As temperatures drop and the wind blows – the harsh winter months can truly wreak havoc on any skin.
Boost your skincare regimen and banish the effects of dehydration with our essential product selection to help your skin stay smooth, soft and supple in this cold weather. Choose from a tempting array of sumptuous masks, rich cleansers, soothing body lotions and intensely hydrating serums that offer ultimate weather proofing for your skin.
Our Beauty and Lifestyle Editor at Semperey caught up with Juliette Scarfe of Bare Skin Beauty, to find out more about taking great care of your skin during the winter months.
VITALITY SKIN TIPS
Our skin never sleeps, it works tirelessly around the clock to excrete toxins and waste: up to one pound each and every day. If the rate of elimination slows down then, the pores become blocked, interfering with the nourishment and oxidation of cells, leading to dull, congested and tired skin, slowing cell regeneration and accelerating premature ageing.
For soft, healthy skin this winter, I recommend:
Dry Skin Brushing is a pleasurable way to remove dead skin cells and stimulate the formation of new, supple, healthy skin cells. Massage in circular motions, always towards the heart.
Dry brushing is beneficial for the body as:
- Stimulates the circulation of blood and oxygen around the body (similar to when we exercise) leaving you with a radiant glow
- Breaks down adipose tissue that causes cellulite
- Tones and tightens the muscles and skin.
- Softens the skin and stimulates the bodies own production of natural sebum increasing hydration levels and elasticity.
Spa Bathing is luxurious and beneficial for the skin while calming and soothing both the body and mind.
Experiment with adding a tub of ideally raw, or organic cream to your bath to experience cashmere soft skin that feels silky to the touch. Cream is rich in essential fats, vitamins and enzymes.
For a tingly, mineralizing soak, use 200g of Pink Himalayan Salt or 200g of Epsom Salts for an instant pick me up for weathered winter skin. Natural salt has a chelating action, releasing toxins from the body, while relaxing the muscles and grounding you. The abundance of trace minerals in the salts will be absorbed by the skin, leaving you feeling energized and well.
Facial Steaming
Steam is an ancient healing modality, opening the pores and softening the epidermis to allow the healing qualities of the plant materials used to penetrate the lower layers of the skin. While you steam you promote the flow of fresh oxygenated blood to the surface, tone muscles that support the skin, eliminate toxins, and tighten the pores and the skin overall.
For added luxury and vitamins, smooth natural honey over your face and steam for 10 minutes. Remove the honey with a natural cloth to reveal supersoft, super supple skin that radiates with health.
WINTER SKINCARE ROUTINE
Skin needs special care in the winter, here are my top tips:
Use a 100% natural serum in the morning, this will penetrate the deeper layers of skin, nourishing and giving environmental and elemental protection, while serving as an excellent make up primer.
At night use a rich moisturizing crème that uses pure plant extracts to nourish but that allows your skin to breathe, if the skin cannot breath it cannot repair and regenerate while you sleep.
If you experience dry or cracked lips, use a 100% natural lip balm made from only plant fats and beeswax to nourish and provide a protective waterproof layer, to prevent further moisture loss. To exfoliate your lips and remove dead cells, take a soft toothbrush add your favourite lip balm and rotate the brush over your lips until all the dead skin is removed, revealing plumped, hydrated lips. Licking your lips will only make them drier and sorer.
Avoid products that contain any form of alcohol in them, including ‘alcohol denat’. Alcohol is extremely drying to the skin, stripping its natural sebum and interfering with the acidic balance of the acid mantle.
Avoid any products with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – most commonly found in wash off products like body washes and shampoos, this chemical ravages the skin, particularly the scalp causing inflammation and irritation.
For those that seek adventure outdoors – if you are skiing use a natural sunscreen as snow reflects 80% of sunlight compared to sand that reflects only 17%.
Avoid overly hot showers or baths, they may feel comforting but they are harsh and drying to your skin. After bathing, pat skin dry and apply a natural body butter or plant oil to trap in moisture. My favourite plant oil is coconut oil, however, it must be virgin and organic for it to benefit the skin via its medium chain fatty acids and essential enzymes. It’s rich in lauric acid, which is bio-identical to your skin’s natural oils.
