Our skin can take a real hit from the elements in winter. The most common skin complaints in these colder months are dryness, redness, rawness, and chafing. Eczema flare ups are also common in the winter.
The colder weather has a number of effects on our skin:
● It makes our blood vessels dilate, causing redness of the skin
● Because humidity is generally lower in the winter it means there is less water in the air, and this dries out our skin and hair
● Cold winds and central heating also have the same effect, which leaves skin and hair in need of some extra nourishment and moisture
It is important to keep skin hydrated and moisturised to prepare for the winter weather and then keep it up once the cold arrives.
Whether you need to upgrade your skincare regimen to more heavyweight products is a much-debated topic. We recommend continued use of your regular products but take note of how your skin feels. Always have a richer cream and oil at the ready in case your skin starts to suffer.
Many prefer to use these heavier products at night as our skin renewal and rejuvenation happens mostly whilst we sleep. Antipodes Joyous Night Replenishing Serum and Avocado Pear Night Cream are two of our best-selling products, and help to intensify your beauty sleep. If you do suffer from dry skin it's best to use an oil-based cream, and the night cream has a base of shea butter and avocado oil.
Our skin can become dehydrated if we're not taking on board enough fluid to keep skin hydrated on the inside. Many people don’t drink as much water in the winter as they do in the summer months due to the drop in the temperature. One way to encourage yourself to drink more fluids is to invest in some herbal teas.
As well as the products we put on our skin daily, there are some other lifestyle choices we can make to help our skin look and feel it’s very best:
● Only have the central heating on if you must. Put another jumper on and keep the thermostat down low or on a time for the very few hours in the day when you really need the home heated.
● Use a humidifier to keep moisture in the air. This prevents the air from zapping the moisture out of your skin.
● Use a weekly face mask to deeply hydrate the skin, rather than harsh or stripping treatments. Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask is a creamy mask that infuses moisture and has a fragrant aroma of vanilla pod and mandarin. It is also suited to most skin conditions.
● As tempting as it may be, do not have super hot baths. These will really dry your whole body out. Adding a swirl of Antipodes Heavenly Body Oil to your water will help make your skin feel soft and silky, as well as fill the air with the sensual fragrance of jasmine, lavender and ylang ylang.
● Invest in supplements. If your skin is drier than it should be, the chances are you are deficient in one or more of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Potassium or Essential Fatty Acids. To support your diet, invest in a multivitamin and mineral such as Nature’s Answer Multivitamin & Mineral, and an omega-3 supplement such as Barlean’s Omega Swirl. Omega Swirl is available in both fish oil and vegan flax oil, and a variety of flavours which taste just like smoothies!
When it comes to skincare products, avoid chemical-laden products. Most mass-market products contain mineral oils, which leave a film of oil on the skin's surface which only gives the appearance of softer, smoother, hydrated skin. What they are actually doing is clogging the skin; blocking pores so that the skin cannot expel anything, and also damaging the delicate acid mantle.
True natural products will contain nourishing ingredients that will feed the skin with essential vitamins and minerals. Products that contain nutrient-dense oils such as olive and avocado, or butters such as shea and cocoa will hydrate, nourish and protect the skin. They also deliver ingredients essential for healthy skin to the dermis.
