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Baby, it’s cold outside! I’m currently sat here, fully dressed, with two (!) duvets over me, the heating on, and the dog asleep on my legs, and I’m STILL cold. I hate being cold, and it’s so cold at the moment. I’ve been ill for the past two weeks (and so has my daughter), I have constantly puffy, dry eyes, a sore nose, and a to-do list as long as my leg hairs (only joking; I shaved the other day).
I was just sitting here wishing someone would bring me a cup of tea, and I realised how soft my face is! I tend to get quite dry skin in winter, as lots of us do, especially around my nose and mouth. And, of course, having the heating on dries out your skin a lot more, as well as the fact we generally move less, don’t drink as much water and tend not to eat as well in the winter, so my skin is always in a worse condition when it’s cold.
So, I do change my skincare routine and the products I use in the winter, and I thought I would share the changes I tend to make when it gets much colder. I do also tend to strip it back a little in the winter, especially if I notice my face is suddenly drier or a bit uncomfortable.
In the spring and summer months, I use a lighter moisturiser that has an SPF in it or even just a face sun cream straight on top of a serum. But in the winter months, I use a moisturiser that doesn’t contain SPF (don’t shoot me – my CC creme contains an SPF, and I’m not outside a lot), that is richer and more hydrating and that I can really feel on my skin.
If I forget to switch once it gets much colder, I’ll start wondering why my makeup looks patchy and crappy on my face and why I feel so dry, and then realise I haven’t made the change, and it makes such a difference so quickly. At this time of year, I really like a thicker moisturiser that feels really moisturising, sinks in easily and gives me nice plump skin before I put make-up on.
I use a face oil all year round – I love how soft and hydrated they make my skin feel and the glow they give.
But I use them even more in the winter as they’re so good at quickly sorting out really dry skin. If I’ve had make-up on all day and it’s looking a little dry, I’ll often just pat a bit of a face oil into my skin, and it looks so much better immediately (plus, I love the glow!).
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to have dry skin to use an oil – oily skin often doesn’t have enough oil, so produces more!
I love using skincare actives such as retinol, niacinamide, vitamin C and all the good stuff that tries to make me look younger again, and I do still use them all in the winter, but a lot less than when it’s warmer.
Retinol, in particular, can make my skin quite dry, sensitive and sometimes a bit peely (which is normal when you start using a stronger one or use one too often, or even just as an adjustment period), so over the winter, I reduce my usage a lot more as I don’t need to give my skin any extra encouragement to be dry and flakey.
I find that having a more stripped-back and simple routine in the winter with fewer and gentler products works best for my skin as well as my energy levels when I’m knackered and can’t be bothered to use loads of products.
I get a bit lax over the summer with hyaluronic acid serums, as I have so many other serums I want to use to keep the pigmentation and wrinkles at bay.
But as soon as the temperature drops, I remember how much of a difference it makes to the plumpness of my skin, especially when I put a hyaluronic serum onto my face when it’s wet to lock in even more moisture.
Hyaluronic acid has loads of skincare benefits and, in particular, keeps your skin really hydrated due to the fact it can bind up to 1000 times its weight in water, meaning that it holds water molecules onto the surface of your skin to keep it nice and hydrated.
I get SUCH dry lips in the winter, and so those Nivea tubes I use the rest of the year just don’t cut it most of the time. I need thicker, more moisturising lip balms like Nuxe Rêve de Miel (which I love and use all year round before bed) or a more handbag-friendly version (i.e. not in a heavy glass pot).
I also love using coconut oil as a lip balm, but it’s not very practical, so I usually just use that when I’m cooking with it or using it on dry skin elsewhere and slather a bit on!
Other than skincare, I try to keep my make-up on my face reasonably simple in the winter, too – heavy foundation and dry skin do not mix, so I don’t really ever use heavier ones anymore.
I love a CC creme, and I really want to try the Erborian one next – I have heard so many good things about it from lots of beauty bloggers. Other than that, I keep my make-up pretty simple all year round nowadays and never really wear eyeshadow anymore.
I try to moisturise my body more in winter too, but I’m lazy, so it only really happens when I notice I desperately need it! I use a hand cream before bed all year round but use it often during the day when it’s cold, as I do get a bit of eczema.
Does your skincare routine change much in the winter? Is there any skincare that you couldn’t live without when it turns cold? Let me know in the comments!
This is a collaborative post.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
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