Winter skincare is about so much more than taking care of our skin. It's about taking care of ourselves at a time when many of us would prefer to hibernate until spring. Whether we feel like it or not, it's so important to take time to rest, eat well, and care for our skin. Finding easy options to incorporate self-care into your daily routine is at the very heart of body-mind health and wellbeing, and skin health is a good place to start.
The weekend snow was beautiful to look at from the warmth of home, with a cuppa and knowing I didn't need to go anywhere! And my morning walks/runs were undoubtedly more entertaining (trying not to fall over … again!).
However, the cold icy winds and the harsh blast of central heating can all play havoc with the delicate balance of your skin, leaving us with a dull, tired complexion. For me, my skin can quickly become dry, irritated and unbalanced during the winter months. If your skin feels the effects too, then your winter skincare should be focussed on hydrating, nourishing and protecting your skin from the extremes of indoor and outdoor environments to keep it healthy, happy and glowing.
Turn down the heat
There's nothing like stepping into a warm shower during the colder months, but hot showers can strip your skin of moisture. Instead, opt for lukewarm water, and apply moisturiser or oil as soon as you step out. Have you tried the Wild Rose dry body oil yet? With organic wild rosehip seed oil and naturally derived olive leaf extracts, it instantly replenishes skin for up to 24 hours. This luxurious dry body oil instantly absorbs into skin with a featherlight touch to leave skin feeling silky soft with a natural glow.
Soothing plant extracts to the rescue
As I mentioned earlier, in winter, we tend to subject our skin to extreme conditions, from central heating to exercising in the frosty outdoors. This constant change can lead to dry, dehydrated skin which can trigger flare-ups such as acne. Try reaching for the power of soothing plant extracts to resolve this issue. Neal's yard clarifying Mahonia Skin Gel is a purifying treatment with cleansing herbal extracts of mahonia, thyme, soothing marigold, and Gotu kola is ideal for targeting blemish-prone skin. Simply pat on a small amount after cleansing your skin to restore balance.
Use Lanolin
Lanolin is a fantastic ingredient that has magical dryness and anti-ageing benefits. Its molecular structure is almost identical to our natural skin lipids, so it's like adding more of what your skin is missing. It's also proven to reduce dryness by 40% in the first hour, so you can immediately feel its effects and see more supple skin. If you're looking for a lightweight lotion with plant oils to soften, hydrate and protect, then the Rose and Mallow moisturiser is the one for you. This light moisturiser combines delicate essential oils and the magic ingredient lanolin to balance the complexion while smoothing and hydrating for radiant skin.
Wash with care
The most common skin complaints in the winter months are dryness and irritation, so avoid products that will strip your skin of its natural oils. The worst culprit tends to be cleansers – face wipes, harsh scrubs, foaming washes, or anything with high alcohol and/or fragrance content. Instead, you want to focus on putting on good, nourishing ingredients, not taking away the natural moisture you already have. Calendula extract is super rich in beta-carotene to help protect and soothe dry skin. Therefore, the calendula cleanser is perfect for dryer skin types to wash off with warm water or remove with cotton pads and toner.
Nourish by night
As skin repair is most active at night, this is the time to give your skin the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Look for essential oils which can work wonders to help dry and dehydrated skin and choose a non-pore clogging cream or oil. I love the Nourishing Orange Flower Night Cream. With nourishing neroli oil and antioxidant-rich pomegranate, wild rosehip, and sea buckthorn oils, it intensely nourishes your skin at night while helping to keep it hydrated and support your skin's natural rejuvenation.
An inside job
It isn't just about what you put on your skin, but what you put in your body that helps to keep you hydrated, so look to increase your water intake.
You'll want to aim for about half your body weight in ounces of water so if you weigh 200 pounds aim to drink 100 ounces of water. Suzanne Monroe of the IAWP recommends doing this slowly, by adding an extra glass to what you drink at the moment and building up. Try drinking hot water with lemon, and herbal teas if cold water is a struggle for you.
If you want to learn more about the Winter Heroes, drop me a message. I'll send you your Guide to New Year wellbeing along with some gorgeous samples for you to try out, or join me on my Winter Pamper Party via Zoom on Sunday 7th February 2021.
Winter is the season of recovery and preparation – Paul Theroux
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