As someone busy with my degree and several extracurriculars, I want my winter skincare routine to be as simple as possible while looking after my skin in the cold. Obviously, your winter skincare routine will be different to your summer one. Summer skincare is focused on looking after your skin in the sun (and salt water if by the beach), protecting it from the heat and making sure you remain hydrated. Winter skincare is very similar but with a few alterations; it is much more about protection and TLC due to the sharp changes between cold outdoors and heat indoors.
My skincare routine starts every day by washing my face with a basic face wash – either Boots own brand cucumber face wash, or Simple’s face wash. Both are kind to skin, moisturising, and a refreshing start to the day. Afterwards I apply a small amount of sun cream/moisturiser with SPF as the winter sun, while less harsh than the summer, can still cause skin damage and it is a great protection to get going with the day. I and many others also struggle with dry and cracking skin of hands during winter too, so using a small amount of white Nivea before leaving the house and taking a travel tube to replenish your hands throughout the day is great protection. During the day, carrying a small chapstick with agave in your pocket to apply to your lips regularly is very effective too.
Evening skincare is then when you can take a bit more time. I like to treat myself to a Beauty Sleep facemask from Lush once a week before showering and then using the cleanser Dark Angels, also from Lush. It has a gentle charcoal grit to exfoliate the skin and I use a softer moisturising wash, same as the morning, to remove the final residue. After that I like to apply CeraVe moisturiser to my upper arms where I have strawberry skin that blemishes and breaks more easily in winter. Finally, before I go to bed, I will often use a few drops of holistic face oil from local brands such as Moska and massage it into my face and neck to repair the damage from the biting wind and cold during the day.
Skincare need not have 10 steps or cost more than your food budget.
The main thing I want you to take from this advice is that a skincare routine need not have 10 steps or cost more than your food budget. Simple steps and regular routines will be much better than extensive methods that you have to wake up at 6am to do. Hopefully this will keep your skin looking healthy and happy all the way to spring!
