Want to change up your skincare for winter or the cooler months to come? Winter may seem the perfect season for a hot cup of coffee, snuggling in cosy corners and enjoying all the sunshine you get. But when it comes to beauty, the cold weather is a sign to switch up your skincare routine. Constant exposure to heating and low temperatures can suck out the moisture from your face and strip off natural oils that keep it healthy. The cold weather also makes your skin prone to dryness, irritation, and redness.

Here are some tips on how you can step up your skincare for the winter months. There’s no need for an entire skincare haul, just a few product swaps and you’re all set!

Change to an oil, balm, or cream cleanser

Using foaming and salicylic-based cleansers is suitable for the skin but not during the winter season. Although these are great for removing excess dirt and oil, the sulfates and acid can easily dry up the skin. Instead, switch to cleansing balms, oils, or creams. These cleansers are just as effective and gentler because they do not disturb your skin barrier. The Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm is a powerful fragrant anti-ageing cleansing balm that melts into a rich cleansing oil to easily dissolve makeup and grime. Formulated with five rose extracts from around the world, it comes enriched with an extract of English Rose Oleo to calm and nourish the skin.

Opt for chemical exfoliators or skincare for winter

Exfoliating regularly, especially during winter, is good for your skin! It gets rid of all the dry, dead built-up skin and gives you a natural glow. Avoid using physical exfoliators that have particles or granules that scrub off the dead skin as these are more harmful and can even cause micro-tears. Instead, opt for chemical exfoliators with alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA), beta hydroxyl acid (BHA), or enzymes that gently dissolve the dead skin. Just remember not to overdo it, and exfoliate only two to three times a week. Erno Laszlo AHA Resurfacing Sleep Serum is a good example as this gentle yet powerful serum resurfaces your skin overnight. Containing a 15% AHA blend of lactic glycolic and citric acids plus actives from Wild Plum and Goji Berry it acts on your skin through a gentle chemical exfoliation process.

Use a moisturising toner

Toners have many benefits for your skin, including keeping it moisturised and plump. Plus, you can pick out specific formulas for your skin type so you are able to target common winter skin problems like acne, dryness, and even ageing! And while toners are good to use any day of the year, applying them during the cold season, gives your skin an extra boost of hydration. The results? Bouncy, smooth skin. The Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Purifying Toner is loved for its ability to leave the skin soft and supple. A dual-phase purifying facial toner – Phase One contains botanicals to gently cleanse and purify the skin while removing excess residue while phase 2 features ceramides to soothe and calm the skin. Perfect to spray on before you wear your serum or moisturiser.

A cream moisturizer is the best skincare for winter

The cardinal rule in winter skincare is to keep your skin moisturized. Light, lotion-based moisturisers may have been your skin’s BFF during the hot summer days, but it’s a whole different thing when it’s wintertime. Using cream moisturisers with heavier formulas work better on dry skin and also help protect your skin from further dryness. Remember, this applies not only to your face but also to the rest of your body! 
If you are still searching for the ultimate hydrator or skincare for the winter months, try the Aesop Camellia Nut Facial Hydrating Cream. This ultra-hydrating cream is formulated with nut and plant extracts and dissolves immediately into the skin. Better still, it delivers optimum moisture to most dehydrated parts of the skin and does not contain any artificial preservatives that could trigger sensitivities.

Sunscreen always, all day

You may question the need for sunscreen when the sun goes missing! But remembering that applying sunscreen is non-negotiable, come rain or shine. In fact, applying good sunscreen should never be removed from your skincare routine, even when you are indoors! Harmful UVA rays can still pass through heavy clouds, so even the sun is hiding, these UVA rays can still affect your skin.
Using sunscreen with sufficient SPF helps protect your dry, vulnerable skin from UVA damage. The EltaMD UV Daily Moisturizing Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 offers broad-spectrum protection and comes in a sheer, lightweight formula. It glides and absorbs into the skin quickly – so white cast here! Containing hyaluronic acid to boost moisture retention and diminish fine lines this rich in antioxidants product is the perfect skincare for the winter months.