How To Look After Your Skin This Autumn And Winter

Your skincare is NO JOKE during the cold and dry months. Follow this guide to get that supple, clear skin you deserve. This is guide will tell you how to look after your skin this autumn and winter months. Your skin is going to be drier than usual. This is due to the colder weather and indoor heating. Both dry out the skin and can leave your face feeling tight and your skin desperate for moisture.

Figuring Out Your Skin Type

The age-old question, ‘what is my skin type?’ stumps us all. But some of us will have a good idea at how our skin behaves and these clues will help you identify your skin type. Follow this guide below to figure out your skin type:

Once you have an idea as to what your skin type is and how it behaves, then we can look at problem-solving in the areas that need it most. Keep reading to learn how you can take care of your skin during these chillier months.

Simplify Your Skincare Routine

The best thing you can do for your skin is to simplify your routine. This is so your skin isn’t too dependant on the products you’re using to look its best. After all, our skin is there to protect us from our environment – it being the largest organ, of course. Likewise, diet and lifestyle are a highly overlooked factor when it comes to your skin. The best tip for clear and healthy skin is to absolutely consider your diet, habits and lifestyle. Then, if the problem still occurs, we can consider treating problems such as acne if and when they pop up. No pun intended, but they’re bound to come and go through life, so it’s best to accept it rather than stress over it.

If you answered these questions with mostly ‘yes’, and yet your skin is still freaking out, then your short-term solution might be to implement some products to begin controlling your skin. I can guarantee you that if you aren’t eating well, exercising, controlling your stress, drinking enough fluids, they could be the reason as to why your skin isn’t looking how you want it to look. Skincare products don’t fix the root problem, but they can aid in reducing issues and helping your body to heal your skin.

Understanding How Your Skin Changes During Autumn and Winter

As we head into the colder, drier months, our skin reacts differently. During summer, our skin is exposed to moist air and stronger UV rays. Therefore it makes sense that our skin probably looks its best during these months. But as we transition into the ‘-ber’ months, you might notice your skin feels drier, looks flakier, and you may find it looks shinier (especially if you are oily-skinned). Therefore you may develop more pimples or skin issues. You may even notice your skin drying out or feeling tighter due to indoor heating, too. You may even notice your skin looking duller due to less sun exposure. All of these changes are bound to effect your skin. Whilst they are unavoidable, we can introduce some products and create some habits that help ease this transition.

And if you live in a climate where the seasons don’t really change, well, aren’t you lucky! You might experience some changes to your skin so not all of these tips will apply to you.

Oily Skin vs. Dry Skin

What Is Oily Skin?

The jury are still out on this one. Depending on who you talk to, some people might say oily skin is very dry skin and dry skin is dehydrated skin. It gets confusing. If you think about it, both are completely unbalanced skin types. Oily skin sufferer’s are mostly likely quite dry hence why their skin is over-producing oils. This overproduction of oil sits on the top layer of skin, looks shiny and blocks pores, hence why there’s a link between acne and oily skin. Our skin will always produce oils to protect and moisturise our skin, but some people will experience an over-production of oil due to excessive facial washing, living in a humid environment or a lack of moisturising all together. The remedy is NOT to stop your skin from producing oils, but to find that balance again by introducing moisturising products or changing your lifestyle habits.

What Is dry Skin?

Dry skin suffers are kind of the opposite, and produce too little natural oil or lose water from the skin too quickly. This can lead to dry, flakey, red and irritated skin. And in some cases eczema. This can be caused by living in a dry environment, excessive washing, and a lack of moisturising. See why it’s confusing? It seems both problems can be caused by the habits. But the difference is how the skin reacts.

Unfortunately, each case is unique and advising everyone in the same way may not be helpful. This is why consulting a doctor or dermatologist is the best action plan. Although, some of these tips may help to reduce your skin issues, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Don’t implement too many new products into your routine at once and if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

My Non-Negotiable Skincare Step:

Double-moisturising. Yep. Even as an oily girl myself, I moisturise TWICE. And yes, you oily skin folk can do the same. Your moisturiser is your barrier and your protector, ensuring your skin can heal. Without a strong barrier, your skin is prone to issues, such as pimples, sensitivities etc. Your moisturiser will help keep moisture locked into your skin so it can remain healthy. This step is key for all skin types but especially for you dry and flakey folks. Use a lightweight moisturiser before your thicker moisturiser twice a day can help seal moisturiser back into your skin.

