The Winter Skin SOS Guide
Because your skin is (probably) one cold breeze away from a minor breakdown
If I had a euro for every conversation I’ve had about dehydrated, stressed, tired, winter-bashed, or barrier-damaged skin over the last couple of weeks, I’d be a very wealthy woman (which would be great, because then I could retire and write Substack full-time).
Winter really does a number on our skin. Cold outside, warm inside, wind, rain, and oh yes - it’s also one of the most stressful times of the year. Fun.
All of that takes a toll (especially if you’re unwell, run-down, on medication, or dealing with a battered skin barrier) - and when it does, your skin can feel tight, dehydrated, hot, sore, red and irritated. It can also look flaky, pinched, dull, and just generally pissed off.
So the goal - especially when it’s cold AF - is to simplify, be gentle, and bring your skin back to life with the right products and habits (lifestyle tweaks can play a big role, too).
Here are my sure-fire, tried-and-tested tips to help your skin repair, recover (and thrive!) during the colder months (and whenever life is generally doing a number on you).
Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser
As I said, your skin is (probably) one cold breeze away from a nervous breakdown in the winter months, so it's important to use gentle, hydrating cleansers (nothing active - no exfoliating, barrier-stripping cleansers when your skin is not feeling itself).
Oil-based, milk-based, nourishing cream cleansers are your best friends for the next couple of months. Your skin should always feel comfortable and hydrated after cleansing. If it feels tight, or dry, it means that the product you're using has disrupted your skin barrier, and stripped it of lipids - and we absolutely don’t want that.
My go-to, winter-friendly, barrier-loving cleansers for all skin-types are:
Exfoliate less
Yes, exfoliating is so important for getting rid of dead skin cells, improving skin texture, and helping other products work more effectively, BUT - we need to adjust the frequency in colder weather as our skin is more prone to dryness, redness, and irritation.
I generally recommend exfoliating no more than once a week this time of year (unless you have very oily skin) with AHA or BHA exfoliants, and make sure to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, after you exfoliate.
AHAs are the exfoliants that work on the surface of your skin to slough away dead skin cells and improve texture. Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, etc. Like The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner and Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads.
BHAs are the exfoliants that work deeper in the skin, unclogging pores, reducing breakouts and redness. Salicylic Acid, etc. Like Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, or Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Peels Pads (which uses a combination of both AHAs and BHAs).
Embrace LED Light Therapy
If you haven’t invested in an at-home LED device already, there’s no better time than the winter months. LED is fantastic for calming the skin, reducing redness and inflammation, and boosting circulation
And because it works to repair and regenerate the skin, it can strengthen your skin barrier, helping it to retain moisture and resist dryness. It’s an all-rounder, basically.
I use Current Body Series 2 LED Face Mask five times a week (on clean, dry skin). You can still use my code SSCRIBES for 10% off, FYI.
They also have an LED Light Therapy Panel which I’ve recently got my hands on. This can be used on the face, hands, back, anywhere.
Take shorter, cooler showers
Long, hot showers (as much as we love them when it’s freezing outside) can strip essential moisture from the skin and leave it feeling dry, tight and no bueno.
If you can, try to take shorter showers, that are warm or lukewarm (not hot) - your skin will be significantly happier, comfortable, and less dehydrated as a result.
Also, an easy hydration hack - when you do have a shower or a bath, a great way to instantly trap moisture in your skin afterwards is to lash on a body oil or thick body cream to damp skin.
These are my absolute favourite products for in-shower and post-shower hydration (and they’re suitable for very dry, dehydrated, eczema prone skin):
Switch up your moisturiser
It's time to put a lid on your lightweight cream and gel moisturisers, and introduce a thicker, creamier moisturiser for winter months. Look for ones with ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycerin, that will hydrate, prevent moisture loss, and work to repair your skin barrier. Because it’s all about TLC, baby.
Some of my all-time favourite moisturisers for winter include:
Apply your products to damp skin
Damp skin is easier to penetrate than dry skin, and anything that's hydrating, or water-loving (like hydrating serums and moisturisers) will hold on to moisture for much longer if you provide it.
So, spritz or mist your skin with a little water (I use Avene Eau Thermale Mist but normal water is fine) or use an essence (like Poco Beauty Skin Flood Ceramide Water) before applying serums and moisturiser and it will change your skincare game.
(Also, an important side note: exfoliating acids, retinol and any prescription or acne medications should always be applied to dry skin.)
Use calming products when you need them
When my skin is having a big reaction, when I’ve over-exfoliated, or when it’s generally very irritated, red, itchy, sore or tight, these are the miracle-working products I reach for to calm, soothe, repair and restore my skin barrier, quickly.
Wear sunscreen
While there's definitely less UVB rays around, UVA levels are still high. These rays can cause fine lines, wrinkles, and general aging of the skin. UVA can also penetrate glass, which is why it's important to wear SPF every single day, even when indoors.
It's also important to note that lower UVB levels means lower Vitamin D production, and so now might be a good time to introduce a Vitamin D supplement, if you're not taking one already.
And that is it, my friends. I hope this is helpful in some way, and see you next week!
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This was so useful, thanks Simone-I think I might have had a reaction to the rhode, which has absolutely devastating… ! I wondered if you had any recommendations of a glowy moisturiser, please?
Love the comments on water temperature, literally such a simple thing that makes all the difference.