Below is a carefully selected set of your winter skin-saviors:
Peace Balm by Selexir
When your skin is most severely challenged during the winter season, calming skincare is essential for rebalancing. Peace balm contains serenity seed complex, including Blackcurrant Seed Oil and Black Cumin Seed Oil. Selexir’s wonder cream is nothing short of a complete miracle, containing 21 soothing ingredients that get to work deep down to repair every instance of dehydration, sensitivity, irritability, and skin conditions such as eczema. Following exposure to the elements, my skin was almost inconsolable. Not only was my skin saved from the ravaging effects from my recent ski trip, but I also had an added benefit for my make-up look: before it often happened that due to roughness of some skin areas, the foundation looked ‘patchy’, which naturally wasn’t what I wanted. Thanks to Selexir, though, my skin was restored to its former youthful suppleness.
£99.00 for 75ml
www.selexir.com and exclusive to Urban Retreat Harrods .
Lychee Thirst Relief Mask by Wei
This wonderfully sumptuous moisturizing mask is the answer to dehydrated and lack lustre winter skin. It contains the nutrient – packed Lychee fruit, commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to provide skin with much needed moisture as well as Natural Vitamin C to correct imperfections, bring balance and restore an even and healthy skin tone.
Not only does it almost instantly hydrate (I can even feel the cooling sensation as the moisture penetrates) but it also helps to brighten complexions.
After ten minutes my face is left looking dewy and positively glowing!
£ 57.00
Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum
This concentrated serum locks moisture into the skin in order to maintain optimal hydration levels, as well as delivering nutrients. It contains the products biggest asset and key ingredient – Organic Grape Water, which like thermal spa water, consists of a powerful combination of trace elements and specific sugars that instantly soothe and hydrate. A natural solution (97%) that is oil-free and works well on any skin type- even the most sensitive. The serum has a light delightful grape scent, which is wonderful especially during the winter, as it brings to memory all the best things about warmth, sun, sea and the Mediterranean – brightening up even the gloomiest January day. I also instantly fell in love with its delicate and silky texture, which for me personally was a nice change from some other moisturisers, with traditionally quite rich and heavy consistency. My skin is left feeling soft and supple and I feel thoroughly protected from the harsh winter weather. Wear under your moisturiser for maximum effect.
£29.00
Hydradvance Intensive Hydrating Serum by Sothys
When the cold winter winds have compromised your skin’s protective barrier, Hydradvance serum will assist to rapidly replenish the skin. The exclusive H2CR Complex uses the antioxidant power of plants and
natural peptides to provide repair and restore comfort: – 1055 Boletus Extract, Tripeptide, Ophipogon Extract. The creamy gel texture is one of the finest I have experienced to date. The unique optimization of hydric flows is evident, as the skin drinks up the serum rapidly, offering unparalleled rehydration.
£56.00
Hydrabalm by Previse
For those times when you need hydration, and you need it fast, Hydrobalm will rescue super dry skin quickly. Hydrobalm has a whipped texture, so although the formula is relatively rich, it is easy to apply. All ingredients are natural, including Algae extract, Fennel extract, Fruit extract, Apricot Kernel Oil, Cocoa Seed Butter and many more pure ingredients.
$65.00
Be Gone by Temple Spa
A rich cleansing lotion that leaves skin remarkably cleansed and fresh. It does not contain fragrance or colour and is gentle enough to remove even eye make up. Formulated with anti-inflammatory ingredients and antioxidants it aims to reduce the detrimental effects of stress on the skin.
£18.00
www.templespa.com
Sea Buckthorn Replenishing Body Lotion by Weleda
A nourishing lotion with pure plant oils from organic sea buckthorn, grown upon the sunny hills of Southern Tuscany. It is rich in essential fatty acids, absorbs easily and provides lasting care for dry skin and can be used all over the body. The fresh and fruity fragrance invigorates the senses whilst my skin is indulged in active ingredients to stimulate regenerative processes. It just goes to show that beautiful skin, naturally, really is possible.
£15.95
Product reviews by Angelika Wirleitner
Winter Skin Tips by Juliette Scarf
@baresknbeauty
I love Hydrabalm from Previse. One must try Previse’s other products: Purify, Nutrify, and Defense, targeted to your skin type. All natural.