Winter Skin Care
Going from Summer to Autumn and Winter can dramatically affect the look and feel of your skin in many ways.
During Summer especially here in Melbourne, the temperatures are warm, humidity levels increase and the body tends to sweat and perspire more. The skin can become oilier and prone to pimples and acne breakouts. Simple steps such as swapping your cleanser to a glycol cleanser for example and changing to a lighter moisturiser may be all you need to combat the harsh climate changes and to see a noticeable improvement.
Once the cooler weather comes around you may begin to notice further changes in your skin and find that surprisingly it is more difficult to look after your skin in winter then it is in summer. Spending more time indoors with heating usually turned up very high, going in and out of the car and office, windy days and low humidity all negatively contribute to the unwanted changes we notice in our skin during these seasons.
Winter weather does not just affect your face but your body also. The colder weather and drier conditions can result in dryness & flakiness leaving your skin looking dull and feeling tight, coarse and uncomfortable. You may find that you need to moisturise your body more often particularly the arms and legs which have fewer oil glands. These areas of the body can feel especially dry in winter.
You do not have to change your entire skincare routine just because the season has changed, but if you are noticing changes in your skin through the colder seasons it is most likely caused by environmental factors and making a few simple changes can make a big difference to the way your skin looks and feels.
You may have found a moisturiser works just fine in spring and summer, but as weather conditions change, your moisturiser just does not seem to be doing enough. Look at swapping to a richer moisturiser, possibly oil based if it is suited to your skin type.
Exfoliating can really help; How often are you currently exfoliating? If it’s only once a week then you may want to increase that to 2 – 3 times per week. Dehydrated, dry skin cell turnover is often slower during winter and exfoliating 2 to 3 times a week can help remove the buildup of dead skin cells. This will also allow your moisturiser to penetrate and absorb into your skin more effectively, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and revitalised
Sunscreen. Just because Summer is gone does not mean the sun has too! It is still up there and so sunblock should still be applied daily. Exposure to the sun is the biggest cause of ageing to the skin. An spf30+ or higher is recommended and applied daily is one of the best preventatives of premature aging.
It’s very easy to remember to stay hydrated in summer but as the weather cools down it’s no longer a priority and most of us forget to drink the suggested minimum of 8 glasses of water per day. Drinking plenty of water is a simple step you can take to maintain healthy skin throughout any season. Adding foods high in omega 3 fatty acids is also another great way to boost hydration. If you’re not eating enough of these foods such as fish, salmon, soybeans, flaxseeds & walnuts it is recommended to incorporate these foods into your diet to see dramatic improvements in your skin.
Speak to a specialist. A qualified skin expert will be able to assess your skin and advise on changes and adjustments you may need to make to your skincare routine to ensure that what you are using at home is suited to your skin type and condition.
Summer- Slip, Slop, Slap
Winter – Exfoliate, Moisturise, Slather on the Sunscreen
Must have products: Skinstitut Glycolic Scrub & Skinstitut Age defence SPF50+
Contact us for a free consultation to learn from our experts how you can take the best care of your skin.