Avoid Hot Baths
Take tepid showers rather than long skin-dehydrating hot baths. Also steer clear of foaming products for cleansing, as these tend to strip your skin of its essential oils, breaking down the skins protective hydration barriers.
Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise
The very best way to keep your skin strong and protected is to moisturise, moisturise and yes you heard it, moisturise. In my opinion this is the most important part of your winter skin SOS routine, to keep your skin protected, nourished and hydrated. Apply your moisturiser just after cleansing or showering, whilst the skin is still a little wet. This helps to lock extra moisture into the skin and minimises dehydration. This rule applies to face and body.
Less Licking
The delicate skin on your lips can get easily chapped and there’s the temptation to lick them for relief –don’t! Licking lips adds to the dehydration, so invest in a good lip balm and reapply frequently.
Hydrating Facials
Booking a course of skin boosting and hydrating facials every 2-3 weeks (course of 4-6 facials) can be a great way of maintaining the skin’s hydration barriers and repairing any damage.
Buff Up
A gentle exfoliation in winter is actually a great way of giving your skin a radiant glow. It removes complexion dulling dead skin cells and allows fresh healthy skin cells to reach the surface, resulting in skin that stays bright and healthy. Alpha hydroxy acids has moisture loving humectant properties, which help to hydrate.
Hand Help
Exposed to the elements, our hands often bear the brunt of the icy cold weather, so remember to protect them. Carry a tube of moisturising hand cream with you as you go about your day and apply liberally and regularly. At night swap this for an intensely moisturising night cream, which works overnight to hydrate your skin, so that you awake to silky smooth hands the next day.