The epidermis is challenged when winter arrives with low temperatures and cold winds, so you need to have a proper winter skincare routine.
The skin is the first defense against external aggressions such as the sun, wind, cold, germs, and pollution. It is also the largest organ of the human body with a total surface area of between 1.8 and 2m² in adult life and a weight of around 3kg. This protective element counts 70% water, 27.5% protein, 2% fat, and 0.5% a mixture of trace elements and minerals.
Face: adopting a good skincare routine to face winter
Occasional care is not enough to have beautiful and healthy skin, and it is crucial to adopt a daily winter skincare routine according to the type of skin and its possible tendency.
According to the expert, the essential beauty gestures for the epidermis are composed of :
- Makeup removal in the morning and evening, even if you don’t wear makeup;
- Cleaning: it allows to get rid of impurities. Some of these products contain ingredients that are beneficial to fragile and dry skin… The classic soap is still essential, but it may be a little too harsh on facial skin;
- Daily care: day and night cream, eye contour product;
- Tonic lotion: tonic lotions play several roles: “they refresh, they eliminate impurities, they stimulate the hydration of the skin”. They are used in the evening after cleansing the skin and in the morning;
- The scrub: it is recommended to do it once a week.
A new daily winter skincare routine is needed when the temperatures drop and the wind becomes icy! In winter, the skin tends to be tight and dry. The cold makes the skin look drier and causes water loss, flaking, and a lack of cohesion between the cells of the corneal layer.
Your skin, therefore, needs to be soft and well-hydrated. Here are good habits to adopt to protect your skin during winter.
Moisturising the skin: a “shock cure” for the cold
Wind and cold tend to break down the skin. A good moisturizer helps to reinforce the skin’s protection.
Schematically, apply the following routine: offer your skin a targeted “shock” treatment as soon as it seems out of breath: anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant active ingredients that rebalance the defense system.
Combine a day cream to be applied in the morning after rinsing your face, a night cream to be applied before bed, and a lip balm to be used throughout the day without moderation. Don’t forget to swap your usual makeup remover for 100% gentle milk. The milk version of a skincare product is thicker and more nourishing. It provides an additional protective film to the skin of the face.
Tight skin: rely on plant oils
An epidermis regularly subjected to the assaults of negative temperatures and wind tends to become much less supple and lose elasticity. It is then frequent to have the impression that one’s skin is tight.
Faced with this sensation, you must rely on “the comfort and generosity of nourishing plant oils, to be chosen according to your skin type.
The dry skins must turn towards :
- sweet almond vegetable oil: it penetrates the epidermis very easily. Only a few drops are needed.
- Argan oil: it is rich in vitamin E and various fatty acids. These compounds allow it to soften the skin and boost its hydration.
- Jojoba oil: it is known to deeply moisturize the skin, boost collagen production and soothe inflammation.
For oily skin, it is recommended to use :
- Rosehip oil: rich in essential fatty acids (omegas 3, 6, and 9), vitamin E, and beta-carotene, it has softening, antioxidant and anti-aging properties.
- Grape seed oil: it contains numerous antioxidants.
Spacing out scrubs in your winter skincare routine
Exfoliation allows you to get rid of dead cells on the epidermis. This treatment offers healthier, softer, and more luminous skin. It also helps fade spots, marks, and even some scars. Whether it is done mechanically (cream with beads) or chemically (peeling), it is advisable to perform the scrub once a week. However, it is preferable to review this timing in winter.
During the whole “bad season” (roughly between November and March), do not hesitate to space out the scrubs (eight to ten days between each session) to avoid drying out the skin.
A scrub is always done on clean skin and is done after cleansing the skin.