It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and we’re not just referring to the twinkling lights of every high street, the festive wreaths on doors, and, of course, the tree that’s been recently erected in households across the UK.
Nope, sometimes one of the defining looks of the season is one that’s much less welcome; our dry and chafed skin. This is down to myriad factors, some environmental and some behavioural, which all seem to collide at Christmas time, a time when we would most love to avoid skincare issues. Fortunately, there are things you can do to mitigate the appearance of dreaded winter skin; here are 7 expert tips on tweaking your skincare routine for winter.
BEWARE THE PERILS OF PARTY SEASON
Sleep, hydration, drink and diet…all crucial elements of a holistic approach to keeping your skin healthy, and all elements that truly suffer over the winter party season. If you’re to keep your skincare routine ticking over and maintain a glowing, radiant appearance, then it’s essential that you don’t let standards slip in terms of sleep, in particular.
Your skin creates new collagen while you sleep, helping your skin repair itself and leading to a more plump appearance. So, don’t neglect getting a regular 7 to 9 hours, even when the temptation to go for another round of festive drinks is strong.
Read: The best ways to improve your circadian rhythm and sleeping patterns
AVOID PRODUCTS THAT STRIP OFF THE SKIN’S NATURAL LAYER OF PROTECTION
The harsher conditions of the winter months can damage our precious skin, so it’s vital that you’re not stripping off the skin’s protective layers with equally harsh products.
Be especially cautious when applying alcohol based toners; they tend to strip the skin of natural lipids and proteins that moisturise our skin, which we need much more of during winter, when indoor heating dries out our skin excessively.
We just love the range of skincare products from Craft & Care, which are designed with protection of these natural lipids very much at the forefront of their thinking. They tell us that ‘’the use of soap or cleaning gels with too high pH are extremely stressful for the natural lipid barrier of our skin’’. We’ve used their LIPID GLORY products for some time, and they’re brilliant for adding to winter skincare routines.
Daily use of exfoliating cleansers risk similarly damaging the skin, with the temptation in winter to go harder on the process to remove excess dry, flaky skin. But if you exfoliate too often in winter, you’ll only exacerbate the problem, stripping off that natural protective layer. Sadly, this can become a vicious circle, so during the colder months, switch up to a gentle milk based cleanser.
DO NOT NEGLECT SPF JUST BECAUSE IT’S COLD & CLOUDY
Just because you haven’t seen any evidence of the sun in weeks and you’re stepping out with only your face peeking out from under several layers, doesn’t mean you should neglect to wear sunscreen with SPF protection.
Though there are naturally fewer UV rays around in winter, they can still be strong enough to age your skin; remember that you can still damage your skin, even if you’re not getting burnt or tanned. SPF plays a huge role in healthy, happy skin, and during the colder, darker months, an SPF factor of around 15 should be sufficient.
HYDRATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER IN WINTER
Speaking of assumptions made about the summer and winter months, it’s also wrong to assume that hydration is only a pressing concern when it’s hot. In fact, during winter, keeping hydrated is more important than ever.
During the winter, more water vapour can be lost through your breath, causing you to lose valuable moisture. And that’s before we consider our diets and drinking habits during the party season. With alcohol and caffeine being diuretics and abundantly consumed over December, it’s essential that you replenish yourself with water regularly to ensure your skin is properly hydrated.
Dehydrated skin takes on a dull, uneven appearance, and fine lines are often more visible. So, make sure you’re drinking at least 8 cups a day of the good stuff.
Be aware that the ubiquity of central heating use in the colder months, and the dry air they can lead to domestically, can also bring about dehydrated skin. Sustain a sufficient amount of moisture in the air in your home with a humidifier or dehumidifier, and prevent your skin from drying out.
USE A HEAVIER MOISTURISER
Of course, hydration doesn’t only apply to what you’re putting in your body; you also need to hydrate your skin topically with added vigilance over winter. During the colder months, our skin tends to produce less natural oil, so it’s a good idea to switch to a heavier moisturiser ideally containing either hyaluronic acid or glycerin; these products help keep all the moisture locked into your face rather than losing it to the elements.
EAT MORE ANTIOXIDANTS
The foods you eat can make a big difference to your complexion, too. There’s increasing scientific consensus that foods high in antioxidants and anti inflammatory properties are great for keeping our skin looking radiant. This is particularly important to bear in mind during winter, when our diets can get a little, shall we say, erratic.
So, make sure you’re including so called ‘superfoods’ that are high in antioxidants, such as blueberries, cranberries, artichokes and dark chocolate (rejoice!), as well as foods with lots of Vitamin C and E, which are believed to fight the appearance of fine lines. Foods high in these vitamins include citrus, strawberries, broccoli and kiwi. Finally, food boasting omega-3 is thought to firm up the skin and preserve collagen; oily fish, in particular, is fantastic for this.
VITAMIN D
Speaking of vitamins, the NHS suggests that ‘’During the autumn and winter, you need to get vitamin D from your diet because the sun is not strong enough for the body to make vitamin D.’’
This is particularly pertinent when considering skincare, as Vitamin D is also essential in helping our skin repair itself, playing a key role in skin protection and rejuvenation. Though Vitamin D is present in a variety of foods, such as oily fish, liver and egg yolks, it can be hard to get sufficient amounts in winter. The NHS recommends that some people may need to take a 10mg supplement daily between October and early March.