Preparing your skin for winter

When those colder months approach, it’s time to shake up your skincare routine to ensure your skin stays hydrated and protected from the elements. Winter can be especially tough on the skin, but fear not – we’ll guide you through how to choose the right products so you can keep your skin looking and feeling its best.

How does winter affect the skin?

Winter affects the skin in many ways, and not only because it’s cold outside. Other lifestyle factors such as the use of indoor heating can play havoc with your skin’s health. In particular, it can lead to a compromised skin barrier, dryness and dehydration.

Some of the biggest risk factors include:

1. Cold weather – this one might seem obvious, but it’s important to understand why the cold affects the skin. Low temperatures constrict blood vessels and thus reduce blood flow and oxygen supply to skin cells. Alternately, as you start to warm up your body will expand the capillaries, leading to a flushed or red complexion that may particularly affect those with rosacea.
2. Low Humidity – there is less moisture in the air during winter, which increases water loss from the skin, drying you out and affecting the integrity of the skin barrier.
3. Windburn – cold wind can strip moisture from the skin, leading to dryness, redness and irritation. Depending on how long you were exposed, windburn can be mild to severe.
4. Indoor heating – central heating systems decrease humidity levels indoors, potentially leading to dehydration and a compromised skin barrier. Constantly going between cold outdoor areas and warm indoor areas can also put stress on your skin as it struggles to adapt to the fluctuations in temperature.
5. Hot showers and baths – it’s always tempting to take a nice, hot shower in winter, but hot water can strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and dehydrated. Take care that your showers are neither too long nor too hot.

Putting all these factors together, your skincare regimen in winter should prioritise hydration, addressing redness, reinforcing the skin barrier, and intense moisturisation and repair.

How should I care for my skin in winter?

1. Gentle cleanse

We recommend HEARTFELT®, our gentle rose cream cleanser, as the go-to cleansing option in winter. Because cold weather and low humidity can strip the skin, it is important to choose a cleanser that won’t strip the skin’s protective oils. Suitable for sensitive skin types, HEARTFELT® works to remove impurities by simply melting them away. 

2. Stay hydrated

Combat dehydration by applying GLAM SQUAD®, our Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin B serum. A triple blend of HA injects hydration while niacinamide and panthenol work to reinforce the skin barrier. This product is water-based and suitable for all skin types, making it perfect as a hydrating boost both AM and PM in winter.

3. Use a rich moisturiser

A moisturiser is non-negotiable in winter. Choose between POWER BROKER® (for red, oily and sensitive skin types), SUPERHERO® (for normal to combination skin) and STAR QUALITY® (for normal, dry or mature skin). Apply your moisturiser every morning to reinforce the skin barrier and every evening for a restorative boost overnight. If you find your skin becomes particularly red in winter, POWER BROKER® will be the best choice for you due to its hero ingredient, Anti-Redness Complex.

4. Use a weekly mask

In winter it is especially important to maintain hydration and the integrity of the skin barrier. Use DATE NIGHT®, our leave-on hydrating mask, at least once a week to give your skin a much-needed boost. Enriched with a mixture of ceramides, skin-identical lipids, and hydrating actives, DATE NIGHT® can particularly help to restore the skin after exposure to cold wind.

5. Reinforce the skin barrier

A morning application of GODSEND®, our luxe radiance oil, can particularly help to lock in moisture. Containing 10 plant-derived super oils, GODSEND® boasts a range of skin conditioning benefits and works to build the skin’s protective lipid barrier to keep you hydrated and deliver supple, plump skin. Apply as the final step in your regimen, but before sunscreen.

6. Protect your hands

It’s not just your face that feels the effects of cold weather. Be sure to address dryness and redness on your hands by applying BELLE™, our luxurious and restorative hand cream. BELLE™ is specially formulated to strengthen the skin barrier to keep you hydrated and protected. You can also apply Belle as a spot treatment to other parts of the body that are experiencing dryness.

7. Don’t forget SPF

Remember that UV rays can affect the skin even on cold and cloudy days. Apply SUPERSTAR®, our SPF 50+ sunscreen, as the final step in your regimen every day to keep your skin protected. SUPERSTAR® is suitable as a base for make-up; simply apply your products over the top.

By understanding the factors that affect the skin in winter and using suitable products to counteract them, you can help to keep your skin looking and feeling its best.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on 03 9826 9988. Our friendly dermal clinicians will be happy to answer any questions you have. For help creating a skincare regimen, you can visit our Skin Quiz at https://libertybelle.com.au/