Thirsty work

Niamh Mceneaney finds out how the cold snap could be affecting your hair and skin and brings you 9 winter skin saviours to combat dryness...

With weather experts predicting this month to be the coldest February ever, we will be forced to endure a plunge in temperatures, biting wind and low humidity, meaning your hair and skin will be looking far from radiant.

Banded with hot air blasting from shop entrances and central heating contributing to parched, itchy skin, it’s more important than ever to up your skincare regime.

Here’s how cold snaps could affect your hair and skin…

Tyler Moore, an expert hair stylist at Live True London said,“when the temperatures plummet, each hair type is going to experience varying levels of dryness, though all have an equal chance of dry, brittle strands that may be prone to damage. Washing your hair too often can strip it of its natural oils, which increases dryness and leaves it prone to breakage.

“Just as you would switch up your skincare, move to a more moisturising shampoo and conditioner, or reduce the amount of times you’re washing your hair. Remember to thoroughly condition hair after shampooing.

“Winter is a great time to introduce a hair mask if you aren’t already using one and make sure your hair is thoroughly dry before going outside and facing the harsh elements.”

In colder weather, the skin and scalp encounter challenges such as dryness, irritation and dullness.

“Exposed areas like the hands and face can be prone to chapping and cracking due to the harsh elements.

“The drop in temperature and humidity makes it challenging for the skin to retain moisture, resulting in itchy, dry skin and cracked lips.

“And in some cases, can trigger conditions like xerosis or eczema, characterised by itchy, dry or reddish patches,”said Amanda Azzopardi, an aesthetic nurse and founder of Amanda Azzopardi Aesthetics.

But cold weather can affect all skin types differently.

Moore said,“oily skin may experience reduced oil production, necessitating a balanced, non-comedogenic moisturiser. Combination skin sees a more pronounced contrast between dry and oily areas, requiring a targeted skincare routine.”

Clinic lead at Face The Future, Kimberley Medd, says,“humectants in moisturisers such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid and propylene glycol absorb water from the air and are oil-free. Emollients such as urea, lanolin and glycerin help replace oils.

“Often you’ll find both in a rich cream, and it’s important to check the ingredients you’re using as a thinner cream might not be enough to supply your skin the moisture it needs all year round.

“SPF is important to wear, even in cold snaps, and opting for a minimum of SPF 30 will help lock in moisture.

“The sun is often out when it feels the coldest in the day, meaning our UV exposure can be high, even in cold weather. SPF acts as a skin barrier protection from UV rays, but also adds further skin protection to the skin’s barrier to shield from the cold air.”

To give your hair, face, hands and body a moisture boost, check these out…

HAIR

I Am Proud Hair Revival — Leave-in Scalp and Hair Moisturiser, €10.50, Beauty Bay

The cold weather can trigger any number of issues, but specifically, it can cause dry, dull hair — which isn’t going to turn heads. Step in a leave-in scalp and hair moisturiser to bring your locks back to life. This handy lightweight spray receives high praise for repairing damage caused by heated styling products and penetrates the scalp with soothing prebiotic and complex oils. Simply spritz on damp hair and scalp and style as usual. Oil cleansers are best for adding that bit more moisture, this one combines the concentration of the three main oils — castor, jojoba and olive oil.

Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Prickly Pear Oil, €49 for 250ml, Look Fantastic

With his cult following, famous French hair colourist Christophe Robin has long looked after countless celebrities. His A-list range of products are specifically formulated to restore elasticity, avoid breakage, boost the texture and colour of your hair colour, whether it’s natural or dyed. A bestseller, this regenerating mask seals split ends, treats strands and frayed ends, transforms the appearance and keeps your crowning glory looking lustrous.

BODY

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, €37.45 for 170g, Look Fantastic

This richly layered formula makes moisturising your body a spa-like experience without the worry of irritating sore or eczema-prone skin. Providing muchneeded relief for scaly, itchy skin, its ultra-hydrating properties include colloidal oatmeal and shea butter to soften and smooth, from head to toe.

C. O. Bigelow Lemon Body Cream No.005, €79 for 907g, Liberty

Call it modern day apothecary, but this lemon body cream goes back to basics and its recipe remains unchanged since 1870. With its gently scented, non-greasy formula, this plant-based body moisturiser is dedicated to leaving your skin silky soft, nourished and hydrated, thanks to replenishing ingredients such as illipe butter, caprylic triglyceride glycerine and natural compounds.

HANDS

Origins Peace Of Mind Moisturizing Hand Cream, €21 for 75ml

One of the hardestworking parts of our body and continually exposed to the elements, hands are the first to feel the adverse effects of cold weather. Boasting ‘hydrating heroes’ such as meadowfoam seed oil along with an essential oil blend of peppermint, basil and eucalyptus to soothe the senses, there’s lots to love about this new launch.

Their bestselling, awardwinning hand cream, it’s no secret one of these gems is sold every three seconds — and a lifesaver that lives up to expectation. A must-have emollient for nourishing dry cuticles too, with 20% shea butter (rub in twice a day, especially before bedtime), it will make the driest hands feel hydrated and loved again.

FACE L’occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream, €25.50 for 150ml

Ultra Violette Supreme Screen SPF 50+ Hydrating Skinscreen, €38 for 50ml

If you’re jetting off for some winter sun or hitting the ski slopes, the greatest gift you can give your skin is a moisturising barrier with a high SPF formula to protect you from the sun’s harmful rays. Ideal for normal to dry skin, this one’s a moisturiser, sun protector and primer all-inone. What’s more, it’s an everyday essential to protect against suninduced skin damage and dryness.

Chanel Hydra Beauty Crème, €65 for 50ml, Boots

An epic face cream with excellent credentials, Chanel’s radiance-enhancing hydrating cream makes the cut every time with its camellia extract to help hydrate, rejuvenate and keep your skin at its optimal moisture level. With antioxidants to strengthen and protect against environmental aggressors, apply morning and night to give your complexion a new lease of life.

Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream, Barrier-repairing Moisturiser, €76 for 50ml

Freezing temperatures can cause flare-ups, especially if you’re prone to psoriasis or redness. And whether it’s eradicating irritation, sensitivity or helping to seal in moisture, Dermalogica’s repair cream is a godsend for anyone who suffers from rosacea or reactive skin concerns.

Those skin flushes could be a thing of the past. ■