5 Low-cost ways to take care of your skin in the cold winter weather

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Do you find that your skin is dryer or more irritated in the winter? The seasons are changing and as we move from warmer weather to colder temperatures it’s a good idea to take a look at your usual skincare routine and make some easy changes for the winter months…

I always thought that hot weather would dry out my skin more than cold weather but it’s simply not the case. It’s well-known that hydration works from the inside out and in the summer we tend to drink more water, which hydrates our skin. Plus we wear creamy sunscreen and get outside more – all of which helps skin to look and feel great.

But when winter comes, central heating dries out your skin as you move from cold to hot temperatures, lips become chapped in chilly weather and hats and scarves can irritate the skin on your forehead and neck, leaving you feeling itchy as well as dry. I find that my usual light and summery Caudalie moisturiser isn’t nourishing enough to keep my skin moist so it becomes flaky, tight and dry.

But what can be done to combat the drying effects of winter? Well, you could always go for one of those amazing resurfacing treatments at a beauty therapie clinic to sort out the problem of dryness – when my friend came back from one such treatment, her skin was absolutely glowing and I felt rather jealous of how amazing her skin looked.

But if you have very sensitive pale skin like me or you’re on a tighter budget, there are still things you can do to protect your skin during the winter months. Firstly, it’s the right time of year to switch over to a richer moisturiser. Look out for thicker and more nourishing formulas and slather it on generously as part of your night-time routine.

Another thing you can do is use a night serum to replenish the moisture in your skin while you sleep. Simply tie your hair back and add a layer of serum to your face. In fact, it doesn’t have to be an expensive serum – simply adding a layer of any moisturiser will help. And why not add a moisturiser to your feet and slip on a pair of socks too? This will not only help the moisturiser to soften the dry skin on your feet, it’ll also keep you cosy and help you sleep better!

When you’re having a bath during the winter you could use a moisturising face mask while you soak to help make your skin more radiant. And while you’re at it, a pre-shampoo hair mask is a good shout too, as hair tends to dry out a lot in the winter thanks to over-heated homes and friction from woolly hats!

When you’re washing your face each night, use a creamy cleanser rather than a toning cleanser. And rather than washing it off with just water, try using warm water on a clean flannel to wipe away residue. Plus, you can dry your face on a clean flannel too, which keeps any bacteria from a used towel away from your face and minimise breakouts. I’ve stocked up on flannels for around 50p each and you can wash them in the washing machine, which is much better for the environment than binning wet wipes or cotton wool pads.

Let me know what you do to give your skincare routine a boost during the winter in the comments below, I’d love to hear your tips!

This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content 🙂