Winter has a habit of creeping into your complexion. With the continuous shifts in temperature and constant movement between dry rooms and damp sheets, your skin might feel as if it can’t keep up with the changes of weather.
When this season starts to settle in, your complexion often needs more deliberate care to stay bright and comfortable. With a few thoughtful adjustments to your routine, it can help you maintain a healthy glow, even when the weather feels determined to flatten your radiance.
Embrace skin flooding
Skin flooding is a way of giving your face several layers of hydration in quick succession. To do this, apply lightweight water-based products first, then gradually build up to adding richer textures onto your skin when it slightly feels damp. This method is great at trapping moisture into the skin instead of letting it escape into the dry winter air.
When you do this, your skin will often feel more bouncier, as the deeper layers retain water for longer stretches of the day. For example, after freshly cleansing the skin you might apply a smooth layer of hyaluronic acid serum, followed by a hydrating essence, then sealing your previous steps with a hydrator that includes ceramides. One targeted way to start is by applying your first layer within a minute of cleansing.
Adopt skin cycling
Skin cycling gives your complexion structure rather than constant intensity. Instead of using strong actives each night, rotate your usage of them to avoid unnecessary irritation. You might choose to exfoliate the skin on the first evening, then choose to use retinoids next, and recovery products on the remaining nights.
By using this strategy within your routine, it gives your skin the time to rebuild in the meantime, so you’re able to enjoy the benefits of potent ingredients such as the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, without the tightness that often appears in winter. Many people start to notice that their complexion looks smoother because they avoid the repeated friction of over-exfoliation.
Incorporate brightening ingredients
Winter often exaggerates uneven tone, so ingredients that encourage clarity can help you to maintain a livelier look. Ingredients like; Vitamin C, azelaic acid, and niacinamide can all support brightness in slightly different ways.
When these ingredients are used consistently, it can gradually soften the appearance of patchy dullness. If you notice that your cheeks tend to lose vitality in cold weather, using a stabilized vitamin C serum can be used in the morning to help your skin catch the light more evenly. You can also explore using skin brightening products in your routine, to help combat the dullness.
Combat central heating face
Radiators and heated fans often dry your skin faster than winter wind. With the constant exposure of heated sources, it can leave your skin feeling tight before midday, encouraging fine lines to form more clearly.
Humidifiers can also soften this effect by adding moisture and improving air quality. You can even place a bowl of water near a radiator to help create a small buffer against dehydration. If your office or living room starts to feel parched, consider switching to a thicker night moisturizer so that your skin can start the day with a stronger foundation.