5 Winter Skincare Tips For Strong, Hydrated Skin

You don’t need to have sensitive skin to feel the impact of winter – even more balanced and resilient complexions can take a hit from the season’s cooler, drier weather. However, with the right protection and care, the cold-weather months needn’t be so bleak.

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR SKIN IN WINTER?

From December through to March, your skin barrier (AKA your skin’s frontline defender and moisture manager) is under constant attack.

Take, for instance, the season’s cold air and low humidity levels, which we know can weaken and compromise the skin barrier by stealing its moisture, leading to increased TEWL (transepidermal water loss) and leaving you with a rough, flaky texture as well as chapped, cracked lips. Freezing temperatures also cause blood vessels to constrict or narrow, reducing blood flow to the skin and impairing its natural ability to repair itself. 

While the warmth of your indoor heater can provide temporary comfort and relief, it also comes with its own host of adverse effects, promoting even greater water loss due to reduced humidity – hence why you need a good humidifier during winter. On top of that, switching between cold and hot environments can exacerbate redness and dryness. When the skin experiences rapid changes in temperature, immune cells called mast cells release histamine and cytokines, pro-inflammatory mediators that cause heightened sensitivity. 

Last, but certainly not least, your skin has to face the wrath of the season’s raging winds, which can strip it of its natural oils and lipids (the same ones that help it hold on to moisture) and further weaken its barrier function.

HOW TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR SKIN IN WINTER

The good news? A complete overhaul of your skincare routine is not necessary to boost your skin’s resilience and offset the more damaging effects of winter. A few simple tweaks and expert additions, as recommended by our team, will ensure your skin stays radiant, hydrated and healthy all season long. 

01. UP YOUR OMEGA OILS FOR A STRONGER SKIN BARRIER

Did you know fatty acids are essential components of your skin barrier? While there are myriad benefits to adding more omega oils to your diet, applying them topically is also a game-changer – especially if you want to strengthen your skin against TEWL (transepidermal water loss) during winter. By supporting your cell membranes and keeping them flexible and strong, omega oils help your skin hold onto water more effectively. 

You can find these important ingredients in many of our formulas, including Morning Facial, the daytime counterpart to our iconic overnight facial oil. A versatile partner for your moisturiser of choice, it deploys natural oils including baobab, passion flower and sea buckthorn to infuse skin with strengthening omegas and essential vitamins, supporting its natural barrier and combatting inflammation, as well as helping skin cells retain essential moisture for greater resilience against daily aggressors. 

02. SUPPORT AND REINFORCE YOUR SKIN’S MICROBIOME 

As important as your skin’s barrier is its microbiota, also known as its flora – the diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses, that reside on your skin’s surface. When your skin barrier is compromised, it has a ripple effect on these beneficial microorganisms, causing an imbalance that can yield serious consequences for your skin and make it more vulnerable to irritation and inflammation.

For well-functioning skin all season long, supercharge your current skincare with products that support your microbiota – products like our Intense Hydrating Booster. To safeguard your skin against the drying effects of central heating, air conditioning and harsh weather, it’s formulated with Bioecolia®, a prebiotic that acts to maintain microbiota balance and reinforces the skin’s natural defences.

03. REPLENISH HYDRATION WITH TARGETED FORMULAS

As suggested by its name, our Intense Hydrating Booster is designed to comfort skin with a moisture imbalance. How does it set out to achieve that? With Pheohydrane™ and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid. The former is a synergistic moisturising complex that acts to restructure your hydrolipidic skin barrier to prevent dehydration, while the latter is an outstanding humectant that essentially helps re-fill your skin’s moisture reserves.

You can also find low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid in each 3D Moisture Infusion Mask where it’s paired with Pentavitin®, an equally effective humectant that creates a moisture reserve in the skin that lasts for up to 72 hours. 

Another powerhouse proven to deliver long-lasting hydration is our R&R Glow recovery cream. After just one application of its advanced ceramide-rich formulation, your skin’s hydration levels increase significantly, leading to a stronger and healthier barrier function in the long run.

04. MASSAGE YOUR UNDER-EYE AREA TO MINIMISE DARK CIRCLES

Have you ever wondered why your dark circles appear worse in winter? As it turns out, short, tiring days are not the only culprits; the season’s freezing temperatures are equally to blame. By slowing circulation, they cause puffiness around your delicate under-eye area and dehydration, which also accentuates the look of fine lines. 

An anti-fatigue powerhouse, our Eye Recovery cream contains two advanced peptides that are proven to reduce dark circles by stimulating circulation: Eyeliss™ and Haloxyl™. For greater results, these actives are combined with optical-diffusing makeup technology, which scatters light to subtly enhance the skin and blur imperfections.

Before applying your serums and day cream, perform 2-3 minutes of massage around the eye area – you can use your own fingertips and lightly tap specific pressure points around the eye and drum your finger underneath to encourage lymphatic drainage. You can also make use of the flat disc at the end of the Facialift to increase blood flow to the area.

05. BOOST YOUR NUTRIENT & VITAMIN INTAKE

Great skin health starts from within. While our formulas and devices can offer incredible support to your skin, they need to be complemented by healthy lifestyle habits, including a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. 

In winter, we recommend filling your plate with healthy fats such as almonds, oily fish (think mackerel, salmon and sardines) and avocados to nourish and repair the skin. Leafy greens and citrus fruits high in antioxidants are also a must: kale, spinach, beets, broccoli, blood oranges and pomegranates are some of our team’s top picks. 

For optimal skin health, enhance your diet with quality supplements: a good probiotic to support your skin and gut microbiomes and an omega-3 supplement to balance moisture levels, soothe inflammation and support cell membranes.