Cold winds, ever-present central heating and low humidity can all take their toll on your skin during the colder months. From head to toe, the harsh elements and extreme difference in temperatures indoors and outside can leave your epidermis feeling sensitive, dry and even irritated.
Eating the right foods to boost your immune system and rehydrate your body is a great way to start, so fill up your supermarket trolley with foods full of healthy monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids such as fish, nuts, olive oil, flax, sardines, and avocados.
Vitamin C-rich produce will not only help you battle the common cold and other malaises, it can help boost the body’s production of collagen, a protein that maintains skin and other connective tissues. Stock up on plenty of fruit and leafy greens.
Drinking plenty of water - not only during winter - is a classic beauty rule so stick with it throughout the colder months, even when all you fancy is a hot chocolate.
When it’s cold outside, it’s tempting to crank up the hot water during bath time or your morning shower, but it’s best to turn down the thermostat a notch as long exposure to hot water can dehydrate your skin.
A moisturizing shower gel like Dove’s Deeply Nourishing body wash will keep your complexion soft, while an oil-based product like Lush’s The Olive Branch locks in your skin’s natural moisture.
The Body Shop’s Body Butter comes in all sorts of delicious flavours and is a classic for dry skin, but if you prefer a less rich texture that sinks in quickly, try Vaseline’s Cocoa Butter body lotion, which smells equally good but is less greasy.
When the sniffles hit, a red, tender nose might seem unavoidable. Nelson’s Tea Tree Cream is a true life saver for a multitude of skin problems. Free from artificial colours, fragrances, parabens, PEGs, lanolin, silicones and mineral oils, this award-winning formula will soothe even the most irritated skin thanks to its natural antiseptic qualities.
Hands can turn into real problem zone in the winter, but Burt’s Bees products use only natural ingredients and beeswax to seal and shield the skin. Their Beeswax and Banana Cream is made with with aloe vera and vitamin E and smells so good you will love using it regularly. For severely dry and sensitive hands try the company’s Almond & Milk Hand Cream.
Chapped lips are another classic cold weather problem, but unfortunately a lot of products can lock you into a vicious circle where you need to constantly reapply to retain a smooth pout. Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream is hailed as a miracle product for all sorts of skin conditions, so their Nourishing Lip Balm with SPF 20 is a make-up bag must-have. That said, a dab of the brand’s classic skin protectant works equally well.