Autumn left us in a hurry. She packed her bags and walked out over the course of, what seemed like one night. And then just like that, Winter moved in. And with her, she brought the cold, dry air that can wreak havoc on your once plump and moisturised skin. I could comfortably count myself as one of the oiliest women in the world, and even my skin starts to dry up around this time of year.

With the cold winter weather, the humidity level drops, meaning the water in your skin starts to evaporate quicker. This is usually when you start to notice that tight and flaky feeling on your face, lips and hands. Your skin cells struggle to retain moisture in the cold, losing about 25% of their ability to hold onto water.

Whilst it might not be practical for all of us to change our entire skincare regime every 6 months, there are definitely some small changes you should consider in order to hold onto as much moisture as possible as the temperature drops. Keeping your skin hydrated will not only mean added comfort but also bouncy, youthful-looking skin.

If you are noticing a tightening or flakiness to the skin, you might want to consider adding water or oil-based serum before your moisturiser. This means the serum can continue to provide hydration throughout the day, and your moisturiser locks all the active ingredients in.

If you’re not keen on adding to your routine, then perhaps switching your moisturiser is a better option. Moisturiser ingredients tend to belong to one of the following families; occlusive, humectant and emollient. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the ingredients to choose what is best for your skin.

Occlusive

Occlusives prevent water loss from the surface of the skin by creating a barrier. The most common types of occlusive moisturisers you will find are the likes of squalene, cocoa butter and beeswax. Occlusive products are great for extremely dry skin and provide an instant soothing effect. Try Superfacialist Rose Radiance Day Cream SPF15 to finish your morning routine off.

Humectant 

Humectants help the skin to maintain moisture by attracting water to their molecules. Hyaluronic acid is a popular choice when it comes to adding hydration, as it draws water to itself. 

Something to note though; if its hydration deep down you require, choose a hyaluronic acid with small molecules, otherwise, the product can have the opposite effect, drawing water from the deeper layers out towards the surface. My favourite is the Bioderma Hydrabio Serum, applied under moisturiser.

Emollient

Emollients help to speed up the skin's barrier restoration process, by filling in the gaps between skin cells caused by using harsh products, harsh environments, and the ageing process. Emollients commonly contain oil, which forms a protective barrier over your skin, helping to trap moisture in. If you’re really struggling to retain moisture throughout these dry months, try the Botanics Simply Calm Hydrating Overnight Mask twice a week.

As well as increasing the hydration, another top tip to avoid dry and flakiness is to ensure you are still exfoliating. It is important to continually buff away the top layer of dry skin, to avoid a build-up, causing more dryness and irritation. It also means your serums can better penetrate the skin, to get to where they need to go.

If you make a few small changes to your Winter skincare routine, you should have plump and hydrated skin all year round. And as always, don’t forget the sunscreen!

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Written by: Claire Bullen

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