the top winter skin care tips

Let's all face it, not only does Winter suck because of the rain, or the fact that it looks like the middle of the night at 7am, and the whole 'I need 1 pair of gloves, 4 hot chocolates, 7 blankets and 10 personal suns to keep me warm' thing, but it also sucks because the cold leeches your skin (and your soul) of its hydration and happiness. 

Cold, dry air can leave your skin itchy, irritated and red if you don't know how to properly prep your skin (okay we might be giving winter a bad rep but it's still the worst season, don't @ us). Retaining your skin's natural moisture is the main goal and we've done all the research (so you don't have to) to find out the ways in which you can have healthy & glowin' skin all year 'round. You can thank us later. 

just because the sun's not out, doesn't mean you don't have to slip, slop, slap

Now, this might sound a bit weird but trust us when we say the sun's UV rays can still hurt you during Winter, meaning you should still have your sunscreen at the ready. While there is less of a chance of doing longterm damage to your skin, the sun, whether it's Winter or Summer, can still affect your skin's ageing process and leave you with wrinkles that you don't want.

Thankfully this is easily fixed. Make sure you're still including a moisturiser with SPF in it in your morning skincare routine or apply sunscreen whenever you're planning on braving the cold.  

lower your shower temperature 

While the thought of coming home after a long, cold day and hopping straight into a shower that feels as hot as hell itself is an appealing scenario for a lot of us, it's our duty as skincare superhero's to tell you that this is causing unnecessary damage to your skin. 

Hot showers can dry out and irritate your skin as the hot water can cause damage to the keratin cells that are located on the outer most layer of the skin (the epidermis). This can also prevent the cells from locking in much-needed moisture, resulting in cracked and flaky looking skin (cute). 

Try having a lukewarm shower instead and then apply a moisturiser to your body to help keep your skin hydrated. 

speaking of moisturiser.....

Don't forget to apply moisturiser to your skin after every shower and once again throughout the day. This step is crucial with a capital c to keeping your skin lookin' and feelin' hydrated throughout Winter. 

You could even apply an oil to your skin before applying a thicker, cream-based moisturiser to help trap in the hydration. Hint, use our Hemp Blemish Oil Serum for this. Two words: 'goodbye breakouts'.

An oil serum like our very own Hemp Blemish helps soothe and calm dry, itchy skin, helping to fade blemishes and balance your skin's natural oils with its super-hero hydrating properties that'll help your skin to be happy, soft and nourished. 

Congratulations, you just found your new Winter best friend! 

hydrate from the inside out 

Just because it's not 30ºC outside doesn't mean you get to skip out on the whole drinking water regularly thing. If anything, you should be drinking more water to make sure your body stays properly hydrated. 

The winter air will suck out the moisture in your body and while it's important to stay up-to-date with your skincare routine, it's also important to drink water so your skin cells remain full and hydration so they don't become crack and become drier than the Sahara. 

Water also helps to remove impurities in the body which, if you're not super hydrated, can come out through your pores and cause blemishes that you definitely don't want. 

PSA: don't rely on feelings of thirst as an indicator of when you should drink water, just drink water at regular intervals throughout the day. 

stay active 

We know it may be hard to even think about getting out of your nice, warm and cozy bed to get something to eat let alone to exercise but your skin will thank you for getting your heart rate up. 

In winter, it's common to feel lethargic and fatigued and while most of us to look for a quick caffeine fix, exercise can not only help revitalise your mind but also your skin. Staying active helps to boost circulation and gives you a god-like glow even Hercules would be jealous of. 

We're not saying you have to become a king of cross fit but just a half an hour walk 3-4 times a week should do the trick. Besides you can then drink that second mug of hot chocolate knowing you've earned it. 

keep exfoliating.....

but do it gently. 

It's not a secret by now that the combination of cold, dry winter air and artificial, heated air can irritate your skin and leave it dehydrated and lacking moisture. 

One of the best ways to combat this is to keep exfoliating. Exfoliating helps to buff away those dried up, dead skin cells so new, healthier cells can take their place without being blocked. Exfoliation will also help your moisturiser sink into your skin deeper for the same reason. 

However, this does not mean you should be scrubbing your face/skin raw every day. Your skin is fragile in Winter so a finer face/body scrub applied gently will do the trick, and luckily for you, our Coconut + Lemon sugar scrub is at your service. 

It's our go-to for a feeling of uplifting and it works to gently exfoliate, cleanse and moisturise, leaving you and your skin healthy, hydrated and rejuvenated.