A checklist of must-do treatments and the products you’ll need to combat total beauty breakdown over the chilly season:
1. HYDRATE
At this time of year your face has the triple-whammy of freezing winds, central heating and lots of alcohol to contend with. As you know, the cold weather will really dry out your face, while central heating and booze are both terribly dehydrating, so you skin is in danger of becoming totally parched. So, make sure your stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water every day, but you can also give your skin a helping hand when you’re indoors by spritzing regularly with a hydrating spray like Vichy Purete Thermale Spa Water.
2. EXFOLIATE
Thirsty, central-heating-parched skin can quickly start looking dull and dreary thanks to the build-up of dry dead skin cells, so exfoliating regularly is a must. Use Nuxe Gentle Exfoliating Gel with Rose Petals, a refreshing gel that buffs dead skin away while eliminating impurities. Some scrubs can be a little harsh, especially on sore winter skin, but this one has a gentle formula so even the most sensitive skin is kept feeling soft and supple.
3. REVIVE
If your skin is really suffering the effects of cold weather, you have to revive it with a deep-hydrating mask such as Caudalie Moisturising Cream-Mask, which gives a wonderful quenching boost to stressed out and dehydrated skin.
4. MOISTURIZE
As you know, there are all sorts of moisturizers available and you should be using different moisturizing products depending on the time of year. In the winter months, you can use facial oils to really care for my complexion.
They’re not at all as greasy and heavy as you might expect and they really do enrich and revive your dried out skin. Try Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+, a potent plant blend that restores the lost radiance of a moisture-depleted complexion.
5. CALM
If you occasionally get heightened coloring thanks to the cold or central heating, it’s worth investing in a corrective moisturizer to combat redness. Avène Antirougeurs Jour Redness Relief Moisturising Protective Emulsion is a caring and correcting daily moisturizer that really helps calm flushed skin.
6. PROTECT
Just because it’s freezing outside, doesn’t mean you can forget about protecting your face from harmful UV rays – they’re always there, sneakily causing damage, even on cloudy days.
So before you head out, remember to smooth on a protective layer of moisturizer. Avene Hydrance Optimale Rich Protective UV SPF20 is a wonderfully creamy hydrating formulation.
7. CARE
The skin around your eyes and on your lips is delicate and particularly vulnerable to the effects of cold weather. It’s well worth investing in a special eye treatment cream such as Dior Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Instant Rescue Eye Treatment to soothe and smooth the gentle skin around your peepers.
Likewise a decent lip treatment will really help rescue a parched kisser. Try La Roche-Posay Ceralip Lip Repair Cream. And the last thing before heading out is to slick on a coat of Dior Addict Lip Glow Colour Awakening Lipbalm SPF 10, to keep your pout properly protected all day.
