How to achieve your skincare goals throughout winter

Written by Joanna

Winter blues not only impacts our well-being but we also have to combat the effect it has on our skin. When our skin is exposed to the cold air, indoor heating, low humidity levels and harsh winter winds it can draw out the moisture from the skin and cause it to feel rough in texture, redness, flakiness, itchiness and tightness in the skin, and may cause raw, irritated skin with sensations of stinging or burning. This can therefore lead to dry, dehydrated skin and even skin conditions such as eczema or dermatitis which is often a common trigger during the cold winter months.

Prevention is always best before you start experiencing skin conditions that can take forever to subside. The simplest solution is boosting the skin’s hydration and the key is selecting the right skincare regime for your skin type. Avoiding ingredients that have fragrance or alcohol that may irritate an already dry or sensitized skin or eczema prone skin. Tweaking your routine during the colder months by opting for a creamy cleanser or switching for a richer night cream or adding in a hyaluronic acid serum can do wonders for your skin and you will be doing your skin a favor, adjust your routine according by understanding what your skin needs.

We all love the feel of hot water on our face, especially on a cold winter’s day, unfortunately the truth is hot water on the skin can weaken the barrier as it strips the skin of its natural oils, which results in drying out the skin…therefore compromising the moisture barrier. It’s extremely hard to make the switch to lukewarm water, but your skin will thank you in years to come. A great hydrating cleanser I would recommend would be PCA creamy cleanser.  It Feels luxurious and is PH balance to respect the moisture level but still thoroughly removing makeup, oils and debris off the skin.

I’m a firm believer of serums as it prevents, protects and nourishes the skin. Most of all it treats the skin deeper than the surface level as it absorbs much more effectively. Majority of us are often dehydrated. That tightness you may be experiencing throughout the day is most likely your skin crying out for water. Dehydration is a lack of water in the skin and throughout the day the skin can deplete in water loss. PCA hydrating serum OR PCA hyaluronic serum is excellent for retaining water in the skin as its holds 1000 times its weight in water and binds the water in our skin, resulting in plumper, smoother and more hydrated skin.

Of course we must not forget our moisturizer and SPF. You may be wondering why on earth we are needing to wear SPF during winter!? Breaking news the UVA rays are still being transmitted onto our skin even on a cold, gloomy day and are still strong enough to age our skin. To nourish and hydrate eczema/dermatitis prone skin I would recommend PCA Rebalance. Great for all skin types and its lightweight texture hydrates, calms and soothes sensitive skin. Nourishing oils such as borage, primrose oil and Vitamin E and Niaciamide that is perfectly formulated for winter. Followed by PCA Weightless SPF 45 OR ASAP daily moisturizing 50+.

We have the tendency to only hydrate our skin topically why not boost hydration internally too. Having sufficient fatty acids in our diet is vital for prevention of dry skin and also improves eczema conditions. Bestow Beauty Plus provides the body with EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids). A blend of cold-pressed organic flax seed oil, hemp oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, evening primrose oil and blackcurrant seed oil that has been formulated to deliver the best balance of healthy fats for skin health.

Take time out for yourself and focus on your self-care needs it will do amazing not only for your skin but well-being too! Unsure where to begin? Book in for a skin consultation and we will personalize your skincare regime tailored to your budget, lifestyle and goals.