Face and body tips to winterproof skin
IT’S no secret that winter can wreak havoc on skin. New research has revealed that cold weather thins the skin, as cellular turnover slows down. Sadly there’s no respite when you get indoors as central heating sucks moisture out of the air, drying out skin and leaving it dull and flaky.
Luckily, help is at hand if you want to winterproof your skin – all you need to do is make some simple changes to your skincare routine.
SKINCARE SAVIOURS
Don’t use too many products at once. Skincare routines that combine lots of different ingredients can overload the skin and weaken its natural barrier.
Keep showers and baths lukewarm – hot water will dry out skin. For an extra moisture boost, apply body cream when skin is still damp. Try Neutrogena Body Boost, £4.99 (boots.com), which contains skin-plumping hyaluronic acid.
Steer clear of cleansing products that contain astringents such as alcohol or detergent. These will strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving the barrier exposed and susceptible to irritation. Use a gentle creamy cleanser such as
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YourGoodSkin Nourishing Hot Cloth Cleanser, £8.99 (boots.com).
Avoid grainy scrubs and instead use a chemical exfoliator, such as glycolic acid or fruit enzymes, that is gentle on skin. A light retinol cream will exfoliate skin overnight, boost collagen production and fade pigmentation marks but you must use an SPF during the day. Try La Roche-Posay Redermic R Retinol Overnight Treatment, £29.50 (boots.com).
Shaving your legs is a gentle way to exfoliate and means you won’t need to use a separate body scrub. To nourish skin, use a shaving oil rather than soap, such as Somersets Extra Sensitive Shaving Oil For Women, £6.49 (somersets.com).
Moisturise often, up to three times a day if your skin is feeling dry. Always apply from the neck to your forehead, massaging in upwards strokes. Try Eucerin AtoControl Face Care Cream, £12 (boots.com), which is packed with omega fatty acids from evening primrose and grape seed oils to soothe dry, tight and rough skin. The nourishing formula calms irritation and helps rebuild barrier function, preventing irritants and allergens from inflaming skin.
When you get home from being out in the cold, don’t rush to warm up by the radiator as this will dehydrate your skin. Place bowls of water underneath radiators to help keep the air in the room moist.
Avoid antibacterial hand sanitisers as these often contain alcohol, which can irritate the delicate skin on your hands. Instead, use a gentle hand wash containing tea tree oil, as this has proven anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Try Dr Organic Tea Tree Handwash, £6.49 (hollandandbarrett.com).
If your lips feel dry and chapped, resist the urge to lick them as this will make things worse. Instead, apply a generous slick of lip balm to lock in moisture and protect them from the cold.
Wear a good SPF every day, even when the weather is dull and
cloudy. Choose one that contains antioxidants so that as well as protecting your skin from damaging UV rays, it will also provide a defence against other environmental stressors. Try Dermalogica Age Smart Skin Perfect Primer SPF30, £37.82 (johnlewis.com).
AT THE CLINIC
Winter is the ideal time to have some of the most popular cosmetic treatments, as summer heat and UV sun exposure can sometimes cause skin sensitivity, pigmentation marks and an increased risk from scarring.
Here are three of the best winter face and body boosters to give you a head start for spring.
IPL hair removal
This treatment uses strong pulses of light to damage or kill the cells responsible for hair growth. The light energy is absorbed by areas of high pigment, which means the process only works on dark, actively growing hairs.
This means it takes multiple sessions to catch all the hairs in their growth cycle. Expect each session to last up to 60 minutes and you may need up to 12 sessions, one every three to four weeks. Avoid laser hair removal if you have recently tanned, either on holiday or out of a bottle, and keep any treated areas out of the sun after each session.
Costs from £60 per session.
Sclerotherapy
Now is the ideal time to zap pesky thread veins, which may have appeared on your legs or face.
Sclerotherapy involves using tiny needles to inject a chemical directly into the veins. The vein shuts down and disappears and blood is rerouted to healthy, adjacent veins.
It is important to wear compression stockings for two weeks after treatment and this is much easier to do during the cold months when you can keep your legs covered.
Direct sunlight must be avoided on any treated areas. Injections take anywhere from five to 20 minutes depending on the number of veins and you may need a course of treatments, each one four to six weeks apart.
It can take up to three months to see the final results. From £100 per treatment.
Chemical peel
Chemical peels can help undo some of the damage caused to your skin over the summer. They can lessen the appearance of freckles, blemishes, age spots and light scarring on the face.
They can also improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. There are many different types of chemical peel but the most popular are glycolic acid peels, salicylic acid peels and TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peels.
Varying strengths mean the strongest potency can take up to 10 days to heal. Treatment takes around 30 minutes and afterwards an SPF of at least 30 is essential as skin is extra sensitive to UV light.
For advice on cosmetic surgery, consult your GP. For more advice and tips visit lesleyreynolds.com