The season is transitioning towards the colder and crisper days of winter, and this can take its toll on your skin. We tend to spend more time in heated indoor environments, while the outside air is drier and this draws moisture from your skin. This can lead to dryness, heightened sensitivity to irritants, and it can exacerbate any existing problems.
Therefore it is important to step up your skincare routine to ensure that your complexion is smooth and radiant, and ready for the rigours of the festive season! Here are some tips and tricks that can help.
Switch to a cream-based cleanser
Soap or foaming face washes can be too harsh for your skin, leaving it stripped of essential oils and feeling tight and uncomfortable, especially in colder weather. Try exchanging them for a creamier cleanser, or one that contains no artificial ingredients. This will help to maintain your skin’s natural moisture balance.
Invest in a clay mask treatment
Cosmetic clay powders such as white kaolin are naturally enriched with nourishing minerals, and have powerful yet gentle cleansing properties. This will ensure that your skin gets the deep cleansing it needs without any synthetic ingredients that could upset the natural balance of oils.
It’s also a revitalising substance that will infuse your skin with nutrients, leaving your complexion feeling soft and glowing with health.
Moisturise regularly
If your skin is naturally oily, you may have got into the habit of skipping moisturiser in warmer weather, particularly if you are prone to spots and acne. However, when our skin is exposed to the stresses of central heating and dry cold air, it will naturally produce extra oil to compensate.
Therefore starving your skin of moisture can actually make breakouts worse. Try using a lighter serum or lightweight non-comedogenic cream on a daily basis to keep your skin in good condition.
If you are prone to dry skin, you may find the problem becomes worse in winter, with rough red patches, or flaking or peeling. Try using richer moisturisers with natural ingredients such as shea butter and jojoba oil to soften your skin without causing extra irritation. These creams have a dense texture that will form an effective and long lasting moisture barrier.
Use a gentle exfoliant
Regular exfoliation can help to remove dead cells from the surface of your skin, leaving it looking smoother and more even toned. It will also ensure that moisturising products are absorbed more easily. However, scrubbing your face with products that are too harsh can cause dryness and irritation and damage the skin’s natural protective barrier.
Instead, use a natural clay product with fine particles that will gently remove impurities and stimulate circulation. This will leave your skin feeling soft and rejuvenated without any uncomfortable loss of suppleness and elasticity.
