Finding yourself with dry skin as the weather starts to take a turn? You’re not alone, and you might need to consider switching up to a winter skin routine. 

Despite winter bringing festive joy, mulled wine and delicious food, there are a few downsides of the winter months. Cold weather, harsh winds, central heating & terrible electric heaters all have a toll on our skin hydration, which is why you might be finding your skin reacting a little differently to your skincare routine in winter. 

Fortunately, it’s not too late to get serious about your winter skincare routine so you can beat the cold weather effect on your skin. 

We’ve put together our quick wins and easy swaps so you can start feeling and looking your best throughout the winter months.

1. Make sure to wear an SPF moisturiser

 

With less daylight and more gloomy days, it’s easy to forget about wearing SPF. Although there is less UVB and levels of UVA, those winter sun rays can be equally as strong as the summer months. Protect your skin from the damage of UV rays year-round and be sure to use a moisturiser with SPF daily.

The Vichy Slow Age Cream Moisturiser is a powerful moisturiser with SPF 25 skin protection that leaves your skin looking fresh and radiant as well as leaving firmer and hydrated skin. Available at £30.00. CeraVe Facial Moisturising lotion also moisturisers the face throughout the day keeping skin hydrated and protected from UV rays with an SPF 25, available at £25.

2. Switch to a heavier day face cream

 

Set aside your lightweight moisturisers and lotions from summer, and replace them with rich, thicker creams for your winter skincare. Creams and moisturiser with a thicker and richer texture help to deliver long-lasting moisture. If your face is feeling particularly dry and damage from the weather, apply your chosen cream day and night for cold weather skin protection. 

For deep winter skin hydration, check out Bioderma Hydrabio Cream and the CeraVe Moisturising Cream, both under £20. For that all-around face protection and rehydration, try adding the Avene Hydration Dehydration Skin Kit into your winter skin routine as it includes 3 essential skin care products and provides up to 24 hours of effective skin moisturisation and skin hydration. 

3. Rejuvenate tired eyes with soothing eye creams

 

The skin under the eyes is thinner than the rest of the skin on the face and our bodies, making that area a lot more vulnerable to the cold weather effect on the skin including dryness and wrinkles. Ensure to give a bit of TLC to your eyes and add an eye cream to your daily winter skin routine. 

The Dr.Hauschka Daily Hydrating Cream is moisture-rich and leaves your skin under your eyes feeling smooth and resilient. The Uriage Thermal Water Eye Contour Cream also reduces the appearance of dehydration fine lines dark circles, leaving you feeling refreshed.

4. Keep your lips looking and feeling smooth 

 

Every year cold weather has a particularly harsh effect on lips. Say no to dry and sore lips this winter and find and apply the perfect lip balm or butter throughout the day. 

The Bioderma Atoderm Lip Balm is a daily moisturising and soothing stick for dry lips that repairs and protects your lips before and after damage, perfect for optimum coverage. Already struggling with dry lips? The Avene Cold Cream Nourishing Lip Balm replenishes, soothes and protects dry lips leaving a subtle gloss for maximum comfort. Lips can also be vulnerable to sunburn and damage, so adding in an SPF lip balm, particularly on brighter days is ideal.

5. Protect your hands from dryness

 

Hands can be particularly exposed to the cold weather effect on the skin as they are often the most exposed. Cold air and over-washing can leave hands dry, chapped and sore in the winter months. Protect your hands by wearing gloves when you can, including for washing up and treat your hard-working hands to luxurious hand cream.

There are loads of effective hand creams available at Total Body Care, some standouts include the REN Atlantic Kelp And Magnesium Hand Lotion which can be gently massaged until absorbed, the Lycon Apple & Cranberry Hand Lotion which leaves skin feeling silky smooth and is also in a 50ml size to apply on the go, as well as the Dr.Hauschka Hydrating Hand Cream 50ml which soothes, 

6. Exfoliate and cleanse the pores

 

As your skin might become duller during winter, it is the ideal time to pay attention to exfoliating the dry skin away. However, be sure not to exfoliate more than summer even if your skin is dryer. Use a soothing exfoliator, that is more oil-based or works as a 2-in-1 scrub and mask so you don’t dry your skin out more and if possible. Add an exfoliator or scrub to your winter skin routine and finish with a moisturiser.

The Vichy Normaderm 3-in-1 Cleansing + Scrub + Mask cleans, exfoliates and mattifies your skin all in one go that reduces impurities and leaves skin soothed and clarifies. The Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliating Cream deeply cleanses the skin and clears pores, suitable for all skin types.

7. Rehydrate your whole body with a bath

 

Not only do baths provide relaxation and warmth after you’ve got in from a long day fighting the elements, but baths also provide the perfect opportunity to soothe your whole body. Find the right bath oil and soak to add to your bath for ultimate rejuvenation.

Adding gentle oils like the Tisserand Lavender and Neroli Soothing Bath Soak to your bath water can help soothe the skin and leave you feeling relaxed. The REN Atlantic Kelp And Microalgae Anti Fatigue Bath Oil work to moisturise and tone the skin and combat the fatigue you might be fighting in the winter months.

8. Avoid damaged and dull-looking hair

 

Keep your locks looking and feeling healthy in the winter months. It is easy for hair to become dull looking and dehydrated from the cold weather. Add in some extra moisture and essential oils with a good quality shampoo and conditioner and add a hair mask into your winter routine once a week for the best flowing locks.

The PhytoElixir Intense Nutrition Mask is a rich and indulgent hair mask that nourishes and transforms even the dryest hair, leave it in hair for 10 minutes then wash off and use once a week. The Vichy Dercos Nutri Protein Mask addresses both dry hair and dry scalps, restoring hair that has been damaged by UV and heat, leaving hair feeling silky, hydrated and healthier. 

Create the perfect winter skin routine with winter skincare essentials and skin hydration products at Total Body Care.