Winter Skin: Your Complete Guide to Skin Care in Winter

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Many people suffer from dry skin and skin issues like acne, rosacea, dermatitis, and eczema in winter.
• It’s important to adjust your skincare routine to environmental factors and seasonal changes.
• Knowing how your skin changes with the weather and how best to take care of it is the first step to healthier winter skin.

If you’re not one of the lucky ones escaping winter on a tropical island holiday, then you’re probably feeling the chill as the cooler months set in. Cold winter air brings with it not just depressing weather, but also dehydrated, dry and dull-looking skin.

Thankfully, there are ways to avoid your skin looking so parched. Read on to learn why it's vital to change your skin care routine for winter. We'll also give you a step-by-step, hydrating daily routine to prevent dryness and irritation, plus our top winter skin care tips.

Why You Need to Change Your Skin Care Routine for Winter

Environmental factors and seasonal changes during the winter months such as drops in temperature, artificial heating, and low humidity can wreak havoc on your skin. Many people suffer from dry skin as a result, and issues like acne, rosacea, dermatitis, and eczema often flare up when it's cold.

It’s important to adjust your skincare routine in winter to keep your skin in tip-top shape. What works in the warmer months just won't cut it during the cold months. But that doesn't mean your routine has to be a heavy duty task with thousands of serums and moisturisers. We’re here to provide a simple routine to give your skin the protection and hydration that it needs, so you can focus on the fun stuff!

Step-By-Step Daily Winter Skin Care Routine

In the Morning - Step 1. Moisturise Your Face

You should always start your daily morning skincare routine by moisturising your face. A lot of face moisturisers that are marketed as SPF typically have a very low sun protection factor (i.e. SPF 10), so ensure you choose one with broad spectrum SPF50 coverage, to protect from the UVA and UVB rays that still exist when the sun is not shining its brightest.

We Are Feel Good Inc's Good Morning Daily Face SPF 50 is designed to protect your skin from harmful UV rays while giving some much-needed hydration from ingredients such as Jojoba Oil, Hyaluronic Acid and Squalane (plant derived).

Apply liberally on your face and neck to clean skin (being careful to avoid the eyes) before applying your makeup and 20 minutes before sun exposure.

Step 2. Moisturise Your Body

Now that you’ve got your face covered, don’t forget your body too. Use moisturisers with a thicker texture that contain natural emollients, like plant oils/butters, to soothe irritated dry skin.

Our Body Milks are formulated with ingredients including natural Coconut Oil, Macadamia Oil, Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, and essential fatty acids like Shea Butter, it will leave your skin feeling nourished and non-greasy.

Apply your body moisturiser twice daily, preferably within a couple of minutes of showering (remember, not too hot!) when the skin is still damp to seal in moisture.

Step 3. Use SPF

With winter comes cooler and cloudier days, but that doesn’t mean you can ditch the SPF.

You should be wearing sunscreen in winter on all exposed areas whenever the UV rating is over three, and in most parts of Australia the UV rating is over three all year long.

Similar to moisturiser, you should choose an SPF that is formulated specifically for sensitive skin with added emollients so that it is both gentle and hydrating.

We Are Feel Good Inc's Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 50 is suitable for anyone with sensitive skin, expecting mums, children, and babies over 6 months old. It's also the best sunscreen for oily or acne prone skin. It is fragrance free, dermatologically tested and has a light texture with a sheer finish.

Apply liberally on dry skin and cover exposed areas (don't forget the ears, backs of your hands, and back of your neck) 20 minutes before sun exposure, reapplying every 2 hours.

Step 4. Don't Forget Your Lips

Our lips are often forgotten about when it comes to skincare. Unlike our skin, lips don't have any sebaceous glands to keep them moisturised or any melanin to protect our skin from burning.

It's important to use a moisturising lip balm with SPF, like We Are Feel Good Inc's SPF 50+ Lip Balm range. These balms have a silky texture and are rich with vitamins, Cocoa Oil, Shea Butter and Omega 3, 6 & 9. Not to mention they offer broad spectrum protection to give you maximum coverage while replenishing lost moisture.

