Get chilled about your skin
It’s the weather is still bleak and, to add to your skin’s woes, the central heating is blasting out.
Book your face and body in for some TLC that will keep your skin in great condition all the way through to spring.
Frosty mornings bring more than just a rosy glow to your cheeks.
Think Rudolph-style red nose, uncomfortable dryness and flaking skin.
When the weather is really biting cold, a moisturiser may not be enough.
“Apply a serum beneath your daily moisturiser to give dull, winter complexions an extra boost of hydration,” says Bao-Tam Phan, a pharmacist and Eau Thermale Avene spokesperson.
“It’s also important to keep skin hydrated during the winter months, by ensuring you drink water regularly.”
When your skin is really tight, apply a mask overnight for an intensive treatment.
If you can’t resist cranking up the heating, leave a bowl of water close to the radiator to put moisture back into the atmosphere, or snuggle up with a hot water bottle, instead.
After a day shivering in the cold, a piping-hot bath can feel like heaven, but the contrast in temperatures can be hellish for your skin.
For a more skin-friendly wash, go easy on the hot tap.
“As nice as a long soak feels in freezing temperatures, the hot, soapy water strips away the natural oils, making dry skin worse,” says pharmacist. Steve Riley.
“Use lukewarm water, instead of hot, when having baths or showers, and always make sure you carefully pat yourself dry, instead of rubbing.”
Your skin is at its most vulnerable after lathering-up, so apply a nourishing body lotion to maximise hydration levels.
Try a sensitive formulation if you’re prone to irritation.
Unless you’re a market trader, ditch the fingerless gloves and give your digits a fighting chance by wearing protective gloves or mittens on cold, windy days.
The skin on your hands has fewer oil glands than other parts of the body, which can lead to dry, chapped hands in winter.
“Being constantly exposed to the elements, hands are particularly susceptible to dryness in cold, windy weather,” says Andrew Saynor, Dove technical expert.
“Carry hand cream with you in your bag for extra nourishment.”
If your nails are unusually dry and brittle, it’s because talons can also be affected by a drop in temperature.
Don’t forget to rub hand lotion into your nails, and nail beds, to keep them soft.
Tucked away under five layers of clothing, it’s easy to forget about your arms and legs. Skin that has been concealed away for months can become dry, dull and lacklustre, says Paul Banwell, skin health expert.
“The slowdown in cell renewal during the winter means that exfoliation is essential to bring it back to life.”
Dry skin means that you have dry cell build-up.
Exfoliate regularly to sweep away the dead cells and create the perfect, smooth base for deep moisturisation.
Aim to exfoliate your skin once or twice a week — it might feel like a chore now, but you’ll be rewarded with fresh, radiant skin come spring.
Liz Earle, Superbalm, €19.25, www.lizearle.com
Packed with lavender, avocado and hazelnut oils, natural waxes and shea butter, this multi-tasking balm softens dry skin on the hands, heels, elbows and lips. You can also slather it on your nails and cuticles. Other nourishing ingredients include vitamin E, rosehip oil and neroli essential oil.
Eucerin Dry Skin Replenishing Face Cream with 5% Urea, €13.99
Designed for rough and flaky skin, it sinks in rapidly giving immediate relief. The addition of urea — naturally present in healthy skin — helps to regulate the skin’s moisture content. Fragrance and colour-free, it’s suitable for very sensitive skins. Best to apply to a cleansed face first thing in the morning.
Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion, €10.29, from pharmacies and Boots.
Oats not only make a healthy breakfast, they can also help to soothe extra dry skin. This lotion is made from finely milled oatmeal, oat oil, oat essence and luxurious shea butter. Tests show it can moisturise for up to 24 hours and gives immediate relief for dry and irritable skin. It’s also fragrance-free and fast-absorbing.
Skyn Iceland Arctic Hydrating Balm, €35. (www.marksandspencer.ie)
The makers of this balm trekked to the Arctic and Antarctic to find the right ingredients. Antarticine, a glycoprotein extracted from an Antarctic glacier helps prevent damaging, while red Arctic algae soothes and fights free radical damage. Also contains gooseberry extract to reduce inflammation and boost collagen production.
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Intense Repair Body Lotion Sensitive, €8.99.
This fragrance-free product enjoys a loyal and well-deserved following. The ingredients list contains moisturising glycerin which penetrates deep into the outer layer of the skin. The addition of panthenol helps to soothe chaffed skin. Non-greasy, it melts into skin on contact which means you can slip into your clothes immediately.
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