Winter can be a cosy time, with pause for self-care and reflection, plus plenty of piping hot cups of your favourite tea, not to mention the perfect excuse for weekend sleep-ins. It's important to embrace the cooler months of the year and revel in the positives, however, the thick of winter can definitely play havoc with your skin. If you’re going to be out and about in frosty temperatures and powerful winds, make sure your skin is protected. Even though the sun may not feel as hot as summer, winter weather conditions can be equally damaging to the skin. If the sun is shining on a cool winter's day, then skin needs even more protection from it, as chilly winds combined with high UV are a recipe for premature ageing.
Yes, the cool months mean giving your skin a little extra TLC. Here are our inside out tips on how to manage your skin and survive the winter.
- Never skip SPF
Whatever month of the year, remember you’re still at risk of the dangers of the sun. Even on a cloudy day, those UV rays penetrate through so don’t be tempted to skip sunscreen when the sun is hiding! If you’re a skier, remember the UV light is very intense when skiing because you’re at a high altitude in the mountains. This means there’s less atmosphere so UV rays aren’t filtered as easily as when you’re on the ground. In fact, skiers expose themselves to as much as double UV when on the slopes.
In winter, it's important to still apply a natural, SPF50 sunscreen each day as part of your routine. Natural sunscreens are zinc-based so will provide physical protection against UVA and UVB rays. The wonderful advantage of using a natural sunscreen is that in addition to providing broad-spectrum UV protection they will also protect again blue light which is becoming even more important given the time we are all spending in front of our screens. Basking Beauty Natural Sunscreen is a vegan, natural sunscreen formula which includes anti-ageing Rosehip and vitamin C-rich Kakadu Plum Seed Oil. Apply the sunscreen as the final step in your skincare routine after your serum, face oil and makeup if you are applying it.
- Up your hydration game!
Your skin dehydrates fast in cold, windy weather. Dehydrated skin looks dry, parched and shows up fine lines and wrinkles. A skin crying out for moisture will also age faster than a well-hydrated complexion. We recommend drinking at least 2 litres of water a day, so get yourself a good water bottle! Not only does it flush out toxins and impurities to reveal a clearer looking complexion, but it also works hard to plump skin from within. If you drink 2 litres of water a day every day for a month, you will definitely see a noticeable improvement in the plumpness of your skin. You’ll also notice that it’s clearer, with fewer breakouts and blemishes than before. Fancy something a little more exciting? Try a Native Collagen Powder latte for a warming drink which doubles as a collagen boost. This plant-based collagen contains an abundance of Vitamin-C and antioxidants to help to support your body’s production of collagen and reduce free radical damage which depletes collagen stores. To make your latte, use 2 teaspoons of the powder, dissolve in hot water, add a touch of stevia and a cup of almond, rice or oat milk. Add a teaspoon of beetroot powder for an extra nutrient (and colour) boost.
Quick Fix: Sometimes it happens - you simply don't get enough water in or your skin gets super dehydrated from the wind. When you need to boost your complexion in a flash, our Bloom of Youth Infusion Sheet Masks will come to your rescue! Bamboo Extract, Ribose, Swertia Chirata and Hyaluronic Acid to infuse the skin for maximum skin cell renewal and anti-ageing action, plumping up your complexion with a noticeable difference in just 20 minutes.
- Deeply nourish the skin
In the cold weather, take time to really give your skin a moisturising treat. Nothing beats & Cocoa Bliss Intensive Repair which doubles up as a mask Hydrating, calming and nourishing, it replenishes lost moisture and helps cell renewal, ultimately boosting collagen production. It's rich in vitamin E, which is excellent for repairing broken capillaries - when it’s very windy, the skin can often experience capillary problems and these show up as red marks on the surface of the skin.
Adding a face oil into your skincare arsenal can also be a lifesaver in the wintertime. The & Snowflower Illuminating Face Oil contains a cocktail or rejuvenating and collagen-boosting botanicals, whilst also being highly absorptive, so it won't leave your skin greasy but deeply hydrated, soft and glowing.
- Prioritise beauty sleep
When you sleep, your skin repairs itself, so aim to get 7-8 hours a night. In cold temperatures, give your skin an extra hand with the & Sleeping Beauty Purifying Mousse, which is an oil-balancing and hydrating night mask. Pink Clay and Zeolite work to purify congested pores, Avocado Oil balances sebum production and hormonal breakouts, whilst Aloe Vera soothes redness. Simply pop it on before you hit the sack and wake up with beautiful looking skin that glows with good health.
- Take extra care with your eye area
Pay attention to the eye area, as the skin here is thin and delicate, making it prone to drying out in cold weather conditions. This leads to your peepers appearing dull and increases the likelihood of fine lines and crow’s feet. Our & Gold Rush Eye Cream contains prized beauty ingredient including pure 24k gold leaf, comes in handy when the eye area needs to be refreshed and rejuvenated, unleashing a wave of brightening, de-puffing and moisture-locking actions. We also love using the Exotic Seed of Youth Oil on the eye area for intense hydration and anti-ageing.
