How to build a winter routine?

Switch your cleansing step for something more nourishing 

Regardless of your skin type, cleansing your skin in winter can leave your skin feeling tight or even dehydrated. If you don’t already do your first cleanse with a balm or oil, may I humbly suggest trying GunkOff Cleansing Balm, packed with lush oils to give back to the skin. Second cleanse can be a milky or creamy texture, such as the Avene Gentle Milk Cleanser or Holifrog Tashmoo Water Lily Milky Wash Cleanser. Both of these have a comforting, creamy texture that still helps to deeply clean the skin whilst still nourishing. 

Go easy on exfoliants 

Winter time dullness can make it really tempting to reach for the exfoliators more frequently or even take it up a notch. However, may I suggest reeling it back in and going for something more gentle to reveal glowing skin over time. Go-To Exfoliating Swipeys and Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant are both fantastic options to gently remove dead skin cells for that smooth winter glow. 

Add a hydrating toner or essence 

Inspired by Korean Beauty, adding in a lightweight toner or essence can really help boost hydration, as well as how other products are absorbed by the skin. It can work as the first layer after cleansing, or even pressing multiple layers into the skin in between serums. Two top picks for the cooler weather include the Paula’s Choice Advanced Replenishing Toner and Fresh Beauty Rose Deep Hydration Toner. 

Make sure your serum includes a hydrating ingredient 

If you don’t already have a hydrating serum in your routine, or even solid hydrating ingredients in the other serums you use, winter is absolutely the time to introduce one. Dedicated hydrating serums such as The Sensitive Type Cloud Tonic Serum or Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Serum, are packed with hyaluronic acid, along with If you’re after more of an all-in-one approach that includes great hydration, you might want to try the Alpha-H Vitamin B Serum with Niacinamide or the beautiful Vela Days Active Compound. Both of these still meet your treatments goals as well as that hydrating boost. 

Keep a couple of barrier repair products handy

Whether it’s the result of a cold and windy day, or lots of indoor heating, sometimes our skin ends up very unhappy and in need of some barrier support. Keeping a more intense restorative treatment or cream on hand can help in a time of crisis. Ceramides are one of the best ways to help repair the skin barrier and the Frank Body Super Ceramide Night Cream or Go-To Repair Shop mask are both fantastic products. If your reaction is of a more allergic or dermatitis-style nature, there are two balms I always have in my stash to help soothe the skin and reduce redness or itching. The La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume and Avene Cicalfate Restorative Protective Cream are both beautiful to support irritated skin.

It seems simple but in many cases, bumping up the hydration and backing off the actives can make a real difference to the skin, especially in winter.