How to Banish Dry Skin This Winter
It happens every year. The New Year passes, the cold creeps in, and before you know it those thermal socks given by your least favourite aunt at Christmas turn from most boring present to a Godsend.
And whilst there are many positive aspects to the coldest season (crackling fires, cosy jumpers, and winter walks to name but a few) there are some not-so-great ones, too.
Our skin takes a battering during the colder months. Not only does the outside chill seep the moisture from our skin, but the indoor heating plays its role too. Skin is left dry, flaky and red – a far cry from the beautiful, glowing complexions we all covet.
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent and even rewind the damaging effects winter plays on our skin. Here’s 10 ways to get rid of that winter skin – for good!
- Switch your moisturiser. That lightweight moisturiser you used during the warmer months just wont cut it now. You need something thicker, more luxuriant, and able to protect skin from the harsher climate.
- Prepare your house. Central heating can create a loss of moisture in the air. Purchasing an air humidifier in the most used room in the house (either the bathroom or living room) will ensure the moisture in the air is retained, helping the skin’s barrier stay hydrated. Certain house plants can also help, like the Areca Palm or the Boston Fern.
- Eat smart. Changing up your diet and adding more fats, like avocados and walnuts, is thought to help dry skin. And steer clear of alcohol and caffeine – these are diuretics that will cause dehydration.
- Exfoliate. Exfoliating will slough of dead skin cells, revealing the beautiful bright cells below. Use a gentle scrub and carefully buff with small circular motions into wet skin, or try a chemical-based one if a scrub is too harsh. While all skin is different, we recommend exfoliating 1-2 times a week.
- Use an anti-oxidant serum. These are good to use all-year round, provided they don’t contain alcohol. No matter what the weather, free radical damage and sun damage can happen, so it’s important to protect the skin. Look for a serum with vitamin C and, if possible, a high SPF for an all-in-one dose of anti-ageing goodness. Hyaluronic Acid is also a fantastic ingredient as it helps trap moisture into the skin.
- Use a mild cleanser. Cleansers can strip the skin of essential oils if they’re too harsh, so find one that leaves moisture in the skin. Avoid cleansers with fragrance or additives and instead look for one containing ingredients like chamomile or oatmeal.
- Perfect your night time routine. The skin has the ability to transform while you sleep, so it’s important to have a good routine before bed. Skin oils help replenish lost moisture, and follow with a luxurious cream for baby soft skin come morning. Don’t forget to use an eye cream for the delicate skin surrounding the eyes. For those with sore, cracking skin, pop some healing ointment, like Aquaphor, onto the worst areas – this is also good for those with rosacea or eczema, which tends to be worse during the winter.
- Have warm, not boiling, showers. While it might be tempting to blast your skin during the winter months and exit the shower looking like a boiled lobster, it’s better to refrain – hot water will undoubtedly make your skin dryer. Instead, keep the temperature warm and don’t stay in there for too long – 5 minutes is plenty of time.
- Use weekly face masks. Invest in a decent hydrating mask and use it once a week for a quick, effective skin pick-me-up.
- Drink SkinGlo. Packed full of collagen, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, drinking one sachet of SkinGlo every day will help replenish dry skin from within. Skin hydration will increase by up to 30%, and you’ll be left with soft, smooth, plump skin to see you right through the winter months and well into Spring.
