Taking care of skin in the winter

In the winter, cold temperatures wreak havoc on your skin by slowing down circulation and decreasing the production of collagen, sebum and sweat. This reduction causes an imbalance in the skin’s hydrolipidic film, which loses its natural moisture, leading to dehydration.

The cold alsoslows down cell reproduction and regeneration, making the skin dehydrated, dull and sensitive, while the use of heating and pollution cause the skin to become dirty, clog up pores and reduce oxygenation.

To lessen and avoid these effects, you need to take special care of your skin in the winter, especially your cutis, as this layer of skin is most exposed to these environmental factors.

Taking care of skin in the winter

To restore your skin’s natural protective barrier, and therefore its hydrolipidic film, extra moisturising and proper nourishment are necessary. This will prevent tightness, dryness, irritation and premature ageing.

This skin care will require you to:

• Perform a deep facial cleanse. To do this, you should use a face scrub once or twice a week, depending on your skin type, to allow the dermis to breathe and improve the penetration of the treatments you apply afterwards: moisturiser, anti-ageing, etc.
• Apply moisturising and nourishing creams or serums. You can also apply oils with moisturising and rejuvenating properties like argan oil, which has a moisturising, nourishing and tightening effect, or rose hip oil, which reduces facial blemishes.
• Use a day creamwithactive ingredients that restore the skin’s hydrolipid barrier, prevent dehydration and promote circulation. It is also important to choose a day cream with a sun protection factor to avoid the effects of free radicals and the sun’s photoageing rays.
• Apply a night treatment that meets the needs of your skin: moisturising, anti-ageing, regenerating, etc., as elastin production increases and collagen is activated at night. This nourishes, regenerates and strengthens the barrier of your skin.
• In the morning and at night, apply a nourishing and regenerating balm to your lips, nose and cheeks, as these areas of skin are very sensitive and highly exposed.
• Eye contour. This area has the thinnest and most sensitive skin on your whole body, so it needs special care. Apply a moisturising eye contour cream with rejuvenating and circulation-enhancing active ingredients to keep the area hydrated, protected and free of dark circles and puffiness.

It is important to remember that after we turn 30, skin regeneration starts to slow down, making it especially important to perform this skincare routine and choose products that not only moisturise, but also promote collagen production and tighten the skin.

In addition to the skin on your face, you should also take care of the skin on yourneck, décolleté, hands and your nails. The first two require pretty much the same care as the skin on your face, but your hands and nails need a little extra care:

• Use rubber or latex gloves for manual tasks where you come into contact with chemicals, dust, soil, etc., and wear wool or leather gloves when you go outdoors to protect your skin.
• Use hand cream daily; it should be highly moisturising and specifically for this area. Additionally, you should always apply it after your hands get wet.
• Exfoliate your hands once a month with a mild product and apply a highly nourishing cream for at least two hours. When doing this, apply the cream to the hands and cover them with cotton gloves to aid its penetration.
• Nails become more fragile and brittle as the temperature falls, so you should massage them daily with a suitable moisturiser and, once a week, you should soak them in a bath of lukewarm olive or almond oil for 15 minutes.

Nourish your skin

Diet is essential for taking care of skin in the winter. To nourish your skin from within, it is important to follow a healthy and balanced diet, which should include foods that help care for your skin.  These foods should be high in:

• Healthy fats, which contain omega-3, -6 and -9 fatty acids, to promote skin regeneration, e.g. oily fish, avocados or olive oil.
• Vitamins A and E, which are powerful antioxidants and counteract the damaging effects of free radicals that cause premature skin ageing.
• Antioxidant vitamins, like the ones found in berries, slow down ageing and boost collagen production.
• Protein, as this is an essential source of collagen to keep skin toned and firm.

You can also include food supplements to boost your daily diet, such as:

• Keriba Forte, which contains punicalagins from pomegranates, antioxidant polyphenols that help to slow down the ageing of the skin.
• Poppy extract, which helps to reduce wrinkles.
• White lily, with regenerative and skin lightening properties.
• Lotus flower extract, to protect the skin’s hyaluronic acid and elastin, tighten its pores and stimulate cell renewal.