Snuggling up by the fire with a blanket and a mug in hand can only mean one thing: winter is well and truly with us. While the evenings may be filled with warmth and cosiness, the days certainly are not. Outside the comfort of home we experience bitter frost, blustery winds, rain and snow. The combination of harsh external elements, increased pollution and stuffy central heating wreaks havoc with our skin during the colder months. However, with the right skincare routine and a little bit of TLC, you’ll soon be stepping out with a radiant winter glow.
The first rule of winter skincare is protection. When temperatures fall, you wouldn’t dream of heading outdoors without wrapping up warm in plenty of protective layers, but what about the delicate skin on your face? Without a layer of protection between your skin and the abrasive elements, it is inevitable that your complexion will suffer.
The science bit
Tipper Lewis, a naturopathic herbalist at Neal’s Yard Remedies, explains what happens to skin during a cold snap: “Low temperatures constrict the tiny blood vessels under the skin’s surface, which then causes a decrease in sebum production. It’s this sebum that usually forms a protective layer to retain moisture, so without it we end up experiencing tight, dehydrated skin.” Tipper suggests wearing a thicker moisturiser in the daytime, which will act as a barrier between your skin and cold temperatures, shielding your skin from the elements.
“Mix up your routine in the colder months to incorporate regular exfoliating”
Although pollution is present all year round, colder months cause a spike in emissions due to increased traffic and roaring fires. It’s important to take extra steps to protect your skin from toxins as these can cause all kinds of damage. “Microscopic polluted air particles are 10-20 times smaller than our pore size, which allows them to infiltrate deeper layers of the skin very easily. These toxins cause inflammation, dehydration and a cellular change that leads to the loss of elasticity and firmness,” explains dermatologist and Bio-Oil expert Dr Justine Hextall (www.justinehextall.co.uk). Justine recommends purifying the skin at night-time, as this is when our skin is naturally regenerating.
Skin detoxing is about removing impurities to reveal brighter, healthier skin. “Mix up your skincare routine in the colder months to incorporate regular exfoliating, as this will ensure skin stays looking its best,” says Tipper. “Dead skin cells act like mini sponges, absorbing your skincare products so that they don’t penetrate efficiently to nourish the skin. This can be particularly problematic for your skin in the winter when it’s already quite dry. Buff away these dulling skin cells with a good skin polishing product, then your other skincare products will be absorbed properly.”
Once you’ve exfoliated, it’s important to moisturise. During colder weather, repairing skincare products will revive your over-worked skin – look out for retinol, vitamin A and vitamin E on the labels, as these are all turbocharging ingredients for optimum cell renewal.
Extreme shifts
Of course it’s not just the environment outside that causes problems. The contrast between the fresh air outside and the stuffy, centrally-heated air inside makes your skin work very hard. “Harsh conditions and dramatic changes in temperature cause structural changes to our skin barrier,” explains Justine. “Once the skin barrier becomes ineffective it doesn’t hold onto moisture as well, and that’s when you will start to notice dry patches of skin and even eczema.”
“Radiant winter skin comes from the inside, too”
The solution? Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting you tough out the winter without any heating. If you can, invest in a humidifier for your home – it’s a simple, effective way to inject extra moisture into the air. Justine also suggests using an antioxidant serum in your nightly skincare routine, “to neutralise any free radicals left over from pollution.”
Beyond products, it’s no surprise that radiant winter skin comes from the inside, too. “The true key to a clear, bright complexion starts from the inside out,” says Tipper. “A diet bursting with fresh fruit, veggies and omega oils will encourage healthy skin with a quicker repair time.” So if your skin is feeling dull and lack-lustre, refresh your skincare routine, invest in a few hard-working products and add an extra helping of vitamin-boosting fresh fruit and veg to your daily diet. Now you’re ready to face winter head on.
Know your skin type
Discover the right treatment for your skin
Dry skin type
- Signs: Tight-feeling skin that sometimes flakes.
- Solutions: Keep skin sufficiently moisturised morning and night with rich, velvety products.
- Key ingredients: Aloe vera and jojoba oil.
Oily skin type
- Signs: After washing, sebum begins to appear on all areas of the face.
- Solutions: Avoid too much touching of the face as this will encourage excess oil production and always go for lightweight skincare products.
- Key ingredients: Seaweed and witch hazel.
Combination skin type
- Signs: An oily T-zone, but dry cheeks and jawline.
- Solutions: Use targeted products on different areas of your skin to balance it out.
- Key ingredients: Green tea and oatmeal.
Skincare saviours
Our top natural beauty picks to transform your complexion
Best for oily skin
This all-natural Dead Sea Minerals Clay Mask includes dead sea clay, green clay, aloe vera, sea kelp and spirulina. It removes dead skin cells, absorbs excess oil and improves circulation giving a healthier, clearer and smoother complexion. It smells fresh too.
£12.95 from shaloahskincare.co.uk
Best for dry skin
Containing vitamin E and essential fatty acids, Sukin Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil is absorbed easily, allowing the skin to breathe as it works. It soothes, softens and hydrates the skin, feeding it vital nutrients to assist skin renewal.
£11.16 (25ml) from bodykind.com
Best for sensitive & combination skin
Botanicals Gentle Cleanse Melt with chamomile and marigold is designed to remove impurities and dead skin cells, which cause dull and blemished skin, by penetrating the skin’s lower layers while retaining the skin’s natural balance.
£27.50 from botanicals.co.uk
Best for brightening
Angela Langford Scrub Up facial exfoliator is suitable for all but the most sensitive skins and contains papaya, bilberry, lemon, orange and jojoba grains to remove dead skin, clear and brighten.
