Beauty: Skin SOS

As the mercury drops, make changes now that will keep your skin supple and hydrated throughout the colder months.

Start with a few essentials

From left: By Terry Baume de Rose, $101; Ethique Bliss Bar, $25; Pai The Light Fantastic Ceramide Face Oil, $101; Olay Luminous Niacinamide + Cica Super Serum, $48.99;

Votary Brightening Hyaluronic Serum, $171

Atthe beginning of winter, gardeners have their work cut out for them. There is pruning and tidying to be done, not to mention bulb and bare-root planting. In fact, this time is so crucial that many spring problems can be traced back to how much you get done during these short days. The same is true for skin – formula swaps now will pave the way for a radiant spring. “There’s a lot to be said for the notion that ‘as your barrier goes, so goes the rest of your skin’,” says David Khoo, head scientist for Olay. “If the skin barrier is stressed, irritated and inflamed, your skin devotes extensive resources to put out the fire. Conversely, it’s plausible that skin being in a calm state allows it to focus its resources on other jobs, including responding to active ingredients.” There are the obvious tweaks (trade lotions for moisturiser or oils) and then some unexpected changes too (get make-up with benefits). Read on for the seasonal hacks that will ensure a comfortable winter, complexion-wise.