It's especially common during the winter months for lips to become dry, cracked, and sore. If you forgot to use our SPF50+ lip balm and now have chapped skin, our PawPaw Nectar will help soothe the damage done. It will provide a gentle barrier to shield your lips from the harsh elements and leave your skin moisturised, soft and supple.

Step 5. At Night - Use a Hydrating Cleanser

When looking for a cleanser, opt for one that contains humectants (i.e. ingredients that draw moisture to the surface of your skin) such as Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid or Ceramides. These ingredients are able to penetrate down to the deeper layers of your skin for a heavy duty deep clean without causing friction to your skin. They'll also help to hydrate and nourish the skin, leaving it soft and supple. 

Our Good Night Gentle Foaming Cleanser is packed with powerful antioxidants from Grapefruit Extract and Aloe Vera, while both Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid add moisture. Thoroughly massage one to two pumps onto damp skin, then rinse.

Step 6. Moisturise Your Face and Body (Again)

You should moisturise both morning and night to prevent dry skin.

Our Good Night Skin Restoring Cream is a rich yet light formula of moisture-boosting ingredients that combat dryness and brighten your complexion with over 7% Niacinamide (Vitamin B3). It’s also packed with antioxidants thanks to added Kakadu Plum Extract (Vitamin C), Vitamin B5, and Carnosine, which help protect against free radical damage. It helps balance and brighten skin tone, reduces the appearance of pigmentation, and fights the visible signs of aging by keeping skin plump.

Apply a light layer to your face and neck as your final step in your night skincare routine, then let it work its magic while you get a good night's rest.

Top 5 Winter Skin Care Tips

1. Avoid long hot baths or showers

Hot water can strip the skin of its natural protective oils so opt for a lukewarm temperature instead and keep shower time to a minimum. Post-shower or bath it's a good idea to use a moisturiser.

2. Drink More Water

We tend to decrease our water intake in winter which means your body often doesn't get the hydration it needs.

According to Health Direct, “As a general rule, men need about 10 cups of fluids every day and women need about 8 cups (add another cup per day if you are pregnant or breastfeeding)”, so keep sipping!

3. Wear Sunscreen

You should wear sunscreen whenever the UV rating is over 3, and guess what? The UV rating is over 3 in most parts of Australia all year round. Protect your skin with our Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ Sunscreen range.

4. Get a Humidifier

Winter weather brings with it dry air, so using a humidifier can be a great addition to your skincare routine. A humidifier adds moisture to the winter air and can help counteract the drying effects of artificial heating. 

5. Stick to Sensitive Products

Even if your skin isn't usually sensitive, using sensitive products that are dermatologically tested and clinically proven is important. Our Sensitive Sunscreen SPF50 or Mineral Sunscreen SPF50 are great options during winter as especially dry skin is easier to irritate and more prone to itchiness.

Healthy, Hydrated Skin All Winter

A good skincare routine is an all-year-round commitment and maintaining healthy skin can be even more challenging during winter.

Knowing how your skin type changes with the cold weather and understanding how best to take care of it is the first step to healthier winter skin. By following our winter daily skin care routine and giving it some extra TLC with moisture-rich products and protective measures, your skin will thank you by staying soft, smooth, and glowing all winter.

FAQs

Why does my skin look worse in winter?

Your skin looks worse in winter most likely due to seasonal changes like lack of humidity and lower temperatures, and environmental factors like the use of artificial heating and drinking less water. All of these things cause dryness and flaky, scaly skin and flare ups of skin conditions like acne, rosacea, dermatitis, and eczema.

Should I change my skincare routine in winter?

Yes, you should absolutely change your skincare routine in winter. Common complaints during winter such as dry, flaky, and itchy skin, can be dealt with using gentle hydrating products and moisturising twice daily.

How can I make the skin on my face look good in winter?

You can make the skin on your face look good in winter by having a great skincare routine. Be sure to cleanse, moisturise, and wear hydrating SPF daily, and make sure you are drinking plenty of water and taking lukewarm (as opposed to steaming hot) showers/baths.