Winter has already started knocking at our doors which calls for a change in our skincare routines to avoid our skin falling victim to the extreme weather conditions. Your skin barrier is the most susceptile to depletion during Winter from the cold weather, hot water and dry heat, which all deplete the natural skin ceramides and essential fatty acids. 

Achieving or maintaining healthy, glowing and comfortable skin comes from having an intact skin barrier. It protects the skin from bacteria and pollution and stops transepidermal water loss – essential to prevent dehydration. 

The Essentials

These harsh environmental factors experienced in Winter promote dry skin, dry patches, inflammation and less hydration in the skin. Try reduce the size of your skincare vanity and only use a few key products. Our recommendation: Introduce serums and vitamin C, switch to a cleanser with aloe vera, use more moisturising products and invest in a thicker moisturiser for face and body – and of course don’t forget SPF.

Tumi Lehutso from Fundamentals Skincare explained: “While you don’t necessarily need to overhaul your skincare routine each season, there are few small changes you might want to make. Sunscreens, moisturisers and serums are essentially the foundation of your routine, and they won’t necessarily need to be switched out.”

Regime Reset

Step 1: Cleanser. Using a cleanser that has Aloe Vera will help your skin heal from any damage caused by the colder weather. Aloe is a household plant and when used in skincare assists in moisturising the skin. It also helps with acne, eczema, and sunburn.

Step 2: Toner. Baobab oil is a rich source of omega fatty acids that fight inflammation, making it a great choice for sensitive or inflamed skin. Baobab’s anti-inflammatory properties soothe irritation and can even help with skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Using a toner that has Baobab and is alcohol-free will help you achieve smooth, soft, hydrated skin with reduced inflammation and improved barrier functioning.

Step 3: Serum. Consider using a Vitamin C or Hyaluronic Acid. For all skin types, L-ascorbic acid is the most potent form of vitamin C and can be the most beneficial. Hyaluronic Acid will give your skin a boost of hydration and is suitable for all skin types. 

Step 4: Moisturiser. Undoubtably the most important step for your face and body. Invest in a well-formulated face moisturiser and body butter. For face consider ceramide for ultimate hydration. We need ceramides for skin to work properly but age and environmental triggers reduce ceramides in our skin. For body consider a body cream/butter with Niacinamide which is effective for hydration and managing  the environmental impact on the skin. 

Step 5: Last but not least – SPF. We know by now that SPF should be used all year. There are still UV rays present even when the sun isn’t shining. A sun protection factor of 30 is suitable. 

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