While those lightweight moisturisers may have worked just fine in the summer months, as the temperatures drop, the dry air, cold wind, and exposure to indoor heaters suck the moisture from your skin and strip it of oils essential for healthy skin barrier function.
“These elemental conditions can also spark skin sensitivity, redness, and irritation. So, the bottom line is, a skin regimen shakeup come change of season is needed,” explains Clere brand manager Su-Marie Annandale.
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She adds that there’s no need to plan an entire overhaul. In fact, all you need is a few simple swaps and additions, such as using a richer moisturiser as opposed to a lotion. To make your winter skincare transition as seamless as possible, Annandale recommends the below tips:
- Shower length and heat
While the chilly weather might sound like the perfect time for a long, hot bath, try to resist the urge. Prolonged contact with hot water can strip the skin of its natural moisture, leaving you even drier than you were before.
Take short lukewarm showers no more than once per day and straight after the shower, while your skin is still damp, apply a rich body moisturiser to lock in hydration. You should use enough to leave the skin feeling well hydrated, so you may need to apply more than you do in summer months.
If you find that your skin is flaking more than usual, try dry brushing, a ritual that involves rubbing your skin with a brush in a light, circular motion. The mechanical action can work wonders for exfoliating dry winter skin and promoting lymphatic drainage.
- Switch from a lotion-based moisturiser to a cream
The cardinal rule of wintertime skincare is keeping skin hydrated. A lighter lotion may have been enough to satisfy your skin during summer, but that's not an extended guarantee into colder weather.
- Invest in a humidifier
- From the inside
