With Christmas only around the corner, the talk of snow approaching in the coming days and the long, gloomy nights, it’s safe to say winter is definitely here. Many of us will be looking forward to a well-earned rest, some time away from work and spending time with friends and family. One thing many of us may not be thinking about is can the cold weather has an impact on our skin.
The answer is YES, it can!
So what steps can we take to keep our skin in near-perfect condition over these winter months?
Hydrate
During these colder months, we tend to spend more time inside with the heating on. While outside, the cold winter air can have an immense drying effect on the skin, as it holds less moisture than warmer air. For both of these reasons, our skin tends to dry out during the winter months.
To help combat this, start by keeping as hydrated as possible, by drinking plenty of water. This applies especially around the party season when alcoholic beverages tend to be consumed. Alcohol causes dehydration, so if you are going to out, it is really important you keep yourself really well-hydrated.
Adding moisture to the air in the home will also help, by investing in a humidifier. A really good moisturiser will lock in any moisture and prevent your skin from drying out. Applying your moisturiser on slightly damp skin will also help prevent your skin form drying out. I tend to switch to the Obagi Hydrate Luxe or the Obagi Hydro-drops during the winter months. Both products are great for men and women alike. (I personally use the Obagi Hydrate Luxe as post shave moisturiser!) Both of these products are in the top 5 selling Obagi products and can be purchased online by clicking here! I recently spoke to Haul of Fame about why I love Obagi Products and they have done an in-depth review of bestselling Obagi products- click here to read the article.
Another great way to improve the moisture levels and texture of your skin, as well as stimulate collagen production is to book in for a course of Profhilo injections. Profhilo is highly concentrated hyaluronic acid, which is injected into 10 specific points across the face. Hyaluronic acid loves water and draws in massive amounts of moisture into the face, giving you the typical ‘Profhilo Glow’ soon after treatment. The injected Profhilo then integrates with the skin and stimulates the body to start producing more collagen, which is great for restoring elasticity and that youthful bounce.
For more information on Profhilo, and its benefits, check out this article that I recently wrote about it by clicking here.
Change up your Retinol
Retinol is the silver bullet when it comes to skin care; everyone should be on some form of retinol for its long-term benefits! However, as many of you who have used retinol products (including retinol and tretinoin) are aware, it can cause the skin to peel and dry out, especially when you start using it, or increase the strength of the retinol. During the winter months, I advised my patients to decrease the frequency of their retinol usage. Instead of applying it every night, I tend to advise patients to use it every other night. On the nights you do use it, really layer up on a thick moisturiser afterwards, to minimise any drying and irritating side-effects.
Sun Protection
Photodamage is the most common cause of skin ageing. This is caused by UV radiation from sun beating down on our skin, causing changes at a cellular level. Over time, this damage leads to visible changes in the skin which can causes us to look older than our actual age! This is why sunscreen is so important. Even during the winter months, it is impossible to escape the UV rays. Sunscreen should be worn all year round to help maintain healthy skin. Click here to explore our range of sunscreens, which can help give you all year round protection!
Vitamin C
Many of us associate vitamin C products as a great way to improve our immunity and fight off the dreaded colds and flu at this time of year. Vitamin C serums are also great for your skin. They help bring life back to tired, dull looking skin. Vitamin C is a potent anti-oxidant which is great at fighting off all the nasty free radicals that exist in the environment around us. These free radicals can cause damage to skin at a cellular level, which over time can lead to us look more aged and tired than we should!
Vitamin C can also help with the following:
- Promoting collagen production
- Helping to even out uneven skin tone and pigmentation
- Improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Skin brightening
Obagi Vitamin C serums come in three strengths; 10%, 15% and 20%. I tend to recommend the 15% for most skin types. If you find that your skin is more oily, then the 20% is probably better suited to your skin type. If your skin is especially dry or sensitive, then it is best to look at the 10% serum.
Most of the products discussed in this article can be bought from our online shop by clicking here. I recently was quoted in an excellent article by Haul of Fame, in which they discussed the top 5 selling Obagi Products and I would highly recommend that you have a read of that article by clicking here.
As always, if you are unsure which skincare care products would suit your skin concerns, then feel free to book a consultation with myself by clicking here. During the consultation, we can put together a personalised treatment plan for you in order to get the results that you wish to achieve!