Winter skincare tips
The constant change from winter's often wet cold to dry indoor heating air puts stress on our skin and impairs the natural protective function of the skin barrier.
The skin loses its balance, becomes dehydrated, and its elasticity decreases. This can result in dry patches, a dull complexion, fine lines, flaking, a feeling of tightness, an uneven skin texture, dry eczema, and skin cracks.
To protect, support, and restore our skin to a healthy balance as effectively as possible, we have put together a few simple tips for your winter skincare routine:
1. Mild and pH-neutral facial cleansing & care.
pH-neutral means that both the cleanser and your skincare products are formulated to match the skin's natural pH level. This is between 4.5 and 5.5. In addition, irritating and drying ingredients such as alcohols or harsh surfactants should be completely avoided, especially now. In the morning, it is best to cleanse with only water or a mild, alcohol-free toner.
2. Compensate for the skin's moisture loss.
Intensively moisturizing products with active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, or glycerin replenish the skin's moisture reserves. Generally, your skincare routine should be slightly richer in winter, with a higher proportion of lipids compared to summer to actively support the skin barrier and prevent further moisture loss.
3. Moisture for the night, lipids for the day.
While you replenish your moisture reserves at night with a moisturizing product (e.g. Refreshing Face Fluid), you should support the skin's natural oils during the day. Even though we are more accustomed to using richer skincare at night, it is advisable to protect the skin during the day with a rich or more lipid-rich product in cold temperatures. At temperatures around freezing, you should even avoid water-based skincare products during the day (when spending extended time outdoors—walking, jogging, etc.) and use only plant-based lipids, as water on the skin can freeze and thus damage the skin barrier.
A water- and alcohol-free facial oil, such as the Day & Night Face Oil, is particularly well suited for winter skincare. The plant-based lipids are so similar to those in the skin that they are optimally absorbed by the skin and can support its protective function against environmental influences. If you are not yet ready to try pure facial oil skincare, you can also apply the oil as a "protective shield" against TEWL (Trans-Epidermal Water Loss) over your moisturizer or mix a few drops into your nighttime skincare.
4. Sunscreen!
Both in summer and winter, the same rule applies: the final step of your morning skincare routine should always be sunscreen. Especially when we are in snowy areas, the sun's radiation is extremely high due to reflection! Always thoroughly cleanse off the sunscreen in the evening and never use a daytime product with SPF as a nighttime product.
You can read more about recommended light filters in our online article "Mineral or chemical UV filter?".
