I don't know about you, but with winter just around the corner, I'm mindful that I must take extra care of my skin. Undoubtedly, my facial skin has become drier over the decades, leading to more fine lines!
Having gone through menopause and successfully come out on the other side, the reduction in my estrogen levels, which are essential for my skin's firmness and elasticity, has contributed to drier, more fragile skin.
Although I'm reasonably happy with my beauty routine, now's the time to give my skin extra attention during the cold winter weather.
With that in mind, here are some helpful winter skincare tips to keep your face and body in tip-top condition over the coming months and recommendations of some of my favourite products that are ideal for nourishing dry winter skin:
Winter Skincare: Cleansing:
Whether you prefer soap or a gentle cleanser, wash your face using warm water. Don't have bathwater or shower too hot, as this strips away some of the skin's natural sebum and will make dry skin even drier. Choose a glycerin-rich soap such as our Rose Geranium or try our natural Epsom bath salts, which, apart from giving your skin a mild exfoliation, allow the skin to stay hydrated for longer.
Beauty Tip:
After showering or bathing, be generous in applying an all-over body butter or oil, paying attention to elbows, knees and heels. Body moisturisers sink in quickly while the skin is still damp.
Exfoliation:
Choose a gentle exfoliating bar soap, such as our Lavender or Coffee & Lime soap, plus a specifically designed cleansing cloth (I use Cloud Cloth) or bamboo washcloth for your face. Exfoliating your face once a week will help rid your skin of dead cells. Our skin is more fragile as we age, so it's important not to over-exfoliate dry skin, which can lead to irritation and inflammation.
Winter Skincare - Moisturising:
During colder weather, I always have a jar of our organic lip balm in my bag or pocket to top up throughout the day. I double down on applying my Marula facial oil both morning and evening to keep my facial skin hydrated and protect it against winter wind. The beauty of oil and serums is that they nourish and protect my skin while giving me a glowing, healthy complexion.
Directions:
Gently massage this luxurious facial oil into your skin, allowing it to nourish and hydrate your face deeply.
Because Marula oil is lightweight, it absorbs quickly. This makes it an effective moisturiser for dry skin. It is beneficial for smoothing and softening fine lines and stretch marks and helps to keep skin hydrated and well-nourished. It is also an effective lip moisturiser.
Our Marula & Almond facial serum is a blend of natural and organic oils - it's pure and the perfect antidote for dry and menopausal skin. Applying two or three drops to the face and neck, morning and evening, will hydrate your skin and leave no greasy residue. This gorgeous facial oil is multi-tasking and is excellent at removing makeup.
Beauty tip:
Light oils such as Marula or Apricot help rebuild the lipid layer and absorb quickly - for intense overnight hydration, apply your favourite moisturiser after your facial oil.
Winter Skincare - Lips:
A good lip balm moisturises and helps soothe dry or chapped lips and gives protection during cold winter weather. Licking sore lips will only exacerbate dryness, and it's tempting to do just that when dehydrated! Avoid using creams or lip balms that contain petroleum jelly, as this chemical is renowned for stripping natural moisture from your skin, and it's easy to ingest when applying it to your lips.
Using Live Well natural and organic lip balm regularly throughout the day helps to reduce fine lines and locks in moisture. Our lips have less sebum than the rest of our faces, so they need extra hydration and protection during winter.
Organic Lip Treatment Balm
Our premium lip balm is an organic blend of cocoa and Avocado butter to nourish and protect. Avocado butter works well as an emollient and contains antioxidants that benefit the skin.
Beauty tip: Try massaging a drop of Marula oil into your lips, then seal them with our organic lip balm for deep hydration and luscious lips!
Hand Care
Cold, windy and wet weather can cause hands to become dry and chapped, with brittle nails and damaged cuticles. Help is at hand, though! Our Shea Butter hand & nail cream will help combat dry and chapped skin during winter, and this richly nourishing cream will give your hands an intense moisture treatment. Apply as often as needed and always after hand-washing.
I always keep a bottle of our hand cream next to the soap in the bathroom and kitchen.
Benefits of Shea Butter Hand cream:
Intensely moisturising
Improves skin elasticity
Nourishes and softens skin
Vitamin A and E helps reduce signs of ageing
Skin barrier protection
Winter Skin Hydration:
When the weather is cold, I'm tempted to drink too many hot cups of tea and coffee, leading to further hydration. To help my skin during harsh weather, I switch to water or fruit teas, which help flush out toxins and improve skin elasticity. Excessive alcohol and caffeine dehydrate the skin, which accelerates the ageing process.
Stay Active:
It's so much harder to get out of bed during the dark winter mornings, so exercise is essential. Just 15 minutes of stretching will help your overall well-being and fitness. If early mornings are not your thing, then a daily dose of just thirty minutes of exercise, walking, yoga or gym sessions helps blood circulation and gives your skin a youthful glow.
Humidity:
Cranking up the central heating can further dry your skin, so keep the temperature comfortable. And if you have a humidifier, this can help prevent the air in the room from becoming too dry. Humidifiers are also great if you need relief from sinus or respiratory problems.
So, banish the winter blues and flaky skin; give your skin some extra love over winter, and your face will be a perfect canvas for your favourite party makeup!
Conclusion:
Wash your face with warm water rather than hot.
Limit your time in the bath or shower.
Use a glycerine-rich gentle soap or fragrance-free cleanser.
Gently blot the skin dry with a muslin cloth or soft towel.
Slather on your favourite facial oil or moisturiser immediately.
Use a nourishing lip balm.
A once-a-week gentle skin exfoliation helps with dry skin.
Use a humidifier in your home if you have dehydrated and sensitive skin.
Products we recommend:
1. Rose Geranium natural glycerin-rich soap
2. Grapefruit & Neroli Epsom bath salts
3. Whipped Shea Body Butter
4. Coffee & Lime, our gentle exfoliating bar soap
6. Cloud Cloth organic cotton cleansing cloths
7. Nourishing Organic lip balm
8. Marula facial oil serum
9. Lavender exfoliating soap
10. Shea Butter soothing Hand and Nail Cream
Useful Links:
Thank you for checking in - to view our collection of Certified Vegan skincare, please visit our website: www.livewellnaturalskincare.com