Chilly winds, negative temperatures, dry air, chapped lips, and cracked knuckles are clear indications of winter. These signs might seem like inevitable side effects of the season, but they don’t have to be. With the right advice and winter skincare treatment, you can protect your skin from winter dryness and repair damage. Dr Alek Nikolic, a renowned medical doctor in aesthetic medicine and owner of the online skincare store, SkinMiles, provides solutions to treat your tired winter skin, giving it a new lease on life until spring.
Healthy skin starts from within, so pay attention to your diet. Try to include foods rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. Equally as important is staying well-hydrated to combat this dryness.
Why winter wreaks havoc on your skin
To understand how winter can affect the skin, let’s quickly explain the skin barrier. This thin, outermost layer is your body’s largest organ and protects you by keeping good things in and bad things out. During winter, harsh weather can dry, dull, and deplete this barrier. It helps if you have a robust skincare routine to restore your skin barrier and fortify your defences. To protect the skin barrier from winter’s unfortunate effects, you need to feed it what it craves.
Moisturise!
Lips can be the first part of the face to show clear signs of cold weather. Avoid licking them – it will only make any reactions worse. To stop moisture loss, opt for a thick, oil-based moisturiser instead of a water-based cream and invest in good moisturisers which will help to lock in moisture and protect against external irritants.
You need to look for products that are lightweight and fast absorbing, benefitting both aging skin and dry skin with high oil content to provide a more effective barrier.
Here are Dr Nikolic’s moisturiser recommendations:
PHARMACERIS A-Lipo Sensilium Face Cream
SKINCEUTICALS Triple Lipid Restore
OPTIPHI Delta Rich Daily Hydration HyR
CERAVE Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25
Post-shower moisturization
Apply body lotion to damp skin directly after showering or bathing. This helps create a shield against moisture loss. Hot showers can make dry skin worse, aggravating what could already be a major skin problem.
Hot showers strip your body of its natural oil barrier, and you need that barrier to help trap moisture and keep your skin smooth and moist.
To keep your body, soft and smooth, make sure to use a rich oil-based body butter or moisturiser to deeply nourish the skin and keep it hydrated.
Here are Dr Nikolic’s post-shower recommendations:
Dermalogica phyto replenish body oil
BEAUTÉ PACIFIQUE Corpus Paradoxe Body Oil
DIRTY WORKS Bahama Balm-a Coconut Body Balm
THE SOLUTION Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Body Lotion
BABOR Ultimate Forming Body Cream
Gentle exfoliation
Not that you may need an excuse to apply a face mask, but if you haven’t started, winter is the best time for it. If your face looks dull and flaky, use a gentle exfoliating mask once a week.
Here are Dr Nikolic’s product recommendations for gentle masks:
NOVEXPERT SOS Ultra-Nourishing Mask
LUMI GLO The Hydration Booster Sheet Mask
ESTHEDERM Intensive Hyaluronic Mask
Bottom line
While most dry skin issues can be resolved with at-home remedies, seek medical attention if you experience symptoms like blisters, skin discoloration, bleeding, extreme redness, or swelling. These signs may indicate a more serious condition that requires professional care.
By following these steps, you can keep your skin healthy, hydrated, and protected throughout the winter season. With the right care, winter’s harsh elements won’t stand a chance against your well-defended skin barrier.
Dr Nikolic is a GP specialising in aesthetics in private practice. He is also founder of SkinMiles, an online store.
