Caring for Your Skin in Winter

Will your skin thrive in the colder months?

The winter cold in Australia can be harsh on your skin. To keep you and your skin well hydrated and healthy, apply the right skincare products on your skin and eat suitable food. Read on for help on how your skin can survive and thrive in the colder months!

The Best Products to use on Your skin in Winter

Winter brings dry air, wind and cold. This can cause your skin to become flaky and dry, because your skin loses moisture at a faster rate in winter. And if you already have dry skin it can worsen.

Use a Thicker Texture

Did you know the ingredients and texture of your products plays an important role in keeping your skin supple, moist and hydrated? For dry or aging skin, use products that are rich and creamy in texture, because they will hold the moisture in better. Therefore use a moisturising cream or an all-oil based serum for best results.

Prevent Moisture Loss

Check that your skincare contains ingredients that are going to support you during winter. Emollient and humectant ingredients help you retain moisture.

Emollients

Ingredients that prevent water loss and have a softening and soothing effect on your skin

• Myrica fruit (bayberry) wax
• Beeswax
• Shea butter
• Jojoba butter
• Mango butter
• Sweet almond butter
• Camellia oil
• Argan oil
• Safflower oil
• Borage oil
• Rose hip oil
• Rice bran oil
• Aloe vera juice

Humectant

Ingredients which attract and hold moisture in your skin

• Glycerine
• Hyaluronic acid

Maintain Skin Health and Appearance

Antioxidant ingredients help to reduce the signs of aging that cold dry conditions can cause. Look for these antioxidant ingredients in your skincare.

Antioxidants

Ingredients help tighten and tone, calm inflamed skin and reduce signs of aging. It does this by limiting the destructive effects of free radicals.

• White tea
• Green tea
• Vitamin E (natural)
• Vitamin C or Vitamin C ester (ascorbyl palmitate)

Layer your Skincare Products

Survive and thrive in the colder months: layer products on your skin to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. Like getting dressed for winter: put on under clothing, thermals, a long sleeve shirt, then a jumper, a jacket, then scarves and a warm hat. The same goes for your skin. Layer products starting with a lighter texture first and finish with the heaviest texture.

A Winter Skincare Routine

Try this skincare routine in the morning if you experience dry skin during winter:

1. Clean your face with gentle cleanser, one with no harsh chemicals and preservatives that can dry your skin.
2. Apply a toner that is non-drying. Look for a toner that contains glycerine, as it is a humectant that helps to hold in moisture. Avoid alcohol and witch hazel as these can dry your skin.
3. Put on serum that is oil based with a low chance of clogging of your pores. Clogged pores can result in whiteheads, blackheads and irritated and inflamed skin.
4. Apply a moisturiser with nutrient rich ingredients like shea butter, jojoba butter, argan oil, borage oil, safflower oil or camellia oil.
5. A broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+, if your moisturiser does not contain sun protection. Wait 10 minutes or so to let the sunscreen sink into your skin before applying your make-up.
6. Start your make-up routine.

Sunscreen is important, as it protects your skin from sun damage and premature aging. In hot seasons wear a wide brim hat and sunglass for further protection and to help your skin age gracefully. Look for sunscreen with active ingredients that are the least likely to cause skin irritation or inflammation - such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Do a patch test on your skin to see if there's a reaction first.

A Winter Night-time Routine

For a night time routine to help with dry skin, simply perform steps 1 to 4 just before going to bed, and omit the sunscreen and makeup!

What Food is Good for Healthy Skin in Winter?

To feel your best during winter eat food that's good for your gut, because that will promote healthy skin. But what kinds of food will benefit your gut, skin and overall health? Let's look at prebiotic and probiotic foods as well as flavoursome herbs and see how they can contribute to healthy skin in winter.

5 Prebiotic Foods

Prebiotic food is food for probiotic and is great for gut health. These prebiotic foods are packed with nutrients that help you and your skin stay healthy in winter. Below are 5 prebiotic foods that you can include in your meals:

1. Raw garlic
2. Raw and cooked onion
3. Raw and cooked leeks
4. Berries - blackberries, blue berries, etc
5. Seeds - sunflower seeds and flaxseed

5 Probiotic Foods

Probiotic foods are live microorganisms (good bacteria) that live inside your gut. They aid in digestion by cleaning out the gut and keep things flowing. They need to be fed by prebiotic foods to remain active and beneficial to your health and skin. It's best to get them from a reputable health food shop. You could even make your own at home. Below are 5 probiotic foods that you can consume in winter:

1. Yogurt
2. Kefir
3. Sauerkraut
4. Kim chi
5. Miso

7 Herbs to Add to your Cooking

Fresh herbs are wonderful for flavouring your food or drink. They are packed with antioxidants and have anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, healing and soothing properties that you and your skin will love. Below are 7 herbs that benefit your overall health and skin:

1. Ginger
2. Tumeric
3. Peppermint
4. Oregano
5. Flat leave parsley
6. Basil
7. Rosemary

5 Other Wellbeing Rituals for you to Enjoy

1. Drink 6 - 8 cups of filtered water a day
2. Exercise - 30 minutes of walking a day
3. Drink 2 - 3 cups of white, green, peppermint or chamomile tea a day
4. Eat plenty of brightly coloured fruits and vegetables (oranges, mandarin, lemon, red and green capsicum, dark leafy greens)
5. Eat wild caught Atlantic Salmon once a week

Moderation is important as too much of one thing is not balanced. Prebiotic and probiotic food is best eaten raw as some of the health benefit is lost during cooking.

Conclusion

You can have comfortable and confident skin during the winter months by treating your skin to good skincare and food habits. Good food supports your wellbeing and the health of your skin. And the right skincare can help you to keep your skin hydrated and nourished.

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