Skiing, roaring fires, cosy sweats? Cute. Chapped lips, tight skin, dry eyelids, rough knuckles? Not so much. The inevitable cold weather, frigid winds, and exposure to central heating that come with the onset of winter can wreak havoc on our skin. While winter sees us swap out t-shirts for turtlenecks and sandals for boots, most of us stick with the same skincare products year-round, which may be the cause of many of our winter skincare woes. However, with a few adjustments to your skincare routine, it’s possible to keep your complexion radiant and moisturised during the cooler months.
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Here are our top 8 ways to perfect your winter skincare routine.
1. Switch your scrub
The notion that you need to avoid exfoliation during winter is a common skincare misconception; it’s actually now more important than ever as your skin is more prone to breakouts and blemishes if you don’t slough away dry, dead skin cells. Rather than using a granule based mechanical exfoliant or scrub, which can be harsh on sensitive skin, opt for a chemical exfoliant. Chemical exfoliants like lactic acid and glycolic acid work to dissolve dead skin and improve signs of hyperpigmentation, helping you achieve brighter, smoother skin. During winter, stick to exfoliating twice to three times a week.
AR recommends
Grown Alchemist Enzyme Exfoliant
Designed to suit even the most sensitive skin, Grown Alchemist Enzyme Exfoliant buffs away dead skin cells and dissolves surface debris. A papain and amino acid complex increases cell turnover and renewal, boosts hydration levels, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while ficin enzymes and omega-3 fatty acids nourish and condition the skin.
2. Don’t skimp on serums
If you’re not already using a hydrating serum, now is the time to start. Serums deliver a potent concentration of active ingredients designed to target specific skin concerns. Opt for a calming, hydrating serum to support your skin during the winter months.
AR recommends
YORA Dynamic Face Serum
This luxurious formula utilises brown algae to brighten skin and promote hydration, as well as everyone’s favourite hydrator, hyaluronic acid, to provide intense hydration while minimising the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Biologi Bd Luminosity Face Serum
Made from 100% pure Davidson plum extract, Biologi Bd serum contains gallic acid, anthocyanin, and quercetin which work to lock moisture into the deeper layers of the skin and reduce inflammation, improving the appearance of skin issues like redness and acne. Tartaric acid helps build up a natural barrier to protect the skin from external factors that cause sensitised skin.
3. Embrace oils
While a hydrating face cream or moisturiser is an obvious winter essential, the right facial oil is a key addition to your winter skincare arsenal, working to repair the skin’s protective barrier and prevent the loss in hydration that increases in winter due to the drop in temperature and the presence of central heating. Best used overnight, face and body oils penetrate deep into the skin to deliver nourishing ingredients like squalane, rosehip, argan, chia seed, and sea buckthorn oil, providing longer-lasting hydration. During the day, try adding a couple of drops of face oil to your moisturiser or foundation before applying.
AR recommends
Lux Aestiva Wildflower Oil
Lightweight and nutrient-dense, this facial oil features a blend of bergamot, marigold, frankincense, cypress leaf, and turmeric oils. Featuring anti-inflammatory botanicals, Lux Aestiva Wildflower Oil increases blood circulation, promotes cellular renewal, and penetrates deep into the skin to ensure maximum hydration and antioxidant absorption.
Mukti Organics Antioxidant Facial Oil Omega 3-6-9
Rich in phytonutrients, phytoceramides (which help moisturise and plump up the skin), beta carotene and vitamin C, Mukti Organics Antioxidant Facial Oil Omega 3-6-9 supports the skin’s lipid barrier to keep skin hydrated and nourished. Superfood oils like kakadu plum, dangaroo flower, sandalwood, chia seed, and sea buckthorn work to promote cellular renewal and calm sensitive, irritated skin.
4. Stick with SPF
The cooler weather isn’t permission to ditch your sunscreen. While you may not feel the heat, the sun’s UVA rays are still strong enough to cause premature ageing and reduce ceramide levels in your skin, preventing it from holding onto moisture. Use a sunscreen with at least 30+ SPF on your face, neck, and hands.
AR recommends
Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF 50+ Luminising Sun Serum
Extra-lightweight and non-greasy, Ultra Violette’s Luminising Sun Serum combines the protection of SPF 50+ with the anti-ageing, free-radical fighting benefits of kakadu plum and dragosine plus. Ideal for using underneath makeup, or as the final step in your skincare routine.
