used to ignore. I thought that exfoliating would perk up my complexion and slough away the flaky patches of dry skin but in fact I was creating major disturbance to my skin barrier. When your skin barrier is compromised it’s not able to hold moisture as sufficiently, a real issue during winter. Now, during winter I reduce my exfoliants to fortnightly use and retinol to once a week and I get less flaking and less sensitivity. Instead, I focus on upping my vitamin C for brightening.
Considered the gold standard in vitamin C, Skinceutical's C E Ferulic serum is seriously worth the investment—trust us. It leaves skin clear, glowing and even-toned. Every beauty editor I know loves it.
I rely heavily on vitamin c based products in my morning routine to give that glow that’s often non-existent in winter skin. This serum includes the ingredient kakadu plum which is rich in the antioxidant.
This is my favourite vitamin c so I alternate with the above. It also contains hyaluronic acid so I’ll use it as my one morning serum. Warning though, it contains 15% vitamin c which is quite potent so I recommend this if you’re an advanced vitamin c user.
3. SPF All Day, Everyday
I’m sure you know this but it’s truly going to be game-changing for your skin in the long-run– SPF every day that you go outside is a non-negotiable for healthy skin. "We all know that SPF should be worn all year round to protect us against UVA radiation, however it can also protect our skin’s barrier, protecting our skin from the effects of weather and contrasting temperatures,” says Helen.
If you have a more active lifestyle and need an SPF 50 (the best pick for lighter skin tones), then this is a beauty expert favourite. The texture is super lightweight, blendable and doesn’t leave Black skin looking ashy.
This SPF has a gentle tint to it that works for all skin tones and has a matte finish but doesn’t leave a chalky look or feel. A great everyday suncream.
If you like a radiant glow, this SPF lends the skin a super glowy finish, which works well on its own or underneath makeup.
4. Make Time For Treatments
Keeping up treatments has become an investment into the way my skin looks but also how I feel, which of course then makes me look better. Having one or two facials a month tops up the work I’m doing at home and boost the plumpness of my skin with the circulation work. The experts are also then able to advise me of anything extra I need and normally give me a professional exfoliation. I normally opt for a FaceGym signature facial but I love the SkinWork City Cleanse facial too. "Monthly facials allow for better cell turnover,” says Helen. "Plus, you can get professional exfoliation without stripping the skin in this dry and cold weather (which we see people do so often at home) – thus, getting a great glow without the risk of over sensitising the skin.”
LED masks are a big investment, but a great way to do treatments at home if you want to save on regular in-salon prices. This one from Deese is one of the best LED masks the Who What Wear UK team have tried.
This gua sha tool helps to sculpt and bring blood flow to the facial muscles for a health glow.
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