£27.50 from angelalangford.com
5 bad skin habits to break now!
The things you shouldn’t be doing to your skin in winter
1. Using alcohol-based products
Products containing alcohol further strip our skin of moisture, which can be disastrous in winter.
2. Taking long, hot showers
Resist the temptation of a long, steamy shower as the prolonged heat will remove natural oils from your face.
3. Skipping SPF
You may feel like you haven’t seen the sun in months, but those powerful UV rays are working away even when it’s cloudy, so make sure you are wearing the correct protection at all times.
4. Forgetting about your lips
Your lips need an extra bit of love when it’s cold. Keep a lip balm to hand to help soothe dry, cracked lips in an instant.
5. Using the wrong products
The foaming cleanser and charcoal mask that worked for you in the summer might not suit your skin now; switch up your products to suit the season.
Self-care for winter
As colder days arrive, simple steps can help us to keep that lovely summer glow. By Janey Lee Grace
During the winter months, it can be tricky looking after our skin and hair. The arrival of colder days means cosy opaque tights (a very good thing) and funky, woolly hats (even better for a bad hair day), but it can also mean dry, flaky skin as we move from the biting cold wind outdoors into rooms warmed by central heating.
So, how can we keep that lovely summer glow going? It’s all about moisture. You’ll be amazed at how drying conventional soaps can be, for example: look instead for handmade soaps that are made from ethically sourced natural ingredients and don’t contain sodium laurel sulphates, parabens and synthetic fragrances. I love the gorgeous Roseum wash, suitable for face, hands and body from LA-EVA, which comes in lovely recyclable glass bottles.
We know that old adage of not putting anything on your skin if you wouldn’t eat it, and for me this couldn’t be more true of coconut oil, especially during the winter months. Organic virgin coconut oil is excellent, both as a functional food and as an all-over moisturiser – check out the ethical one from Dr Bronner.
Getting oily is good for your face, too. I love the boost of moisture that comes from using facial oils, and the ritual of applying them also encourages me to take time for myself and my skin in a busy season. You can of course buy gorgeous natural facial oils but it’s nice and easy to make your own bespoke oil to nourish and revive. Take a 30ml glass bottle and add a nice base oil, such as cold pressed grapeseed oil, or carrot oil. Add up to 15 drops of your favourite essential oil. You can use a few drops of eucalyptus, if you feel you are coming down with a cold, lavender is very relaxing or rose is wonderful if you are feeling hormonal, although always check before using any essential oil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Our hair suffers too, as we go from summer to winter, especially the ends, which are so often exposed to the cold as they sit outside of hats and scarves. “There comes a point where a good maintenance cut is the only way to strengthen dead ends,” says award-winning organic hairdresser Tabitha James Kraan . “However, this is where prevention is better than cure. Using good natural hair oil will really help to protect, strengthen and seal dry, weak ends and prepare them to receive moisture for longer. Natural is important here, as goodness from your moisturising products can travel through a natural oil rather than being coated by a silicone- or plastic-based oil.” She has developed her own Scented Organic Hair Oil, which is ideal for winter hair woes. You can use it either as a pre-wash treatment to bring life back to dull, dry hair, or apply a small amount as you style.
For me, looking after my skin and hair during these colder months is the ultimate in self-care for my mind, too. I like to settle in for the evening, taking time to wash my hair and have a bath and then apply oils to my hair, hands and feet. Before bed, I wrap my head in a towel and put on gloves and socks, to lock all that moisture in. The next morning, after a good rinse, everything will feel soft and smooth, and I’ll feel fully relaxed.
Janey Lee Grace is a best-selling author, commentator and presenter, you can find her online at imperfectlynatural.com
Winter wonder body scrub and lip balm
Go eco-friendly and make your own body scrub and lip balm at home
For the body scrub
1 cup caster sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
½ cup of coconut oil
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp round cloves
Glass jar, 300ml
1. Start by sterilising a glass jar. To do this, wash it in hot soapy water before placing it upside down on a roasting tray, and popping into a preheated oven at 180°C for about 15 mins to dry out.
2. Measure out the sugars and spices into a large, clean bowl. Using the back of the spoon, squash out any lumps, then mix the ingredients together until thoroughly combined.
3. Scoop the coconut oil into a smaller bowl and beat it until it starts to soften.
4. Next, add the softened coconut oil to the bowl with the sugar and spice mix, and stir until the oil has completely combined. To finish, scoop into the cooled, sterilised jar.
For the lip balm
½ tsp shea butter
2 tsp coconut oil
1 tsp soya wax
4-7 drops of peppermint essential oil
Small metal tin
1. First, put half a pan of water on to boil. While the water heats, measure out the shea butter, soya wax and coconut oil, and place into an old glass jar.
2. Bring the water to a simmer, then carefully place the glass jar into the pan, making sure no
water splashes inside the jar – this will prevent the ingredients from melting together smoothly.
3. Once fully melted, carefully remove the jar from the pan and leave to cool for a couple of minutes, until slightly set.
4. Add between four to seven drops of peppermint essential oil to the mixture – the more drops you add, the more minty the lip balm’s flavour will be.
5. To finish, pour the mixture into the lip balm tin, transferring it into a jug first if you prefer. Pop the lid on and leave to cool overnight. To speed up the process, put the tin into the fridge for an hour.
Project by Emilie Woodger-Smith
Look after your skin and make your own soap
Natural beauty is becoming more and more popular as consumers start to care more about what goes into their cosmetics and where these ingredients come from.
Our homemade soap recipe is palm oil free and vegan so you can ensure your soap is ethical as well as being homemade. Try out tutorial for how to make soap at home.
