Winter and dry skin have always seemed to go hand in hand. But should they have to?
The colder weather certainly presents skincare challenges. If our skin isn’t drying out fast and furiously, there’s flaky skin to join the party. The good news is that there is hope for those of us who have fallen victim to the “your skin’s looking a little dry,” comments from those who have never had a skin-care routine and still have perfect dewy skin.
Not to mention that with the natural skin trend taking over, or the “clean girl aesthetic” the focus in the beauty world right now isn’t on covering up, but on relishing in that natural glow that is possible.
It might mean a little extra time and a few new secret weapons, but these 6 winter skin-care tips are your arsenal for combatting those winter blues, skin edition:
1. Exfoliate on the regular
Our skin is more prone to dryness in winter and a build-up of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin can leave it looking dull and lacklustre, not to mention increase the likelihood of developing clogged pores and breakouts. Yikes. During winter, you may need to exfoliate more regularly to get rid of those pesky dry and dead skin cells so your skin can be kept smooth and radiant. Depending on your skin, you may need to do this twice a week to every second day.
For Brighter skin:
If you prefer a physical scrub, try Creightons Pink Grapefruit Face Scrub. It’s a gentle exfoliator that swiftly unclogs pores to help promote a brighter, more radiant complexion.
For smoother skin:
If you prefer a chemical or enzymatic exfoliator, try NIP+FAB Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads. These radiance-boosting pads are soaked in exfoliating glycolic acid (2.8%) to retexture and resurface skin. Added ‘witch hazel’ helps to tone and hyaluronic acid while the soothing blue daisy ingredient helps to reveal brighter, smoother-looking skin.
2. Keep vitamin C on your radar
Vitamin C is for so much more than colds and flu. The power of vitamin C lies in that it is a multi-tasking skincare ingredient that can be applied to the skin all year round! Couple this with its glow-inducing properties and you’ve got a recipe for brighter skin. Not only is it packed with antioxidants that have a protective and anti-ageing effect on the skin, but it also helps minimize pigmentation and increases the skin’s radiance. As it’s an active ingredient, it’s best to introduce it to your regime gradually, starting with a couple of times per week, and working your way up to every day.
NIP+FAB’s Vitamin C Fix range offers gentle formations that can help you work vitamin C into your skin-care routine. Try the NIP+FABVitamin C Fix Cleanser to help protect your skin from everyday environmental pollutants whilst revealing clearer brighter skin. Follow with NIP+FAB Vitamin C Fix Serum, which contains a powerhouse of antioxidants to leave your skin feeling wonderfully refreshed. You can even introduce vitamin C in the form of an exfoliator too, to combine the first step. Try the NIP+FAB Vitamin C Fix Scrub, an energising and illuminating exfoliating scrub infused with vitamin C, coffee seed extract and coconut oil to effectively cleanse, nourish and renew the skin.
3. Up your hydration
When temperatures drop, so does the humidity, so you can forget about the natural moisture in the air. To compensate for this, the air draws moisture from anywhere it can – including your skin!
This is where serum and moisturisers come to the rescue, but don’t just opt for any product with those names. What you’ll want to invest in is products that have select hydrating ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, glycerin and essential fatty acids.
The Creightons H2o Boost is one skincare range that makes use of ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid to rocket the skin’s moisture levels.
Creightons H2o Boost Face Serum instantly boosts hydration levels and is enriched with powerful actives to smooth and renew dehydrated skin.
Follow with Creightons H2o Boost Day Gel in the morning to flourish with intensely moisturised and hydrated skin for 24 hours thanks to its hyaluronic acid ingredients).
Kick things up a notch by inviting the Creightons H2o Boost Overnight Mask with you to bed, and dose off with the cream’s nourishing properties that aim to improve your skin’s elasticity and intensely hydrate.
4. Don’t forget SPF
We associate sunscreen with summer, but the truth is that we need to apply SPF every day – even in the heart of winter! The sun’s harsh UV rays never take a holiday, and they can penetrate clouds even on overcast days. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA (the rays that cause premature ageing) and UVB (the rays that cause sunburn).
We recommend Piz Buin Sun Protection Allergy Face Cream SPF50. This facial SPF combines immediate and effective UVA/UVB sun protection with Calmanelle®, a unique anti-irritant shield complex that helps strengthen the skin’s resilience to the sun. Calmanelle® is also formulated with the powerful antioxidant Feverfew PFE™ to help increase the skin cells tolerance to the sun. Bonus? The formula provides hours of moisturisation to keep skin soft and nourished.
Your lips are just as important
No one wants dry and cracked winter lips, and unfortunately, the disguise of lipstick or gloss simply doesn’t solve the problem. Luckily, there’s a sunblock lipstick pairing that’ll do the trick Piz Buin’s In Sun Lipstick SPF30.
Developed with advanced sun filter technologies for photostable, broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, this creamy lip balm glides across the lips to deliver non-greasy, translucent coverage alongside intensive moisturisation from extracts of aloe vera and vitamin E.
ALSO SEE: Beat Dry Lips this Winter
5. Prime your canvas
If you wear foundation, a good quality primer is all-important for both health and aesthetic reasons. Not only does it ensure smoother, more even application, but it also makes foundation last longer on the skin. Plus, many primers also contain skin-loving ingredients, adding an extra boost to your regime.
However, if you don’t wear foundation, or you’re keeping your skin natural this winter, your skin can still benefit from a primer. Primers are fantastic for that “I’m not wearing any makeup” makeup look as they offer a smooth complexion and neutralise redness from blemishes or irritation.
Boost your skin with the ultimate vitamin-packed primer water from wet n wild: the newly-launched LIMITED EDITION wet n wild Take Your Vitamins Super Nutrient Face Mist. Blended with skin-loving ingredients, this primer water acts as the perfect prep for any skincare routine, while helping to hydrate, firm, and brighten the skin. Simply spray it on and enjoy the rejuvenating effects of this ultra-fine mist.
If you’re after a much-needed glow, then the new LIMITED EDITION wet n wild PrimeFocus Brightening Primer Serum is your next go-to. This water-based primer serum boosts your skin’s radiance. Formulated with a luxurious blend of pineapple, calendula and other flower and fruit extracts that help to brighten, refine, and condition the skin, this face serum will leave you feeling positively radiant.
6. Keep your makeup natural
If you love the “no makeup” makeup look but can’t bear the thought of leaving the house without a smidgen of foundation or powder, then the key is keeping your makeup application light. Choose a dewy or light formula and invest in a makeup brush that’ll allow you to apply the product lightly instead of piling it on. The new Real Techniques Everything Face Brush is quickly become a crowd favourite and is suitable for use with both powders and liquids. It also boasts an oversized head and fluffy bristles that provide light to medium coverage and solves uneven skin tone by allowing you to build your base, resulting in smooth, even makeup application.
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FEATURE IMAGE: Pinterest
