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The cold weather is almost behind us and it’s time to make sure the negative effects of winter are banished from your skin. I’m a bit of a skincare addict, so I like to spend winter trying out all sorts of solutions. I even read about skincare when I’m not trying it out!
Looking after your skin in winter brings its own challenges. Cold weather combined with excessive artificial heat indoors takes your skin to extremes it might not be equipped for. The most common skin complaints during these winter months are dry, flaky skin, dull, congested skin, deyhdrated skin, and excessive redness.
Each complaint needs its own treatment, and if you get all of the above, your skincare routine has to pay attention to individual problems as well as the bigger picture.
How to Look after and Repair Winter Skin
Part of your skincare routine should aim to prevent any of these problems, and on top of that, it needs to target any obvious areas that require repair. Skincare isn’t an exact science and it certainly isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ concept. There are certain staples that will work almost every time for certain skin complaints, but managing your skin requires and individual plan.
Below are some quick fixes for the most common winter skin complaints:
Dull, Congested Skin
I don’t know what it is about winter, but it’s easy to lose your glow if you’re not careful. Dead skin cells can quickly clog pores, creating blackheads and giving that dull look, quebellabeauty.com sell a black peel off mask which can help you overcome this. I get great pleasure out of using these because they detoxify your skin, pull out blackheads and take away dead skin cells.
Dehydrated Skin
Be careful not to mix up dehydrated skin with dry skin. In case you hadn’t guessed. Dehydrated skin needs to be re-hydrated in order to be repaired. You can do this in a number of ways. Firstly, try not to use any face wash or toners that strip the skin of its natural oils. If you must use a toner, go for one that has moisturising properties.
Next, choose a moisturiser that is thin, light, and easily absorbed. Ideally you want it to sink in quickly so you can add an additional oil layer. Oil on top of (or mixed into) your moisturiser, helps seal in the hydration and creates an artificial barrier that your skin might be lacking. The result is bright, healthy looking skin.
Dry, Flaky Skin
Dry, flaky skin needs to be treated carefully. It can get sore easily and care flare up into something quite uncomfortable. Thick, simple moisturisers are a good place to start, especially if the skin is tender. E45 can be a big help if you don’t want to fork out on expensive skincare. When it comes to face wash, opt for a gentle gel cleanser that will be kind to your skin.
For an extra skin treat, choose a selection of moisture boosting sheet masks that don’t contain any strong acids. Follow the instructions on the sheet mask and don’t use them too often if that’s what is advised. The dryness might clear up before the flakiness disappears, if this happens to you, a gentle exfoliator will do the trick.
Excessive Redness
Cold weather can create a ruddy-cheeked look that just won’t pass. It could be that, like me, you have a mild form of rosacea (or it might be that you’re fair-skinned and prone to redness). This can be a problem and a pain to cover. On many occasion my complexion has glowed like Rudolph’s nose and created a red illumination under my foundation.
Often green pigmented primer and yellow-toned foundation can help cover it, but to get to the root of the problem, you need to treat the skin. A calming winter skincare routine can help. Opt for gentle products and serums designed to treat redness.
*Collaborative post