5. A helping hand
The constant hand washing that accompanies winter makes your hands more susceptible to becoming dry and chapped. After your face and neck, hands are a key determinant of ageing, with uncared for hands appearing cracked, chapped, lined, and dry. Always use a good hand moisturiser after washing during the day. Before bed, apply a rich hand cream and wear gloves, allowing the skin barrier to better absorb moisture.
AR recommends
Grown Alchemist Intensive Hand Cream
Tamanu and argan oil meet in a rich yet non-greasy formula, working to soothe, soften and hydrate dry hands and cuticles. Persian rose and sweet orange peel provide a gorgeous scent, making every application a luxurious, sensory experience.
L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
Instantly recognisable by its pared-back silver tube, French cult favourite L’Occitane’s hand cream is formulated with shea butter to provide lasting nourishment and hydration to dry hands.
6. Shower smarter
While they may be particularly tempting during winter, try to resist the lure of scalding hot showers. “Hot showers and baths can dry out and irritate the skin whilst stripping it of its natural oils, fats and proteins that it needs to stay healthy,” says Lucy Macdougald, Dermal Specialist at Biologi, adding that “disruption to the outer layers of the skin can prevent the cells from locking in moisture which can also cause inflammation, redness or even peeling.” To avoid feeling the burn, stick to showers and baths at mild temperatures. Post lukewarm shower, dab – don’t rub – your skin and apply a moisture-rich body lotion or cream to slightly damp skin to lock in moisture.
AR recommends
Natch Essentials Body Cleanse
Using harsh soaps that strip the skin of its natural oils is a common shower mistake that is a surefire way to guarantee dry, irritated skin. The solution? Opt for a fragrance-free body wash that utilises nourishing ingredients, like Natch Essentials Body Cleanse. Formulated with mandarin, cedarwood, and ylang ylang essential oils, Natch Essentials Body Cleanse leaves your skin cleansed and recharged, without drying it.
Natch Essentials Body Balm
Rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, and vitamins A, E, and D, the inclusion of jojoba oil gives Natch Essentials Body Balm its deeply nourishing and hydrating properties. Mandarin, cedarwood, bergamot, and ylang ylang provide anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, working to calm irritated skin and defend against inflammatory skin conditions.
NueBar Solid Body Moisturiser Bar
Moisturising shea butter, vitamin E, and cacao butter meet hydrating, nutrient-rich aloe vera in this nourishing formula. NueBar Solid Body Moisturiser comes in a concentrated bar form, delivering effective results without the packaging waste.
7. Mask on
Pare back the detoxifying face masks and swap in a hydrating cream or sheet mask instead. Using a good hydrating mask twice a week can inject some much-needed moisture into your skin. If you’re time-poor, opt for an overnight mask to promote dewiness and hydration.
AR recommends
Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask
Lightweight and hydrating, this gel mask is suitable for dry, sensitive skin types, working to soothe, hydrate, and detoxify the skin. Formulated with botanical extracts of cucumber, papaya, chamomile, pineapple, sugar maple, sugarcane, orange, lemon, bilberry, and aloe vera, it heals while hydrating, perfect for nourishing irritated or inflamed skin.
8. Don’t forget your feet
Your feet spend much of winter tucked away in socks and boots, leading to dry, cracked skin. Step up your foot care game by using a foot scrub along with a foot scraper or pumice stone, and follow it up with a rich foot cream. Do your foot care routine before bed to wake up with baby soft soles.
AR recommends
L’Occitane Shea Intense Foot Balm
This super-rich, yet fast-absorbing formula contains shea butter to provide maximum nourishment, forming a protective film over rough, dry feet. D-panthenol and allantoin help soothe the skin, with daily use leaving skin feeling soft and supple.
FAQ
During winter, opt for a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid and anti-inflammatory ingredients, a lightweight facial oil, and a thick, nourishing moisturiser.
To perfect your winter skincare routine, ensure you take care of your feet by giving yourself regular foot treatments; use a foot scrub and foot buffer, before applying a rich foot cream. At night time, use a good body and face oil to promote moisture retention in the skin.
Good face moisturisers for winter are Mukti Organics Marigold Hydrating Creme, Grown Alchemist Hydra-Repair+ Intensive Day Cream, Skin Physics Ultra Plumping Night Cream, and Weleda Skin Food.
Words by Arabella Johnson
