Winter skin is the grinch that can steal Christmas when you don’t take care – if the cold hasn’t already left you with sore cheeks and cracked lips, the party season will.
Having your face exposed to the elements is sure to leave it dry and unhealthy looking.
So how do you get your glow back in time for those Christmas parties and family celebrations?
Experts speak to the Sunday Mirror about the best way to keep a winter glow.
Why does our skin and hair suffer in winter?
The answer to this is fairly simple – they are exposed to the elements.
Biting temperatures and bitter winds – along with heating and air conditioning – strip essential protective chemicals from the face and hair, leaving them more vulnerable to the elements.
Dr Sam Bunting, skin expert, said: “Cold air has low humidity, which increases the evaporation of water from our skin.
“Combined with hot baths and overshowering, this takes its toll on our skin barrier, making skin dry, cracked and easily irritated.”
(Image: Getty)
Sun block is not just for the summer
If you are suffering from dry skin, one of the best things you can do is to take a preventative measure and start protecting it.
Leading cosmetics doctor, Dr Max Malik, who runs Cosmetics Clinic in Birmingham and practices on Harley St said the first thing to do to help your skin is to protect it.
And the best way to do this is to get some SPF on – even though it’s winter.
He said: “The first thing to do is protection.
“That can be physical protection and chemical protection.
“You need to use sun block – people think because it’s winter and it’s not hot it doesn’t matter, but you need to be using at least an SPF 30.
“If you are having skin treatments on the face of any kind you need to up that to a factor 50.
“You need to protect from the sun and you should also protect from the wind.”
He added it’s good to keep your skin and hair out of the cold weather and wind as much as possible.
Dr Bunting added: “Stop using foaming skin cleansers and avoid overly hot, long baths or showers.
“Moisturise generously after showering to trap water in the skin and use a product that contains occlusive ingredients, like shea butter as these help lock water into the skin.”
TRY THESE Dr Bunting says the Flawless Cleanser, £16, from her own range removes makeup, oil and grime from the face without stripping it of it’s own oils.
The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum 30ml, £5.99: This product is formulated with Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate different layers of the skin and helps make it look more plumped.
BECCA Glow Silk Highlighter Drops Champagne Pop, £29: “When I feel my skin getting a bit more chapped in the winter, I swap from a powder highlighter to a liquid one.
“You can mix it in with your foundation or dot the pearly cream on the areas of the face where you want to shine.”
No7 Protect & Perfect ADVANCED All in One Foundation, £17: I love using this when my skin feels dry as it’s lightweight and smooth on the face.
Protect your hands and nails
Both Dr Bunting and Dr Malik recommend using a hand cream to protect hands and nails against the elements.
Dr Malik says a simple rich over the counter hand cream will do the job.
Dr Bunting added: “Don’t neglect hands; use a hand cream boosted with niacinamide, to improve barrier function by stimulating the production of ceramides in the skin.”
Champneys Professional Collection Softening Cuticle Oil 15ml, £8:Keeping your nails smooth and nourished can often be forgotten about so I love using this product to give my nails the spa treatment it deserves over winter.
More vitamins and less booze helps
(Image: Getty)
Dr Bunting suggested a few eating and drinking habits to keep your skin looking as healthy as possible over the winter months.
“Avoid dehydration so moderate your caffeine and alcohol intake,” she said.
“And eat foods rich in omega 3s to help build a robust barrier.
“Make sure you take vitamin D over winter and essential skin vitamins A, C and E. These can be found in a good multivitamin but aim to get them mostly from your diet.”
Regular trims keep hair healthy
You should try and wear a hat or hood and avoid heat-styling your hair as much as possible in winter as it can cause more damage.
Try using oil treatments to add nourishment into your split ends and do a mask once a week.
Getting more regular trims helps your hair look healthier too.
Try Kristin Ess Strand Strengthening Hair Mask, £17 “To keep my hair in great condition I use a hair mask once or twice a week to keep those oils locked in,” said Dr Bunting.
Stop lips flaking with balm but don’t lick!
(Image: Getty)
Dry, flaky lips make applying lippy so much harder, and can crack and become painful.
“Lips are vulnerable because they lack sebaceous glands and once they get dry due to the cold weather we tend to lick them,” said Dr Bunting. “Saliva is an irritant that further antagonises dryness.
“The key is to use a simple lip balm with the right texture so it stays put
“I love the Dr Lipp or Lanolips products as they don’t contain irritants like menthol, which can actually make matters worse.”
What about high street products?
Boots Beauty Specialist Tia Samuels has recommended over the counter products available from Boots – so you can get glowing hair, skin and nails starting in your lunch hour.
Tia said: “The winter months can sometimes take a toll on our face and body, so I keep my beauty cupboard topped up with all the essential products that can prevent dryness and instead make me glow!
“For radiant, nourished skin, hair and nails consider trying the following products:
- You can buy Dr Sam Bunting’s products at drsambunting.com
Beauty blogger reveals her top tips
Beauty blogger Gemma Louise of www.gemmalouise.co.uk says she combats the cold weather and dehydrated skin during the winter months by combining hydrating treatments into her skincare routine.
She said: “I love the Clinique Intense Moisture Surge the most for this, I use it on an evening and it’s by far the best moisturiser I’ve used to combat seriously dry skin.
“The Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Serum is also a firm favourite.
“Before I apply makeup on a morning my go-to product is the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base which adds so much hydration to my skin and leaves it silky smooth, perfect for applying makeup so that it doesn’t cling to any dryness!
“Makeup wise I would suggest anything cream-based if you’re really struggling with dry skin, so use liquid foundations, cream bronzers and blushes and liquid highlight. I tend to avoid using powders if my skin is dry too, so instead I’ll set my makeup with a setting spray.
“The Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Rosewater is lovely to add hydration to your skin throughout the day too.”
