Top Tips for Winter Skin Care

Have you already started experiencing winter skin? Cold air, indoor heating, Christmas season snacks (like alcohol and salty foods) and can leave your skin feeling and looking dehydrated. But don’t worry—small changes to your skincare routine can make a huge difference. Here’s my guide to help you keep your skin glowing, healthy, and hydrated all winter long.

Tip 1. Cleansers

Opt for a Creamier Formula In winter, you may think of switching to a creamy or oil-based cleanser that helps maintain the skin’s moisture barrier while still effectively removing makeup and impurities.

What to Look For:

• Ingredients: Hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or ceramides.
• Texture: Creamy, balm-like cleansers that nourish as they cleanse.

Tip: Avoid very hot water when cleansing, as it can strip your skin further. Instead, use lukewarm water to maintain hydration. Remove your cleanser with a warm & wet microfibre cloth for best results.

TIP 2. Serums – “Hydration Heroes”

Serums are your skin’s best friend in winter. They provide a concentrated dose of active ingredients to tackle dehydration, fine lines, and dullness. Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and niacinamide are particularly effective for boosting moisture levels.

How to Apply Your Serum Correctly:

1. Apply to Damp Skin: After cleansing, leave your skin slightly damp before applying the serum. This helps lock in extra moisture.
2. Seal It In: Follow up with a moisturiser or facial oil to create a barrier that keeps the serum’s goodness in and the dry air out.

Serum Recommendation: Look for serums that specifically target hydration. Hyaluronic acid serums are ideal as they can hold 1,000 times their weight in water!

This is a new one I have in the salon: SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan.

• Boosts hydration to visibly plump skin & fill fine lines
• Defines facial contours improving skin firmness
• Amplifies skin’s hyaluronic acid levels by 30%
• Improves skin elasticity, firmness & radiance

TIP 3. Dehydration – How It Happens & How to Prevent It

How Skin Becomes Dehydrated: Winter usually sees skin becoming dehydrated due to a combination of factors:

• Sugar: Excess sugar pulls water out of your skin cells, leading to dryness.
• Alcohol: Festive drinks dehydrate your body (and your skin).
• Salty Foods: Too much salt retains water in the wrong places and can deplete skin hydration.
• Indoor Heating: Dry, warm air sucks moisture from the skin.
• Cold Air: Low temperatures and harsh winds damage the skin barrier.

Two Ways to Combat Dehydration:

1. External Solutions:

• Serums: Like the one mentioned above, give your skin an intense dose of hydration.
• Moisturise Regularly: Use MOISTURISER with ingredients like shea butter, squalane, and ceramides. I recommend Environ’s Super Moisturiser. It’s a luxurious cream, containing a variety of dynamic moisturisers and emollients that assist in enhancing the skin’s barrier function as well as natural moisturising factors (NMFs). It’s loaded with vitamins and antioxidants that add to the overall protection from the effects of free-radical damage, resulting in skin that feels nourished and refreshed.
• Facial Mists: Keep a hydrating mist handy to spritz throughout the day.
• Avoid Harsh Exfoliants: In winter, use gentle exfoliation to avoid irritating your already-sensitive skin.

1. Internal Solutions:

• Omegas: Omega-3 and omega-6 supplements are fantastic for hydration from the inside out. They help fortify the skin barrier and maintain moisture balance. I recommend Advanced Nutrition Programme.
• Collagen Drink: This is a fantastic collagen drink that many of my clients take. It helps to reduce wrinkles, hydrate skin, improve joint function, and strengthen hair and nails.
• Hydrate Smartly: Drink plenty of room temperature water, and try herbal teas to stay warm without compromising hydration.

TIP 4. Masking – The Fast Track to Hydrated Skin

Masks are a powerful way to flood your skin with hydration, especially in winter. They offer intensive care that can replenish moisture, calm irritation, and leave your skin plump and glowing.

DIY Mask with Occlusion (Clingfilm Technique):

Want a quick boost? Use your favorite hydrating mask and apply a layer of clingfilm over the top. This creates a barrier (called occlusion) that helps the mask penetrate deeper and work more effectively. Just 15 minutes of masking can make a noticeable difference! (Avoid eye area with film)

🥣 Yogurt & Oat Soothing Face Mask Recipe with Cling Film Occlusion 🥣

Ingredients:

1. 2 tablespoons plain yogurt (hydrating, gently exfoliating, and soothing)
2. 1 tablespoon ground oats (soothes irritation and helps retain moisture)
3. 1 teaspoon honey (humectant that locks in moisture and has soothing properties)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Oats:
   If you don’t have oat flour, grind regular rolled oats in a blender or food processor until they form a fine powder.
2. Mix the Ingredients:
   In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, ground oats, and honey. Stir until the mixture forms a thick, smooth paste.
3. Cleanse Your Face:
   Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat it dry.
4. Apply the Mask:
   Spread an even layer of the mask over your face, avoiding the eye area.
5. Cling Film Occlusion:
   • Carefully place a piece of cling film over your face, ensuring it covers the mask.
   • Cut out holes for your eyes, nose, and mouth to make breathing comfortable.
   • The cling film will create a barrier, enhancing the absorption of the mask’s hydrating ingredients.
6. Relax:
   Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes. The warmth from the cling film will help boost hydration.
7. Remove the Cling Film & Rinse Off:
   Gently remove the cling film and rinse off the mask with lukewarm water, massaging in circular motions for gentle exfoliation.
8. Moisturise:
   Pat your face dry and apply your favorite moisturizer to lock in hydration.

