How To Keep Skin Glowing in Winter: 10 Skin Care Tips

Cold weather can disrupt the skin’s natural barrier and wreck your skincare regime. But dry winter skin isn’t something you need to live with until the warmer weather returns.

If you’ve noticed that your skin is dry and dull over the winter months, it’s time to switch up your skin routine and get your healthy glow back.

In this guide, we’ll reveal the best ways to take care of your winter skin. You’ll learn the tips and treatments to help you get a bright and healthy complexion.

1. Adjust Your Skincare Routine

If your skin feels dry and irritated, you need to switch to a gentler winter skincare regime. 

Products containing retinol and AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) can be super-effective in the summer, but they can aggravate dry winter skin. Some common side effects of these active ingredients include irritation and dry skin.

You may find that your winter skin improves when you scale back on these products. Then, when your skin has recovered, you can slowly bring these ingredients back into your routine.

Avoiding products containing alcohol and fragrances that can strip the skin of its natural oils is also a good idea.

And don’t forget to moisturise. The colder winter weather can be punishing on your complexion, so keep your skin hydrated with a daily moisturiser.

2. Use a Gentle Cleanser

Harsh soaps and cleansers can irritate winter skin by stripping away moisture and natural oils. Instead, look for a gentle cleanser that is suitable for sensitive skin. These products often contain fewer harsh chemicals and are kinder on the skin.

The Clarify Foaming Cleaner 150ml is a good option if you’re looking for a gentle cleanser that you can use every day during the winter. It clears away impurities and dead skin cells without leaving the skin stripped of its natural oils.

3. Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are one of the best winter skin care treatments. A chemical solution is applied to the skin to remove dead and damaged skin cells so they can be replaced with healthy, glowing winter skin. Chemical peels also stimulate collagen production and speed up cell renewal.

There are several types of chemical peel, and the strength of the chemical solution can also be tailored to target your unique skin concerns. 

For example, a lighter superficial peel can rejuvenate your complexion and boost overall winter skin texture and tone. In contrast, medium and deep peels are more effective for deep wrinkles, congested skin, and other stubborn skin concerns.

A course of 3-6 chemical peels over the winter can help you combat winter skin blues and get your glow back. 

After each treatment session, you should apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin as it will be more sensitive to sun exposure for at least a few days post-treatment.

4. Apply Sunscreen Even on Cold Winter Days

The Sun’s UV rays are one of the leading causes of signs of skin ageing, including wrinkles, sunspots, and uneven skin texture. It’s also the number one cause of skin cancer.

While it’s easy to remember to apply sunscreen on hot summer days, it’s just as important on cooler winter days. 

You still need to protect your skin from sun exposure, even during cold and cloudy weather. According to Cancer Research UK, up to 90% of the sun’s UV rays penetrate clouds and cause damage to unprotected skin.

Whether you’re popping out on an errand or planning a long afternoon walk on the weekend, make sure you apply sunscreen before you go out. Choose a broad-spectrum 30+ SPF sunscreen to maintain healthy glowing skin over the winter.

5. Microneedling

DermaPen skin needling, also known as microneedling, is a minimally invasive treatment that stimulates new collagen and elastin production. 

It’s an excellent treatment to keep the skin healthy and improve overall texture and tone. Microneedling can also be used to target wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and other visible signs of ageing.

A device containing multiple tiny needles is used to puncture the skin and create micro wounds. This triggers the body’s natural healing process, and the treated area is flooded with new collagen and elastin to repair the skin.

The procedure is relatively pain-free, but a topical numbing cream may be applied before the treatment to minimise any discomfort.

One of the benefits of microneedling is that it creates tiny channels so that the active ingredients in skin care products can penetrate the deeper layers of the skin and have a greater impact.

6. Moisturise Your Hands

After nearly three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re all well aware of the importance of hand washing. Keeping your hands clean and sanitised can also help to stop the common cold, flu, and other seasonal illnesses from spreading.

But the constant hand washing can cause dryness and break down the skin barrier.

The best way to combat this common winter skin concern is to apply hand cream after washing to keep the skin hydrated. You should also use gloves to protect your hands when using cleaning products or washing dishes.

7. Stay Hydrated

Keeping yourself well hydrated throughout the day is also key to maintaining healthy skin during the harsh winter weather. When your body is dehydrated, it can affect the largest organ in the body – the skin.

Along with drinking plenty of water, you should make sure your diet contains all the nutrients and vitamins your body needs. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help to protect the skin from free radical damage and make the skin appear healthier and more youthful.

8. Laser Treatments

Winter is the perfect time to undergo Laser skin treatments. Laser rejuvenation treatments are an effective way to address a range of skin concerns. You can improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, skin laxity, and even stubborn acne scars.

There are several types of laser treatments, but they all use short bursts of laser and light energy to target skin concerns on the face, neck, and body. Laser skin rejuvenation is a good option if you’re looking for a cosmetic treatment to rejuvenate your complexion over the winter.

Downtime depends on the type of laser treatment and how your skin reacts to the treatment. Most people benefit more from several sessions of a gentler laser therapy like PicoSure than a stronger ablative laser treatment requiring more downtime.

9. Beauty Booster

The Beauty Booster treatment is a powerful hydrating treatment for glowing winter skin. It involves multiple injections of tiny amounts of hyaluronic acid, vitamins, and other active anti-ageing ingredients along the wrinkle lines and evenly across the treated area to nourish and hydrate the skin. 

Each session takes around 30 minutes, with minimal discomfort and downtime. After your Beauty Booster treatment, you can immediately return to work and social activities.

After a single session, your skin will appear firmer, smoother, and fresher. It’s a super effective treatment for dry winter skin.

10. Exercise

Exercise is vital for your overall well-being, but it also plays an essential role in skin health. Getting your pulse rate up boosts circulation and gives your skin a healthy glow.

In a 2015 study, researchers compared the skin function of active people and those with a sedentary lifestyle. They discovered that active people had healthier skin than those who were inactive.

Even if you’re not a fan of intense workouts, a daily 30-minute walk can get the blood flowing and keep your skin looking radiant and healthier.

Get Your Glow Back at b clinic

The winter season can cause lots of unwelcome skin concerns. But you can keep your skin looking healthy and glowing with the right skincare products and in-clinic treatments.
If you want to learn more about winter skincare and the treatments featured in this article, our team of cosmetic doctors and practitioners can help. We’ll advise you on the right treatment for your skin type and cosmetic goals. Book a free consultation today.