As the evenings get darker and the temperature drops, your skin can be the first to feel the effect.
In fact, searches for ‘how to treat dry skin on face’ have increased by 250 per cent in the last month alone.
Dr Dave Reilly, Senior Scientist at Absolute Collagen has explained why skin can appear drier and duller in the winter months:
“Most people know the impact that the summer weather and UV rays can have on skin but not everyone is aware you need to take just as much care of your skin in colder winter months. With the humidity of summer gone and the dry winter air coming in, you may notice your skin feels less hydrated leading to drier, duller, and more sensitive skin that is prone to redness and cracking.
“To help keep your skin looking fresh and you feeling your best, it’s important to do your best to maintain your skin’s moisture. Drinking plenty of water and staying on top of SPF is important all year round, but it can also be beneficial to winter-proof your skincare routine with a more intense night-time ritual, as well as investing in home products like humidifiers.”
To help those looking to switch up their routine, the experts at Absolute Collagen have shared five ways to ensure your skin stays glowy this winter.
- Drink plenty of water
Drinking water in summer can feel like second nature, as you sweat and try to stay cool, a chilled glass of water is something most of us reach for.
However, our thirst response diminishes in winter as the cold weather means we are losing less body water through sweat. You can often find yourself coming to the end of the day without having drunk enough liquids.
It is important to drink plenty of water throughout the day. So, if you do find you struggle to stay on top of this, you could pick up a time marked water bottle to keep by your desk or on the go with you as a reminder to keep sipping to stay hydrated.
- Boost with supplements
Knowing which supplements work and which don’t can sometimes be an overwhelming task, but there are supplements that can boost the brightness of your skin.
The body naturally produces collagen to support healthy and firmer skin. By taking collagen supplements you can boost your natural glow. In fact, a recent study of 130 participants by Absolute Collagen found that 80% of people taking collagen supplements said that their skin felt brighter.
It can be beneficial to take vitamin D supplements as well, particularly during the winter months, as the shorter days mean we don’t get enough high-quality sunlight for our body to make its own vitamin D.
- Don’t toss the SPF
While SPF creams and lotions are typically associated with summer and sun, it is just as important to keep on top of your SPF application in winter as well.
While it is true that the sun and UV rays are both more intense in summer than in the colder months, there is still a considerable amount of UV radiation during the winter that can cause damage.
No SPF can block out all of the harmful UV rays, but an SPF factor 30 will block out the vast majority at 97 per cent. While factor 30 is the standard recommended protection, don’t forget to check that your sunscreen will offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
So, even though it might feel silly to apply SPF when the sun is nowhere to be seen, it can help protect your skin, keeping it glowy all winter long.
- Keep your skin moisturised
Drinking enough water is not the only way to retain your skin’s moisture during winter.
As the temperature lowers, we start to feel the chill more in our homes and turn on the heating to fix it. However, while this may make you feel warm and cosy, what you don’t see is the air drying out and the impact this has on your skin.
To counteract this, investing in a humidifier to return some of this moisture to the air and your skin can be beneficial. When the heating goes on, so does the humidifier.
A fun evening activity in winter is to make your own facemasks. Ingredients like honey, yoghurt, avocado, and banana are great to add a bit of moisture to your skin. If you’d rather pick a facemask up from the shop, go for one that contains one or two of those products.
- Adjust your skincare routine
You don’t have to do a total overhaul of your skincare routine, the last thing you want is to be testing out a range of different potentially irritating products when your skin is already more sensitive than usual.
However, creating a more moisture-intense routine at night, and investing in products to lock in that moisture can keep your skin feeling hydrated and fresh during the day.
Products like glycerine or rose water mix are great to apply on top of moisturisers, creams, and oils to ensure the products are protected and your skin can fully absorb them.
As the air dries, our lips can dry out too causing us to lick them more often to keep them feeling moisturised. Licking your lips too much can dry them out even more over time, so adding a lip balm to your winter skincare routine is just as essential as a moisturiser or SPF.
So, there you have it, 5 simple ways to protect your skin from the elements this winter.
For more skincare advice, visit the Absolute Collagen website.