Benefits of Ingredients:

• Yogurt:
  Provides lactic acid for gentle exfoliation and probiotics to soothe and hydrate skin.
• Oats:
  Rich in beta-glucans and anti-inflammatory properties that calm irritation and help retain moisture.
• Honey:
  Acts as a natural humectant to draw moisture into the skin and has soothing, antibacterial properties.

Tips:

• Patch Test First: Test a small amount on your wrist if you have sensitive skin.
• Frequency: Use this mask 1-2 times per week for the best hydrating and soothing results.

Enjoy your spa-like experience and refreshed, hydrated skin! 💆‍♀️✨

Benefits of Ingredients:

• Yogurt:
  Contains lactic acid for gentle exfoliation and probiotics that help soothe and calm the skin. It’s also great for adding moisture.
• Oats:
  Rich in beta-glucans and anti-inflammatory properties, oats help calm irritated skin, reduce redness, and create a protective barrier.
• Honey:
  Acts as a natural humectant (draws moisture into the skin) and has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties to keep skin soft and hydrated.

TIP 5. Winter Body Care – Don’t Neglect the Rest of You

Your face isn’t the only area suffering in winter. Dry, flaky skin on your body can also be an issue.

Step-by-Step Winter Body Routine:

1. Exfoliate in the Shower: Use a gentle body scrub/exfoliating glove once or twice a week. This helps remove dead skin cells and allows moisturisers to penetrate better.
2. Moisturise While Damp: Right after showering, apply your body cream or oil while your skin is still damp. This traps moisture and keeps your skin feeling soft.

Best Products for Winter Body Care:

• Body Oils: I recommend Environ Body EssentiA Vitamin A, C & E Body Oil

About: It’s a light, finely textured multi-functional oil is rich in vitamins and antioxidants to help nourish and relieve the appearance of dry and sun-damaged skin, giving it a soft, velvety look and feel. It also helps to condition skin and assists in improving the appearance of fine lines, uneven tone and sun-damaged skin. It can also be used as a moisturiser for problematic skin.

• Body Butters: These thicker creams (like shea or cocoa butter) provide lasting moisture.

TIP 6. Hand Care – A Weekly Ritual for Winter

Hands often suffer the most in winter. Cold air, frequent washing, and sanitiser can leave them dry and cracked. Treat your hands to a weekly hydration ritual:

DIY Hand Mask:

1. Wash your hands in warm water.
2. Apply a Hand Cream or Mask: Look for ingredients like shea butter, glycerin, or vitamin E.
3. Warm Treatment: Wrap your hands in cling film, then a towel.
4. Relax and Let It Work: 20 minutes while watching TV can leave your hands soft and smooth.

TIP 7. Best Facials for Winter Skin

Winter is the perfect time to indulge in professional facials that nourish and revitalise. One of the best options is an Environ Facial.

Why Environ Facials Stand Out:

Environ facials use advanced electrical technology, including iontophoresis (electrical pulses) and sonophoresis (sound waves), to push active ingredients deep into the skin. This technology achieves up to 40 times more penetration than manual application, making treatments far more effective.

Benefits of Environ Facials:

• Deep hydration
• Reduced fine lines
• Improved skin texture
• Enhanced glow

  

8. Best Skincare Products for Winter

When choosing products for winter, focus on those that nourish and protect the skin barrier. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalane, & fatty acids should be your go-to.

Must-Haves for Winter Skincare:

1. Rich Moisturisers: Lock in hydration. As mentioned previously, the Environ Super Moisturiser is a great option for winter.
2. Hydrating Serums: Deliver a boost of moisture. The SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan is ideal for giving your skin a powerful hydration boost.
3. Eye and Lip Care: Seal in hydration to these sensitive areas with Environ Vita-Peptide Eye Gel. It hydrates, plumps, protects and improves the skin condition around the eyes and lips. Note: The skin under the eyes can become crepey and flaky and this helps with that.

Final Thoughts

Winter doesn’t have to mean dull, dehydrated skin. With the right tips, products, and a little extra TLC, you can keep your skin plump and radiant all season long.

Discover the best winter facials in Stratford-upon-Avon. Hydrate dry, aging skin with professional Environ facials and advanced skincare treatments.

Your skin will thank you!

Products mentioned and facials are available via my website.

Book your hydrating facial in M Aesthetics today!