As winter sets in and the outside temperatures drop, our skin is the first organ to respond to the changes. As our bodies’ most direct interface with the environment, the skin’s health is especially vulnerable to climatic conditions and winter can see increased incidence of skin flares, allergies, redness and chronic dryness.
Understanding how these climatic conditions affect our skin and how to adjust our skincare routine to build skin resilience is key to maintaining beautiful skin year-round.
Low temperatures and low humidity in the winter results in very dry skin and if left unchecked will result in damage to the barrier function of the skin. The barrier function protects the skin from external stressors, keeps skin optimally hydrated and transports important nutrients to the skin. As the barrier function is the primary determinant of healthy skin, developing a winter skin care regime to protect it is vital.
If the skin’s barrier function is disrupted it will behave like a leaky bucket and maintaining the skin’s hydration levels will become extremely difficult.
One of the simplest steps to keep the barrier function intact during the winter months is the introduction of an oil to your morning and evening routine. Cold and windy conditions can wear away the protective fatty lipids of the barrier, and oils help to replace them and lock in the moisture to the skin protective barrier. Blended combinations that provide a spectrum of the micronutrients the skin needs are a wonderful way to maintain a healthy glow to the skin.
Oils such as macadamia and argan have been shown to help maintain and repair barrier function. Oils such as sunflower, rosehip and borage can provide a protection to help to reduce the effects of inflammation.
Blended oils with antioxidant ingredients such as oil soluble vitamin C, algae extract, and tocopherol can supply an antioxidant reservoir to the skin and act as an insurance policy against the oxidative stress caused by winter weather.
Maintaining the skin’s natural moisturising factor is the second line of defence in maintaining a healthy glow during the winter months. The natural moisturizing factor helps the skin to regulate how much moisture it produces based on the environment you live in. It helps to draw moisture from the air into the skin. Trehalose is a natural ingredient known for its ability to mimic our skins natural moisturising factor and combined with other water-soluble ingredient such as hyaluronic acid, panthenol, sodium PCA and glycerine can be extremely helpful to supporting the skin to maintaining it natural hydration levels.
Harsh cleansing can often disrupt natural moisture within the skin and during the winter months it may be valuable to re-evaluate your cleansing regime. Dialing down the harshness of cleansing and introducing a post cleanse essence to balance skin hydration before moisturizing can also work wonders. Essences are formulated to be used after cleansing and before moisturising to replenish the vital ceramides and water-soluble components of the skin. This small change in regime can really help build the skins natural resilience.
Pollution and UV damage can be increasingly problematic in the winter months. Sun can reflect off the snow and double UV exposure and our behaviours during the winter usually contributes to higher levels of air pollution which can make air quality worse. Particulate matter from pollution can increase oxidative damage to the skin and lead to premature aging and increased age spots.
Topical extracts such as kale, watercress and phytosterols can help to combat the effects of particulate matter by breaking it down before in has a chance to reek oxidative havoc on your skin. Using SPF daily, exfoliating more regularly and introducing a night repair mask with protective antioxidant extracts and probiotics can really support protecting the skin from the effects of particulate matter.
Alongside the changes to our skin-care regime there are some practical lifestyle and well-being changes we can make to keep us gliding through the winter at our beautiful best.
Here are our top five:
1. Turn down the temperature on your shower, just a tad. This can help reduce drying to the skin.
2. Ensure you are getting sufficient levels of vitamin D.
3. Invest in a humidifier to maintain optimum indoor moisture content.
4. Supplement with vitamin C.
5. Adjust sleep pattern to maintain a healthy circadian rhythm
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