If you’re an UBER dry or flakey person, consider re-applying mid-day or early afternoon. If you’re a makeup wearer who also suffers with dry skin, consider using less setting powder (and powdered products in general) and opting for a setting spray at the end of your makeup application. You can re-spray your setting spray during the day, too if you wish. Or you can opt for a facial mist if you prefer.

Boost Your Hydration

I don’t just mean liquid intake, because as good of a habit as that is, the water you drink doesn’t actually reach your epidermis (outer-layer of skin). Shocking right?

Instead, make sure your products contain a humectant to attract and hold water from the deeper layers of your skin. A great humectant is glycerin. Most moisturisers contain glycerin. However, if you want to take it one step further, add a serum, such as hyaluronic acid or a peptide such as polyglutamic acid into your routine. If you have a sensitivity to soy, please don’t use polyglutamic acid serums.

Likewise, you can also boost your skincare products efficiency by applying your products to damp skin. Damp skin allows your products to penetrate the deeper layers of your skin which is great if hydration is an issue for you. Just make sure you DON’T apply products like Vitamin C, Retinol or HA’s to damp skin. They must always be applied to DRY SKIN.

And my most favourite tip is to use a mist or spray at the end of your routine for an extra layer of moisture. Sandwich your entire routine in the AM, beginning with mist and ending with mist. This can be a superb way to boost hydration whilst taking care of your skin.

Use The Right Cleanser For Your Skin

All skin types – whether you wear makeup and SPF, or not – should be cleansing their skin. However, your routine and products may differ depending on your skin type.

FOR DRY SKIN TYPES…

Opt for a facial wash that DOESN’T foam up. These tend to be marketed for ‘all skin types’ but can make dry skin feel extra tight. Instead opt for a cleanser that is cream-based, oil-based or a balm instead. Apply your cleanser to wet skin if it’s a cream-based cleanser OR dry skin if it is oil-based/balm cleanser. Give your skin a gentle massage for 30-60 seconds. If you have dry skin and don’t wear makeup you still need to double-cleanse twice in the evening. If you have über dry skin, you might not need to cleanse in the AM. Follow up with a hydrating serum on damp skin and double up on moisturiser, using two light moisturisers OR one light-weight moisturiser followed by a thicker, creamier moisturiser.

Even if you DON’T wear makeup, you will need to double cleanse with some sort of oil-based or balm cleanser. Follow the same steps above no matter what your skin type.

FOR OILY SKIN types…

Use a foaming cleanser on your second cleanse after using an oil-based or balm cleanser for your first cleanse.

An oil-based or balm cleanser is your BFF. Oil breaks up dirt, make-up and excess oil on your skin which will help to clean your skin effectively without overly drying it out. Start with dry skin (makeup or no makeup) and apply your oil-based cleanser first. Then opt for a gentle cleanser to remove that first layer of cleanser, oil, dirt, makeup and to gently cleanse the skin. Then, apply your humectant serums to damp skin, followed by double-moisturising. Your last step can be a hydrating mist.

Mask It Up!

Masks will be your BFF over the colder months. A hydrating mask can work well for both skin types, as well as sleeping masks. Look for ingredients like:

• Hyaluronic Acid – great for all skin types
• Polyglutamic Acid – don’t use if you are sensitive or allergic to soy!
• Panthenol – all skin types
• Glycerin – all skin types
• Squalene – all skin types
• Lactic Acid – great for dry skin types
• Silicones – best for oily or acne prone skin

This goes for your moisturiser and serums too! Introducing one hydrating serum is a great way to help your skin retain moisture and look plumper.

Applying Skincare To Damp Skin

This technique allows products to penetrate deeper into your skin. If you follow the guide about layering your skincare products, you will notice that the thinnest products go first and the thicker ones go last. This is due to the molecule size. But to ensure your particles can travel to the right part of your skin, you need to make sure you are applying them in the correct order. Some products can even travel even deeper into your skin with the help of other products. Researching your ingredients is a great way to find out more info on this.

Likewise, applying mists, toners, serums, moisturisers, etc on to damp skin will allow them to work at the deeper level, which theoretically increases their ability to work effectively. Some products, however, can only be applied to dry skin. Such as Retinol, HA’s and Vitamin C.

Applying hydrating serums or mists which include ingredients like hyaluronic acid can boost their effectiveness and their ability to create plumper looking skin.

If you enjoyed reading about how to look after your skin during autumn and winter, you may also enjoy this post here. Likewise, looking after your skin should be just as high of a priority as dental hygiene. Your skin is the most vital organ and protects you from otuside pollutants and ‘treats’ on a daily basis. The least you. can do is treat it kindly.