Boost your skin this winter

Caring for your complexion during the winter months is no easy feat. Your skin is in a constant battle with cold winds, steaming hot showers and the dry air from indoor heaters. All of this causes the moisture levels in your skin to become unbalanced. Hello, very dry, flaky and dehydrated skin!

So, what’s the solution? There are three: exfoliation, hydration and sun protection. Yep, that’s right –it may be chilly outside, but that doesn’t mean the sun isn’t affecting your skin.

EXFOLIATION

Step up your skin care routine by giving your face a gentle yet thorough exfoliation every night with a leave-on product. “To keep the skin smooth and to avoid flaky patches during the colder months, use a leave-on exfoliant designed to be used daily, such as a hydroxy acid-based facial wipe or serum,” suggests Education Manager International Dermal Institute and Dermalogica, Emma Hobson. Upping your exfoliation will also enable the key ingredients in your skin care products to penetrate more effectively. And you’ll probably find that your make-up applies more easily – bonus!

Try: Dermalogica Skin Renewal Booster. Formulated with a combination of lactic and salicylic acids and hibiscus extract, it gently yet effectively eliminates dead skin cells, helping to minimise breakouts, stimulate cell production and improve skin texture. Apply this super-concentrated serum under your moisturiser (or even mix it into your moisturiser if you’re feeling lazy) before hitting the hay and let it work its skin-renewing magic overnight.

HYDRATION

The trick to combatting a winter-weary, dry and dehydrated complexion is moisture, which means you need a super-hydrating ingredient on your side. Enter: hyaluronic acid.  “To keep the skin feeling plump, apply a daily dose of hyaluronic acid. It holds one thousand times its own weight in moisture, and can be found in serums, masks and moisturisers,” explains Emma. It’s the easiest way to ensure your skin remains soft, smooth and radiant throughout the colder months.

Try: Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid to instantly relieve dryness and smooth fine lines, as well as panthenol, glycolipids and algae extract to help minimise epidermal moisture loss and restore your skin’s moisture balance. Use it alone as an intensive moisture treatment, or mix it in with your moisturiser for a super-charged hit of hydration every day.

SUN PROTECTION

While the rest of your body is rugged up, the skin on your face cops the brunt of the harsh environmental elements. People often skip sunscreen as it gets colder, but UVA rays actually stick around during winter and can fast-track ageing, so it’s vital to protect your skin all year round. The easiest way to do this? Boost your winter skin care routine with a lightweight face treatment containing SPF 50 protection.

Try: Dermalogica Solar Defence Booster SPF 50. Not only is it lightweight and non-greasy in texture, but it’s also formulated with Dermalogica’s UV Smart Booster Technology, which releases active vitamins and diffuses free radicals to give you maximum protection. Simply apply it under your moisturiser, or mix it in with your moisturiser or foundation to defend your skin from the sun.

Does your skin tend to look drier and more dehydrated in winter? What does your winter skin care routine involve?