Winter time can be harsh on our skin. The cold temperatures wind, accompanied by low humidity indoors due to heaters, can affect our skin balance and health. Fall and winter calls not only for coats but also for changes or adjustments to the skincare routine.
Your skin in winter
In winter, due to the low temperatures, humidity and the wind, skin is more easily dehydrated and sensitive, with a feeling of tightness, stinging and possible peeling.
However, not only dry skin is affected, but also oily and combination skin can also suffer from dehydration, and care should also be stepped up for them at this time of year. It is often observed that people with oily or combination skin "neglect" to moisturize their skin because they think they don't need it, and end up being the most resentful in winter.
In addition to these problems, which affect most people, diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis tend to worsen at this time of year.
1. Opt for double and gentle cleansing
Winter is the perfect time to invest in the double cleansing. As the first step opt for balms and oils that will remove make up effortlessly. Isabel Make Up Remover from Catarina Barbosa is effective to remove make up without friction and the right product when the skin is more sensitive and prone to redness.
Cleansers that completely strip the skin of its hydrolipidic film can aggravate dehydration, even if you have oily skin or use a moisturizer afterwards. Therefore, as the second step, avoid soaps and products with active ingredients (e.g. ascorbic acid or exfoliating acids) - those active ingredients should come later in the routine
Opt for milks or non-foaming gels with low pH (similar to skin pH) like Jelly Joker from Geek & Gorgeous.
2. Avoid prolonged hot baths
Who doesn't like a good hot bath after the whole cold day outside? Despite being so appealing, hot baths can promote skin dehydration. Hot water removes our skin's lipids (lipid barrier), which are responsible for maintaining hydration levels.
If it is something that you can't live without, mind to lower the temperature or reduce the time you spend in the bath.
Most importantly, avoid washing your face (as the first step of skincare routine) under a hot shower, especially if you have dermatitis, rosacea or sensitive skin.
3. Hydration hydration hydration!
Often forgotten and easily misunderstood are the essences and serums. However, they are probably your biggest saviours in the winter days.
Essences or toners are products usually fluid with the main purpose of hydrating the skin. They should be used after the cleansing and before a serum (if applicable). For the ones that come in a spray format like Eunice Essence from Catarina Barbosa Skincare, their big advantage is that can be applied easily throughout the day over make up just to replenish the hydration levels.
A serum is a fluid preparation with high concentration of active ingredients. To be applied after toner/essence and before moisturiser, it can be used to boost the hydration of the skin in the coldest days.
If your skin is oily and just dehydrated, using a serum/booster concentrated in hyaluronic acid (Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum from Pestle & Mortar) before your usual cream can help combat dehydration.
"A spritz a day stays dehydration away"
Catarina Cabeçadas
3. Soothe, nourish and moisturize
Often, in winter, you need to change your moisturizer to something richer, more nourishing (rich in emollient ingredients), in order to help restore the skin's hydrolytic film. If you feel like you have combination to dry skin, the Hydrate from Pestle & Mortar is the perfect rich but still lightweight moisturiser in winter. whats
In addition to the care mentioned above, calming irritation and redness should be the priority, and we love Centella Calming Barrier Cream for that!
Below, there are some of the ingredients that help combat dehydration and irritation:
- Hyaluronic acid
- Squalane
- Fatty acids
- Ceramides
- Glycerin
- Oatmeal
- Cucumber extract (Cucumis sativus)
- Zinc oxide
4. Avoid irritating products or ingredients
If your skin is more fragile due to the cold, and especially if it tends to be sensitive, it's best to space out exfoliations and retinoid treatments, especially in the coldest weeks (or on ski holidays). In addition, you should avoid ingredients that could increase sensitization like denatured alcohol (ethanol), hydroxyacids and retinoids
5. Apply face oils and balms
This can be a very interesting option due to the emollient and occlusive action of oils, which retain moisture in the skin while softening it.
Dry and/or mature skin will benefit the most but incredibly, even oily skin can benefit from the use of oils, due to their healing properties and since not all of them are comedogenic.
- For oily and mature skins: Amália Intensive Facial Oil from Catarina Barbosa Skincare
- For dry skin and aging skins: Simone Antioxidant Balm form Catarina Barbosa Skincare
6. Don't forget the eye contour area!
Cold, windy weather also means the delicate skin around your eyes can get drier. The eye care during winter time is critical and although you may apply your face moisturiser, having a specific care will avoid irritations and specific issues like milia.
To deeply nourish dehydrated skin in the eye area, turn to the Pestle & Mortar Recover Eye Cream to boost that area hydration, strengthen the skin's natural resilience and calm irritation.
