The dry skin saviours

Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimised by the bitter, cold winds outside. Exposing our skin to these biting conditions puts it through a lot. ‘Cold temperatures result in dryer air than in the summer months,’ explains dermatologist Dr Elif Benar. ‘The dry air looks for moisture wherever it can find it, often drawing it from our skin.’ As moisture is essential for the skin’s barrier to function correctly, this lack of humidity can lead to dry, cracked and/or irritated skin. You know that horrible feeling where your face feels tight? Dr Benar recommends hyaluronic acid, as it works by absorbing water like a sponge, locking in moisture. It’s also worth adding vitamin E (a great skin barrier repairer), as well as skincare treatments focused on hydration.

Treatments to try:

Kate Somerville The Somerville Signature Facial, £145 for 60 mins (go to harveynichols.com/ store/knightsbridge/ kate-somerville for details)

Ever since opening her Hollywood clinic in 2004, Kate Somerville has been a go-to for the rich and famous – and, for the first time ever, her treatments are available in the UK. While each session is personalised to you, it’ll include a gentle exfoliation to slough away dead skin cells, O2 therapy to improve circulation, a nourishing jelly mask and the brand’s trademark DermaQuench treatment. If it’s good enough for Eva Mendes…

SkinCeuticals’ Expert Hydration Booster, £110 for 60 mins

(go to cavendishclinic.co.uk for booking details)

Harnessing the power of potent actives, this treatment is all about strengthening the skin’s protective barrier, which is a must during this time of year. It uses SkinCeuticals’ advanced range to deliver high levels of hydration and revive tiredlooking skin – even if you were up all night binge-watching The English on iPlayer…