Developing dry skin during the colder months can seem inevitable, but it doesn’t have to. Think about it: the transition from summer’s heat and humidity to cooler grey days triggers tweaks in our wardrobes, habits and even our hair colours, but how often are we tweaking our skincare routines?
For most of us, the changing weather changes our skin’s needs. Wind, air conditioning and cold weather can bring about tight, itchy, flaky and inflamed skin, and hyperpigmentation can reveal itself as our summer tans begin to fade.
No matter how the cooler months affect your skin, read on for our top tips on transitioning your skincare this season and how to take care of skin in winter.
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Consider Your Cleanser
Gel and foam cleansers are great for busting congestion but can leave skin feeling tight and dry during cold weather, especially if they contain exfoliating ingredients. Switching to a cleansing milk, oil or cream can help to keep the skin clean while conserving moisture.
For normal to oily skin types, we recommend Skinstitut’s silky Gentle Cleanser. For extra sensitive or dry skin, we recommend QED’s green tea infused Deep Hydration No Rinse Cleanser.
Exfoliate Sparingly
A gentle chemical exfoliator can help brighten and smooth dull skin by chewing through dead skin cells to reveal the baby cells beneath.
Two chemical exfoliators gentle enough for regular use are ESK’s Gentle Glow PHA serum and the 6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant from Paula’s Choice.
For those seeking something stronger during winter skin, Medik8’s Crystal Retinal and Dr Dennis Gross’ Alpha Beta Daily Peel Pads can improve skin clarity as well as brightness and texture.
Strengthen Your Barrier
The skin barrier defends the body against a range of damaging stressors like pollution, bacteria and UV rays. Cold and dry conditions can reduce the barrier’s strength and ability to fight the effects of these stressors.
Two restorative creams that can be used day or night are Skinfix’s Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream and La Roche Posay’s Cicaplast Baume B5. For those who prefer something more lightweight, The Ordinary’s Soothing & Barrier Support Serum absorbs quickly and layers well.
Use Serums Strategically
For dehydrated skin, reach for hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5:
Hyaluronic acid holds 1000 times its weight in water and leaves skin looking plump and feeling hydrated. Vitamin B5 supports regeneration, healing and moisture retention within the skin.
We love ESK’s Hydraboost Hyaluronic Acid, EllaBache’s Hyaluronic Intensive Treatment Booster and Skinceuticals’ Hydrating B5 Serum.
For red, irritated and inflamed skin, reach for niacinamide and green tea:
Niacinamide can help to smooth texture, refine enlarged pores, strengthen the moisture barrier and stimulate collagen production. Green tea contains caffeine, amino acids and antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation.
We recommend Lust Minerals’ Vitamin B Serum Complex and Fresh’s Tea Elixir Skin Resilience Activating Serum.
For dull skin or pigmentation, reach for Vitamin C:
Vitamin C is a fantastic ingredient for evening the skin’s tone and texture but it can be difficult to formulate and keep stable. To achieve results, products must contain a concentration of (or equivalent to ) 10-20% pure vitamin C.
We recommend The Jojoba Company’s Vitamin C Glow Potion and Avene’s Vitamin Cg Serum.
Upgrade Your Moisturiser
If the moisturiser you loved all summer has suddenly stopped working, try swapping it out for a richer alternative.
Some hard-working moisturisers that keep the skin hydrated and nourished are Neutriderm’s Vitamin E Moisturising Lotion, Dr Lewinn’s lightweight Barrier Protect Ceramide Balm and Weleda’s iconic Skin Food.
For an extra hit of hydration, we also love Summer Friday’s Jet Lag Mask.
Never Skip SPF
Living in Australia, SPF should be a daily non-negotiable. Anywhere that natural daylight is present, harmful UV rays are too (yes, even indoors and on cloudy days).
Sunscreen is available in two main forms: chemical, a thinner formulation that sinks into the skin to absorb and neutralise UV rays, and mineral, a heavier and more sensitive safe formula that sits on top of the skin to reflect UV rays.
No matter the strength, cost or added benefits, the best SPF will always be the one you’re happy to wear each day.
Don’t Forget Your Body
Despite being covered up for the next few months, the skin on our bodies is extra susceptible to dryness during winter.
Incorporating a body wash, exfoliator or dry brush will help to boost circulation, remove dead, dull skin and help hydrating products penetrate deeper. Afterwards, applying a luxurious body cream, serum or oil will help lock in hydration and nourishment.
To cleanse, gently exfoliate and hydrate the body, we love Urban Jungle’s Grime Fighter Body Wash and Midas Touch Body Lotion.
For a more thorough exfoliation, we recommend Lamav’s circulation-boosting Garshana Dry Body Brush and Lillian Muir’s divine Freddo Espresso Body Exfoliator.
To deeply nourish the skin, we recommend Santa Maria Novella’s velvet soft Dermo-Protective Oil and Bali Body’s vitamin-enriched Body Serum.
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