Supple dewy skin is possible during winter. Power through the cold snap with our skin-saving tips to keep your complexion glowing...
Switch Up Your Cleanser
Whilst we love that squeaky-clean feeling that foamy face washes give us, in winter when skin is much drier, it’s worth switching to a more gentle and hydrating formula. Milk and oil-based cleansers are just as effective, (if not more so) at dissolving makeup and grime without stripping the skin. Opt for a cleanser with soothing botanical extracts and essential oils to restore much-needed moisture.
ESPA Hydrating Cleansing Milk, £24, Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil, £32, Elemental Herbology Purify and Soothe Facial Cleanser, £30
Use a Facial Oil
A good quality facial oil will become your skin hero when the temperature drops. A godsend for all skin types including oily, choose a multi-tasker which locks in moisture, restores radiance and keeps pesky dry patches at bay.
Mix three drops into your moisturiser or massage into skin as your first step. Always apply to a damp face to help seal in the product – patting skin dry and then applying moisturiser or oil is much less effective at protecting the skin’s barrier.
Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, £19.99, Sanctuary Therapist’s Secret Facial Oil, £17.50, Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil, £33
Exfoliate Away
Between the onslaught of cold weather and blistering winds, topped with the inevitable blast of central heating, it’s no surprise our skin flakes under the pressure, so investing in an exfoliator is crucial. Keep things gentle and apply lightly using circular motions. A gritty textured scrub or over-enthusiastic rubbing will leave skin feeling extra-tight and irritated. Sensitive and dry skin? Go for an exfoliator enriched with antioxidants to help re-hydrate while it polishes.
Eve Lom Cleanser, £55, Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator, £30, Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm, £20
Stay Hydrated
Swap your usual lightweight moisturiser for a richer and creamier alternative to best winterproof your skin. Look out for high-performance ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter and omega fatty acids, which are great for an instant moisture-hit and help to soften fine lines.
Whilst it looks bleak and grey outside, even in winter it’s vital that you wear SPF. Now we all know that sun cream protects skin from the sun’s harmful rays, but thanks to a new study in the journal Dermatologic Surgery, there’s proof that daily SPF can also reverse the signs of photoaging like wrinkles and hyper pigmentation. With that in mind, a hard-working day cream with a broad-spectrum SPF is well worth the investment. It is your face after all!
Superfacialist Rose Hydrate Radiance Day Cream, £14.99, Kiehls Ultra Facial Balm, £24, Sarah Chapman Skinesis Dynamic Defence, £44