Top 10 Beauty Tips For Wonderful Winter Skin

The best parts about winter undoubtedly include being able to bundle up tightly, sipping hot drinks, and snuggling down into a warm duvet. Unfortunately, winter also has its downsides. The worst parts are no doubt the shorter days, that mad dash from a cosy bed to the cold bathroom, and the chilly winter air nipping at your nose. The icy blasts of cold air combined with the toasty central heating can wreak havoc on our skin, leaving it feeling lifeless, tight, and uncomfortable. 

Did you know that skin is the largest organ in the human body? It helps to protect us both inside and out by locking vital moisture in and keeping harmful viruses and bacteria out, so it’s important to take care of it to keep us looking and feeling our best. With that in mind, here are our top 10 tips for keeping your skin happy and healthy all winter long. Let’s get started!

We use our hands for everything, and they often suffer the onslaught of winter weather that the rest of our body may not be exposed to. Keeping your hands well moisturised will prevent them from feeling dry and cracked, which can not only be very painful but a huge source of insecurity for many people, too. A good quality hand cream is a great way to keep the skin feeling soft and supple. Look out for ingredients like shea or cocoa butter and oils such as olive or coconut oil. These ingredients are rich and hydrating for your skin, helping to lock in that all-important moisture all day long.

During the colder months, we don’t get as many vitamins as we could due to various factors, including a lack of sunlight, our stodgier, carb-heavy winter diets, and more. Taking vitamins is a great way to give your general health a boost, as well as keeping your skin in top condition. Look for multivitamins that include Vitamins D, C, and E, as well as iron, riboflavin, and niacin for the best benefits to your skin. For those who suffer from eczema or psoriasis, taking evening primrose oil regularly can really help to ease the dryness, itchiness, and discomfort that commonly accompanies these skin conditions.

Although climbing into a steaming hot shower sounds like bliss after coming in from the cold, it’s actually one of the worst things you can do for your skin. The scalding hot water can dry out your skin (and hair) significantly, so to make sure you look your best this winter, switch to warm showers instead of piping hot soaks. If you can’t bear the thought of having your water less than steamy, opt for a short yet sweet shower to limit the drying effect. Whatever you go for, always remember to moisturise afterwards!

Speaking of moisturising, why not just go the whole nine yards and treat yourself to a full-on pamper session at home? Pick up a sumptuous spa set and slather your skin from top to toe in deeply nourishing products - the ultimate TLC treatment! The complementary scents of a spa set will leave you smelling amazing and each product is designed to treat your skin to some extra special care. From scrubs and soaks to soften those hard and dry areas, to moisturising body lotions for all-over nourishment, these fabulous sets are a sure-fire way to feel fantastic. While we wait for our favourite spas to reopen, why not turn your bathroom into your very own tranquil retreat? You’ll be left feeling velvety smooth and soft all day long!

Hydrating face masks are a great way to inject a little extra moisture into your skin. Perfect for putting on when you’re enjoying a midweek movie marathon (chick flicks anyone?), or treating yourself to a long, hot bath, a beauty face mask is a fabulous way to treat yourself to some TLC. Whether you opt for a clay mask or prefer to use sheet masks, as long as you choose one with moisturising or hydrating properties, your skin will certainly thank you!

Central heating makes our homes warm and cosy when it’s cold outside, which is great for not freezing our toes off but not so great for our skin! The dry air can suck the life out of our skin, leaving it feeling uncomfortable and tight. An easy solution? A humidifier! A versatile addition to your home décor, a humidifier adds moisture back into the air, and therefore also your skin, and can even offer aromatherapy benefits with a few drops of your favourite essential oils. Simply place in an area of your home that you frequent such as your office or living room, fill with water and let the cool steam replenish your skin.

Did you know that the skin around your eyes is up to four times thinner than the skin on the rest of your body? Because of this, it’s important to take care of it in a different way from the rest of your face. You’ll probably find that you’ll want a more intensive moisturiser and a gentle serum to help keep your under eye area bright and looking refreshed. Regularly applying an eye cream or eye mask will help to moisturise and plump the skin around your eyes, banishing tiredness and even helping to diminish fine lines and wrinkles.

Pucker up - it's time for lip balm! Let’s face it, no one likes having (or kissing) chapped lips. It’s uncomfortable and even painful when they’re sore or cracked. Help to soothe your dried out lips and protect them from the harsh winter winds by regularly applying lip balm. Look for lip balms that contain ingredients such as cocoa or shea butter, coconut oil, or beeswax for super moisturised results. Avoid ones that contain alcohol as they can actually make your lips worse! Pair your lip balm with a polishing lip scrub for even better, smoochable results.

It may seem obvious, but staying hydrated is one of the best ways to maintain your skin’s health throughout the colder months. When it’s colder, it can be much harder to remember to drink enough water because we don’t feel as thirsty as we do in warm weather or when we are working up a sweat. Investing in a bottle that features measurements can help you keep track of your intake more than a small glass that requires frequent refills. You can even find bottles that accommodate an entire day or half a day’s water in one go, so you can keep an eye on how much you drink! Water not your thing? Why not try out some sugar-free squash for a burst of flavour instead?

Our number one tip to keeping your skin looking and feeling its best during the cold winter months is to adopt (and maintain!) a good skincare routine. It’s relatively easy to keep up with a routine and is a small habit that will make the world of difference. 

Use a gentle cleanser that is either oil- or cream-based to ensure the natural oils on your skin remain intact. Harsh cleansers will strip your skin, leaving it susceptible to drying and breakouts, so always check the label to ensure you treat yourself to the best products possible. Cleansers help to remove dirt and grime from the day and also makeup if you wear it, making for a more effective, eco-friendly alternative to face wipes. 

Next, exfoliate with an exfoliator. This will help to remove dead skin, making your face appear brighter and more even in tone, and can help your other products absorb better. Following exfoliating, a good toner will help to tighten your pores and plump your skin. Choose a toner with added Vitamin C for even healthier-looking skin.

Finally, top it off with a moisturiser. No matter your skin type, we all need to moisturise - yes, even oily skin! Our skin produces a natural oil called sebum. If your skin doesn’t produce enough sebum, you’ll probably find that it leans towards the dry side. Oily skin overworks itself and creates too much sebum. By applying a moisturiser, you can minimise the amount of work it needs to do, helping to mattify your skin rather than make it more oily as many people fear.

For dry skin which tends to feel tight, a moisturiser containing plenty of butters is a great option as your skin needs to absorb more to feel (and look!) its best. Ingredients such as cocoa or shea butter also add an extra protective layer to your skin, ensuring the moisture isn’t whisked away by the cold. If you tend to have combination skin (with some dry and some oily patches) or oily, breakout-prone skin, you may find that a lighter day cream or moisturising serum would benefit you best, as these creams offer hydration without the lingering greasiness of a heavier cream.

There are all kinds of things you can do to keep yourself looking and feeling your best during the winter months and, just because it’s dark and dreary outside, it doesn’t mean your skin needs to suffer! Whichever skincare hacks you try, one thing’s for certain: with a makeup bag full of all these deeply nourishing products, you’re sure to be wowing in your wonderful winter skin in no time at all!