Winter skin: How to glow through the colder months

The winter season can be a harsh time for our skin. We move from one extreme to another, from the cold temperatures outside to the hot central heating inside. This can result in the skin becoming dry, irritated, sensitive, dehydrated, and above all lackluster. Winter can exasperate skin conditions such as rosacea, acne, and eczema.

However, there are a few things we can do to help support our skin's nourishing and glowing state during the cold months. With a little shift in the skincare products we use, a little extra self-care, and a little attention to what we feed our skin from within, you can still be your most radiant self.

Here are a few ways to support winter skin:

Modify your skincare regime for the season

1. Choose cream—or oil-based cleansers that do not strip or over cleanse the skin. This will help the skin retain its natural oils.

2. Winter isn’t a time to stop exfoliating, however, it is a time to avoid over exfoliating and choose a gentler method to avoid skin irritation.

3. Choose a moisturiser that will help to keep the skin barrier nourished. Always apply your body and face moisturiser straight after washing or in the bath/shower to lock in the moisture. Nighttime oils such as rosehip are wonderful for parched winter skin and it is full of vitamin C which helps to brighten the skin. I have been using Aromatherapy Associates’ “Anti-ageing intensive skin treatment oil” with lavender and vitamin E on my forty-plus sensitive skin. Lavender oil can be beneficial for irritated and inflamed skin.

4. You may think you don’t need to use sunscreen in winter but you are wrong, it is still needed, especially on sunny cold days.

5. My winter savior skincare also contains Antipodes manuka honey mask, Hilltop honey lip balm, Ancient and Brave collagen, and Sukin rose face mist which I spritz as I need while sitting at my desk to keep my skin hydrated.

   Help the skin to moisturise from the inside out

   Healthy fats are critical during the winter months. Consuming omega-3 fatty acids in the form of flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, supplements or oily fish (anchovies, salmon, mackerel, or sardines) can help to moisturise the skin from within and reduce dryness and inflammation. Avocados, coconut oil, and olive oil are also supportive of skin hydration and help maintain a moisturised skin barrier from within.

   Eat a balanced diet

   I say this in almost every journal, but a radiant you needs to be including colourful fruit and vegetables that are polyphenol-rich. Think the rainbow for example, red (cranberries, frozen berries, tomatoes), yellow (lemon, ginger), green (broccoli, leafy greens, kiwi), purple (beetroot, frozen berries, figs, cabbage, purple carrots ), orange (orange, carrots, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, clementines, turmeric) and don’t forget white (onion, garlic, turnip, cauliflower).

   For healthy winter skin, It is also important to include certain nutrients as part of a balanced diet such as:

   Vitamin E (almonds, sunflower seeds, spinach) is a wonderful antioxidant to support the skin.

   Vitamin C (spinach, kale, blood oranges, frozen berries) to support collagen synthesis.

   Zinc (red meat, shellfish, chicken, oysters, pumpkin seeds, and hemp seeds) to support inflammation of the skin and wound healing.

   Gut health (prebiotics and probiotics) to support the gut-skin axis.

   Hydrate

   Hydrating the skin from within is important by drinking plenty of water, 1.5 - 2 liters a day. This can also be made up of herbal therapeutic teas. I love rosehip and hibiscus tea for its vitamin C.

   Avoid hot baths or showers

   However tempting it is to warm up with a hot bath or shower, stick to lukewarm temperatures in the winter. Steamy hot showers can further dry out the skin and damage the skin surfaces. If your skin is sensitive and very dry it can also inflame the skin therefore increasing conditions such as eczema.

   Sleep

   Get a little extra shut-eye than you normally would to support your glow during winter. Sleep is critical in Winter for our overall health and well-being, helping us to glow from within. Who needs to add undereye dark circles to the list of things wrong with our winter faces? While we sleep, our skin repairs and regenerates making sleeping beauty majorly in fashion over winter. Absolutely no FOMO here! I have written more about how to get a good night’s sleep in a recent journal.

   Bare-faced chic

   I like to select days during the week when I can be completely make-up-free. I complete a good morning skincare routine and allow my skin to breathe for the rest of the day. I find this beneficial for two reasons, the first being that you do not have to absorb any toxic ingredients within your makeup. The other is that embracing you as you are without makeup is good for the soul. It t can be hard to see lines that weren’t there once upon a time and marks that are appearing thanks to ageing. However, it is a wonderful act of self-love and acceptance for who you are right now. It also allows you to see signs that maybe you need to shift direction or routines. For example, sometimes I see dark circles that otherwise I may not have noticed, alerting me to the fact I need to rest/sleep/reduce alcohol or sugar.

   Reduce things that stifle our inner glow

   This leads nicely on from my previous point, too much alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and processed foods are things that rob us of our radiance. Why not try a few healthier swaps such as swapping your coffee for a matcha or turmeric latte? Matcha is especially full of green tea goodness which is supportive of glowing skin and wrinkle reduction. If you were to start one new radiance ritual this winter, I suggest this. Matcha is high in antioxidants and supports the skin from within fighting free radical damage and slowing down the signs of aging.

   Use a humidifier

   Using a humidifier at home can help to put moisture back into the air within your home. Which can be supportive of dehydrated skin.

Wishing you a glowing winter.

Much love,

Katie xx

DISCLAIMER: This journal is for information only and does not constitute or include any advice of any nature whatsoever. No reliance should be placed on the information or opinions in this journal. The reader should carry out their own research and consult with a suitably qualified medical practitioner.