A Guide to Winter Skincare
Winter is well and truly here, and baby it’s cold outside. We’ve rallied our season must haves - cute matching tracksuits and the warmest uggs around.
Along with fraaa-eezing our little mitts off, the change of season has an effect on our skin. When the temperature drops, the moisture in our skin also does. Our skin has the natural ability to draw moisture from the environment that it’s in. That is why our skin often feels dehydrated, dry and tight in winter. In warmer months with more humidity, our skin produces more oil and in winter it is the opposite. Some typical signs that your skin is dry are flakiness, irritation or inflammation, redness, stinging or burning, rough texture, cracks in the skin or itchiness. Dermatitis and Psoriasis can also develop this season.
In winter we like to really get the heat going with appliances like heaters and fireplaces, this artificial temperature can create an even dryer atmosphere. The environment outside also gives way to low temperatures and harsh wind, it’s the ideal time for conditions like eczema, xerosis and other lesions to develop.
There are small steps we can take to care for our skin during winter, altering our routine slightly and being conscious of which products to swap out during the cold and which ones to introduce for the season.
Let’s take a look at our Winter Skincare Guide.
1. Go easy on the cleanser - choose one that is gentle on the skin and will not strip off the precious moisture naturally remaining. You don’t want to be using a cleanser that makes your face feel tight and dry after the wash. Opt for one that will remove all impurities from your day but also nourish the skin.
Our Silk Enzyme cleanser is a good option to restore the moisturise in your skin. The organic oils and silk extract will boost hydration, but also unclog pores and work to even out skin tone. Along with anti-ageing properties like Liquid Crystals, this cleanser contains antioxidants that will protect the skin from free radicals, cue the cold winter wind. Be sure to double cleanse using this product so that the serums and creams that you apply after can absorb properly and do their job.
2. We know it can be tempting to marinate in a hot bath for an hour, or steam up the bathroom with a hot shower, but water temperature too high will strip our skin of essential oils and leave it dry. Be mindful of the temperature of the water at bath time, if your skin is turning red, that’s a good indication that the temperature is too high, so tone it down a notch.
3. Go easy on face scrubs or exfoliants, now is not the time to be applying highly active exfoliants and scrubbing your heart out. Sure, continue to use gentle exfoliants, but reduce their use to only once a week instead of three times a week. A great option is a chemical exfoliant rather than a physical one.
Our Resurfacing Serum is a chemical exfoliant that improves skin texture but is still a gentle option for winter. The Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Beta Hydroxy Acids and Niacinamide in this formula work to clear the skin deeply, improve texture and tone, exfoliate lightly, and hydrate and nourish the skin for a healthy glow. It removes dead skin cells, clears blocked pores and stimulates cellular renewal.
4. Toner definitely has it’s place in your routine and although we do not have a toner just yet, we’re working on it! During winter choose one that is alcohol-free, toners that are alcohol based will really dry out the skin and strip it of essential natural oils. Play it safe with this product and proceed with caution regarding ingredients.
5. Our eye area usually cops the brunt of any environmental changes, as this area is the most sensitive on the face, and it’s the first area to show signs of ageing. Choose an eye cream that is rich in nourishing ingredients and will rejuvenate the eye area. When our skin is dehydrated, the fine lines and wrinkles are more pronounced compared to when the skin is hydrated. Hyaluronic Acid is your best friend, known for being the mega moisturising agent in skincare, this ingredient can bind up to 1000 times its’ weight in water, meaning that it holds water molecules onto the surface of the skin to keep it intensely hydrated. It also aids in skin stretch and flex, reducing wrinkles and fine lines.
Our Hydrating Eye cream does just that, hydrates the skin, improves skin strength and also assists in cellular renewal. The combination of peptides, antioxidants, Vitamin E and brightening ingredients will plump, moisturise, reduce inflammation, dark circles, and fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.
6. Believe it or not, you’re going to want to be vigilant with SPF in winter too. The sun may not be as harsh in the colder months but it will still damage the skin when given the chance. Use a moisturiser that also doubles as sunscreen, you’ll want a physical sunscreen as they are far more effective then the generic and cheaper chemical sunscreens due to their ability to completely block UV rays from penetrating the skin.
Our UV Defence Moisturiser is a huge hit at Cosmology Skincare. It provides intense protection from the sun, while also calming and hydrating with it’s nourishing properties. Enriched with antioxidants and peptides, this formula will help to rejuvenate the skin. The high levels of zinc in this moisturiser will also create a physical barrier from the UV rays.
Hot tip: winter is the perfect time to tackle pigmentation as you aren’t fighting against the warm temperatures that spark melanin production and inflame pigment even more. This time of year is a good time to look into more intense peels or IPL treatments with a highly experience skincare professional, visit www.gcskinboutique.com to see what they offer for pigmentation treatment.
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