Firstly, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate with water or herbal teas on tap (literally). The best way to healthy winter skin is firstly through hydration and good nutrition. Lots of healthy sources of essential fatty acids like omega-3s and omega-6s are the building blocks of strong, resilient skin. In short, they help produce the skin's natural oil barrier, which is your best defence against the winter weather and helps keep your skin hydrated.
If your summer tan has faded and you’re beginning to look more sullen than sun-kissed, adding skin-brightening properties such as Vitamin C to your skincare regime will help bring your summer glow back. And it’s not all bad news, either. With lower UV levels, winter is a great time to up your retinol game and repair some of that summer pigmentation (you will still need to wear SPF – yes, even on cloudy days).
So, with all that in mind we’ve put together seven of our winter skincare heroes to help nourish, repair and restore your skin, whatever the next six months throw at you – weather wise, at least.
Sunday Riley
CEO 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum, £70
This intense serum has serious brightening effects for ‘meh’ winter skin. Great for uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation and general dullness. It will add a shot of glow in a flash.
Amanda Harrington
Ultimate Gradual Tan, £23
If your skin needs a bit of life breathing back into it, Amanda Harrington’s clever gradual tan will imbue just enough warmth to help you look perky and rested, but without venturing into ‘fake tan’ territory. It’s packed with hydrating hyaluronic acid, nourishing shea butter and skin-quenching aloe leaf juice. The perfect winter pick-me-up.
Emma Hardie
Moringa Cleansing Balm, £47
Emma Hardie’s cult Moringa cleansing balm has won nineteen beauty industry awards in the last decade. Dubbed a ‘spa in a jar’ by its loyal following, the botanical balm deeply cleanses without stripping the skin to rebalance, hydrate and minimise the appearance of pores. It has Moringa seed extract, wild sea fennel and a heady aroma of essential oils of orange, neroli, mandarin, jasmine and rose for a deeply restorative scent as it cleanses and conditions your skin.
ESPA
Rescue Balm, £29
A great rescue balm to keep in your winter arsenal to soothe chapped or stressed skin is this blend of calming blackcurrant seed, manuka and Tamanu oils from ESPA. It has antioxidant sea fennel to restore and protect skin that needs some TLC.
Caudalie
Glycolic Peel, £22
If your skin is dry (thanks central heating, it will be less efficient at shedding its dead cells – the main cause of dull, lifeless skin. Add in a chemical exfoliant or peel now to eat away those dead cells and leave skin bright and pigmentation reduced.
Drunk Elephant
Virgin Marula Facial Oil, £34
Adding in a night oil to your skincare come winter is a good investment. The last step in your nightly routine, it will seal in the hydrating properties of your serums and mists to boost hydration, while many contain powerful antioxidants to repair the day’s damage. Drunk Elephant’s signature Marula Facial Oil is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores. It is packed with omegas 6 and 9 helping to rejuvenate and replenish skin as you sleep.
Weleda
Skin Food, £7.95
Add a tube of Weleda’s magic Skin Food to your handbag, desk and nightstand and you’ll be reaching for it constantly between now and spring. A great fixer, the super-concentrated cream is great for hands, heels, chapped skin and anywhere that needs a hit of super nourishing hydration.
By Lydia Mansi
November 2020
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