Keep your skin hydrated this winter .

Say goodbye to dry skin with these super-hydrating facial moisturisers, tips and DIY facemasks

YOU’D be hard-pressed to find anyone saying the first thing they noticed about you is your skin. It’s usually eyes that make an impact, lips that attract attention or hair that draws admiration and envy in equal measure. Yet if your skin is dry and dull, it has a huge effect on how you look – and can add years to your appearance, no matter your age.

It’s not just the absence of a dewy glow that makes a difference. Dry skin looks and feels rough and make-up doesn’t apply well to it. And now with winter (hello, dry air and negative effects of heaters!) many of us are prone to dry skin even if we don’t feel it the rest of the year.

But you can sport seriously sexy skin this season by following the right regime. And there are plenty of tips and tricks that won’t bust your budget.

The key is to find products that work for you – and to be consistent in how you apply them. We show you how.

CLEAN UP

Start with regular cleansing – it removes dirt, gets rid of dead skin cells and unclogs pores. If you don’t get this stage right, it will have a knock-on effect because the other products won’t work as well as they should. Winter weather can have a harsh effect on your skin so opt for a facewash and exfoliator that are gentle, soap-free or moisturising. Quick tip Use a facial sponge or a facial cleansing brush with your facewash for deep cleansing.

MOISTURISE

Look for a moisturiser that says “added moisture” or “highly moisturising”. You can apply a serum after cleansing but always follow it with a moisturiser.

Moisturisers can perform more than one task – they brighten and rejuvenate and have anti-ageing properties. You can use the same moisturiser during the day and at night or, if you can afford to, get yourself a night cream (try to splurge on this if you have very dry skin).

Apply a hydrating mask after exfoliating or after a deep cleanse once a week. Fast fact Yes it’s winter, but you need to apply sunscreen daily – even if your moisturiser and make-up have an SPF.

CLEANSE & MOISTURISE

1 Wet your face with water before you apply your facewash. 2 Place a small amount of facewash on your fingertips, rub your hands together then gently rub facewash onto your face. 3 Rub your facewash in circular motions all over your face for about a minute. 4 Rinse with warm (not hot) water then reapply facewash, depending on how dirty your skin is, and repeat the second step. Or you can now apply an exfoliator and rub it in as you did your facewash in the third step. 5 If you’re using a cleansing facial brush, do so in place of an exfoliator. Don’t use the brush with an exfoliator or one after the other on the same day; it would be too harsh on your skin. 6 Wet your cleansing facial brush, apply a small amount of facewash and gently move the brush in circular motions all over your face, avoiding the eye area. 7 Rinse your face with warm water once done then pat your skin dry with a clean towel. 8 Immediately after, apply serum or moisturiser using your fingertips. 9 Rub in your moisturiser well. 10 Apply sunscreen then make-up as desired.

MARVELLOUS DIY FACEMASKS

You can make and apply your own mask at home.

Rinse it off with warm water and pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Apply moisturiser immediately afterwards.

Follow up with sunscreen for the day or night cream in the evening.

Honey and milk mask

S Mix a tablespoon of honey with a teaspoon of milk until they form a paste. S Apply to your face using your fingers, avoiding the eye area, and leave on for three minutes.

Banana mask

S Using a fork, mash half a ripe banana in a saucer until smooth. S Use your fingers to apply the mashed banana to your face, avoiding the eye area, and leave on for three minutes.

Avocado mask

S Scoop half a ripe avocado into a saucer. S Using a fork, mash the avocado until smooth. S Use your fingers to apply the avocado to your face, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for three minutes.

DON’T

S Sleep with make-up on, especially if you have dry skin. Makeup irritates the skin and blocks pores. S Use hot water to wash your face; it strips the skin of moisture. S Skip applying moisturiser – it has a negative effect on everything that comes afterwards. S Leave the container of your moisturiser open – it can collect bacteria that can spoil the contents. S Mix moisturisers in the hope of achieving a better blend. Some ingredients might cause a reaction on your skin when combined.

DO

S Remove make-up thoroughly before you go to bed. It’s okay to use a wet wipe first, cleanse, then moisturise. Or you can just wash off the make-up then moisturise. S Rely on your face wash and scrub to remove unwanted roughness and blackheads rather than picking at your skin with your fingers. S Keep your moisturiser in a cool dry place to keep its ingredients stable. S Stick to a moisturiser that works for your skin instead of constantly switching products.