Flaky skin, brittle hair, and parched lips seem to be a given come the early weeks of December. But, this year, why wait until breaking point? From the moment you make that all-important decision to switch your central heating on at home, it’s time to start switching up your routine for winter! Swapping some of your lightweight formulas for nourishing creams and hydration boosters now will stop chapping, flaking, and frizz in their tracks for the rest of the season.
MAKE A PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE AGAINST DRYNESS
To keep itchy patches from popping up on knees, elbows or shins, switch out your bar of soap – which can strip skin of natural oils – for a moisturising body wash like NUXE Prodigieux® Shower Oil. After showering and before bed, apply a body butter (which absorbs better than lotion) or an oil. We love the iconic NUXE Huile Prodigieuse® – a blend of six essential oils and Vitamin E. Top tip! Hot water can remove skin’s natural moisture so make sure your showers are lukewarm.
LET MASKS WORK THEIR MAGIC
You’ll never see lacklustre winter skin if you find a moisturising mask that works for you – and leave it on overnight. Some people are afraid to leave masks on while they sleep because they think they’ll break out, but it’s a great thing to do if you’ve spent a long day outside. Not only is the James Read Overnight Tan Sleep Mask Tan Face packed with hydrating ingredients to quench parched skin but it delivers a subtle, suits-all, golden glow by morning. If you’re in a rush to enliven dull skin, Bobbi Brown’s Nourish Mask plumps and revitalises your complexion in just two minutes.
WARD OFF WINDBURN – AND WINTER BREAKOUTS
It’s gospel that you should switch from gels to creams — and lighten up on retinols and drying salicylic and glycolic acids — to maintain skin’s moisture once temperatures drop. But what if you’re oily or pimple prone? Try products with hyaluronic acid, which hydrate without greasiness, like the Nude Radiant Day Moisturiser. And use a serum like Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Radiance Serum instead of a cream if your skin is oily in patches.
PROTECT YOUR HANDS PRE-MITTENS
Hands get chapped when it’s chilly because they have fewer oil glands than your face. They’re the first body part to show the effects of cold weather — especially if you use hand sanitizer, which contains drying alcohols. The key to preventing painful cracks is using hand cream early and often. Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream includes shea and aloe vera and forms a protective ‘glove’ to shield your hands from the elements.
RESTORE YOUR HAIR’S MOISTURE
One plus side of chilly weather? Longer-lasting blow-dries. The humidity levels in the air are lower, so your hair should stay straighter, shinier, bouncier for longer. Starting in autumn, try to skip an extra day between hair washes and allow natural oils to regulate the hair’s moisture. Amplify that effect with once-a-week hair masks like Number 4’s Reconstructing Masque or Amika’s Nourishing Mask. These are both made without sulphates or parabens — chemicals that can freak out the scalp and cause it to overproduce oil. Before applying, deep clean with a clarifying shampoo like Kebelo’s, scrubbing with your fingertips to exfoliate the scalp and open the cuticle to allow products to soak in.
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