Tips to protect your skin from cold weather

Irritation, sensitivity, redness and flakiness are all common skin conditions for many of us during the cold winter months but why do they occur and how can we stop them?

When it’s cold there is less moisture in the atmosphere. This is often paired with harsh wind, rain and central heating, factors that all cause the skin to lose oil (causing dryness) and water (causing dehydration).

The skin does have its own defence mechanisms, however, during the winter, your skin needs extra protection. Many people use the same moisturiser all year round but it’s important to change your skincare depending on the season. During winter the skin usually needs a much richer cream.

Here are some of our key tips to keep your skin healthy and protected:

Use a Barrier Cream

A barrier cream is specially designed to protect the layers of the skin. They effectively stop the skin’s moisture from getting out whilst blocking the negative effects of the weather/elements. Look for creams containing Hyaluronic Acid which restore hydration and strengthen the skin’s defences.

Our Intensive Relief Gel is designed to repair dry and damaged skin whilst providing protection against cold climates. Pair this with our Intensive Comfort Hydrating Mask which contains 3 types of Hyaluronic Acid to intensely re-hydrate

Use SPF Protection

It’s extremely important to keep using an SPF all year round as it’s not just the UVB rays (sun rays) that damage the skin. UVA rays are present in the environment all year round and cause dehydration which eventually adds to the ageing process. If you’re off on a skiing holiday, your skin is even more vulnerable as it’s exposed to intensified UVB sun rays so use a high SPF.

Our UV + FR emulsion includes SPF50 and is specially designed to protect against climatic changes. Not all SPF creams protect against UVA as well as UVB so check the label for both.

Use a separate eye cream

When the air is cold, wrinkles can appear around the eye area as the skin is very thin here. Don’t worry this isn’t a permanent effect. Hydrating the area with a good cream, especially the eyes, will reduce their appearance. When applying, be sure to use it sparingly as too much can result in puffiness. Our Essential Youthfulness Eye Cream is designed to hydrate the delicate eye area and prevent early signs of lines and wrinkles.

Keep Your Fluids Up

Many of us don’t drink as much water during the winter as it’s cold – but we still need around 3 litres a day to stay hydrated. Herbal teas are a good warm alternative and of course, avoid caffeine. Our Complete Skin supplement drink contains a high amount of Hyaluronic Acid to provide intense hydration from the inside.

Look out for the signs

Your lips are usually the first part of the face to show a reaction to the cold weather. As soon as any dryness occurs, treat the area and see this as a warning to start your face protection before it spreads!

Turn down the heat

Very hot water can strip your skin of moisture. Try to bathe in warm water and cut down your time in the shower. Using a hydrating body wash is also usually less harsh on the skin than a soap bar.