If you're anything like me, as soon as the weather changes, all that hard work you put into looking after your skin, goes out the window! You finally get your skin looking clear and radiant throughout the summer, and then overnight the temperature falls, and so does your skin condition.
The Autumn/ Winter seasons can have drastic effects on your skin, and means that you need to give it some extra care. We all have that tendency to go home and turn up our central heating because its FREEZING out there, but this transition from cold to hot, and the general nature of central heating can really wear out your skin. So here are 8 really simple things you can do to avoid those breakouts and dry skin!
1.
Cleanse, Tone, Moisturise.
Cleanse, Tone Moisturise!!
In the colder seasons, it is so important to maintain a healthy skin care routine. In order to keep your skin clean, glowing, and fighting against the harsh weather conditions it is essential to cleanse, tone and moisturise morning and night.
During the night time your skin is undergoing a recovering process, where the blood flow in your skin is higher and physiological changes are occurring to the skin. Removing all traces of the oils, environment and make-up from your skin before bed helps this recovery process, slows down the ageing signs and lets your skin breathe and rejuvenate. Cleansing in the morning is just as important. Doing this prevents excess oil production and also removes all the dead skin cells from the surface of your skin from the night time where they have been sloughed off during skin recovery. This can't be removed with just water, so it is important to cleanse and tone.
All three steps act as a barrier process for the conditions you face this time of the year!
As for moisturising; it's cold, its windy and people are turning up their central heating- enough to make your skin go crazy. The key is to go for moisturisers that are more protective rather than overly moisturising. Too oily moisturisers can trap dead skin cells leaving it looking more dull. However if you do get quite dry skin, excellent moisturisers are ones that contain softening and protective ingredients such as Vitamin E and Aloe Vera. Nivea creams are also really nice for this time of year; they are a little more oily and keep your skin moisturised. As for the night, definitely try a night balm. Balms are great for keeping your skin hydrated and protected, and have helpful agents that aid the process of skin recovery. Below are some moisturisers and balms that I think are great!
2.
Use a Serum and/or a Pore Minimiser
Specialist products are so popular this time of the year. Personally I absolutely love a good serum! There are so many out there at the moment and they are good pre-moisturisers. At the moment I am using the Body Shop Aloe Protective Serum. It's such a great product and enhances the moisturised effect of the day cream. It makes my skin feel really smooth too! I also love using the Decleor Neroli Oil under my day cream' it calms my skin.
I have also recently started using a pore minimiser as well. They usually go over your moisturiser and these (generally) reduce your pores in those problem areas where you may get blackheads and clogging, helping to prevent break outs, giving you more even skin. They are also good for protecting your skin during the torrid weather conditions, and make your skin feel smooth, also acting as a very good primer for make up. Can't go wrong really! I have tried both the Clarins Pore Minimising serum and am now using the Body Shop Tea Tree pore minimiser. Both are really great products!
3.
Whip your hair back!
This might seem like either real common sense or just a silly thing to say but it seriously makes a difference! When you're at home, lounging in your trackies, scrape all your hair back and just tie it up. Get all of your hair out your face! Your hair is actually a major contributing factor to those annoying little blemishes around your face, and if you have a fringe, that can often cause problems too. Your hair can deposit all sorts on your face, so when you can, just give your skin some room and tie back your hair. Simple yet very effective!
I will be doing a post soon about simple winter up-do looks, so keep a look out!
4.
Don't forget to exfoliate and use face-masks
It is super important to exfoliate your skin roughly 2 times a week all year round, however during the winter months, it is even more important. Harsh weather conditions such as high winds and freezing temperatures, coupled with central heating can cause your skin to dry out quite severely. This causes your skin cells to die out at a much quicker rate.
Particularly as we age, these months are crucial for exfoliation as ageing slows down the cell turnover process. So the cold + ageing = not good (the things we have to go through right?!)
Any type of exfoliant, physical (scrubs) or chemical (peels) work in a similar way by removing the dead skin cells from the skin and promoting skin cell renewal, preventing dryness of the skin. Make sure you keep this up, its really important in keeping your skin revitalised this winter! Check out my Lemon and Sugar Homemade Exfoliator.
A for face masks, use a hydrating mask or warming mask this winter, 1-2 times a week. It will protect your skin from drying out, but also deeply cleanse and moisturise after you've been exposed to the harsh conditions. It will restore some life back into dull skin that is usually a result of this weather- that and being miserable because its cold outside! Stay tuned for my post of some fantastic homemade masks that you should try! They work wonders. In the mean time check out my post on the Avocado and Honey Homemade face mask- perfect for the winter!
Here are some face masks and exfoliators that you can buy, which are also totally awesome!
Stay tuned for part 2!!
Labels: LIFESTYLE, SKINCARE
