Have you noticed when it gets cooler that suddenly your moisturiser doesn’t feel like it’s doing enough? Or that a weekly hydrating masque is now working best if applied 2-3 times a week?
You’re not imagining it! The weather plays such a huge role in our skin and skincare routine. What works for your skin in Summer will need an extra boost in Winter.
To learn more about how the seasons affect our skin we asked Jodi Ayre - Dermalogica Senior International Training Specialist, Asia, Australia and NZ to answer some questions on a recent Facebook Q&A Session. Here’s how it all went down - you’re bound to learn something you didn’t know about your skin!
Q: Are there specific products in my routine I should be changing or should I have a different set of products for each season?
A: Changes in seasons often present a different set of skin concerns. As we move into winter we typically need a bit more nourishment and barrier protection than in the summer. You may like to layer up with with a serum to boost your skin nourishment, or consider stepping up your cleanser and moisturiser to a creamier consistency. Being able to recognise changes in your skin is always the key to knowing how we can help you with your skin throughout the seasons.
Q: What are some great things I can add to my diet to help boost hydration and skin health?
A: We know that a healthy, well balanced diet is going to really support you with achieving your ultimate skin health. Of course the first way to boost hydration is by committing to drinking more water. To power up your skin hydration levels you may also like to include the essential fatty acid food groups, for example our omega 3's and 6's like salmon, nuts, green leafy vegetables. Consuming these types of foods may support with locking in the hydration in the outer layers of the skin. In addition to all that water you are now going to be drinking we highly recommend applying topical hydration solutions. Check our Skin Hydrating Booster or Multi Active Toner!
Q: Should I still exfoliate through the colder months?
A: Great question! The answer is going to be found in the condition of your own skin! For some customers, cooler weather of the winter months can heighten sensitivity. So if this you, look for some great daily options to buff and polish such as our fantastic heroes - Daily Microfoliant or Daily Superfoliant. With that said, for most of our customers, winter is the perfect time to power up exfoliation - both at home and with professional treatments. I love the warming, stimulating effects of MultiVitamin Thermafoliant in the winter time for home use, and booking myself in for the ultimate in professional exfoliation - a course of BioSurface Peel treatments!
Q: I tend to breakout if I use a heavier moisturiser during winter, but my skin tends to be dry – why is this and how can I avoid breaking out but adding moisture at the same time?
A: If you love your summer moisturiser because of its light weight consistency, you don't necessarily have to go to a heavier weight moisturiser just because it's winter. Instead we can look to savvy ingredient technologies that nourish and replenish without adding any excess weight to your skin. Try layering a super light weight, concentrated booster or serum under your favourite moisturiser during the winter months to power up your skin softness and suppleness. A couple of our favourites include Phyto Replenish Oil or UltraCalming Serum Concentrate. Also - don't forget to include exfoliation in your homecare routine to help keep your skin clear of breakouts.
Q: Do I need to use SPF in winter?
A: Yes! Sun protection is key to achieving optimum skin health and is personally one of the things I am passionate about. Please... repeat after me... "I promise to protect my skin from daylight exposure 365 days a year". The term SPF refers to the sun protection factor against UVB exposure - the painful burning sun rays that are certainly more aggressive in summer but is also possible during winter. With that said, anytime (ie summer AND winter) there is daylight there is also the presence of the invisible and harmful skin ageing rays caused by UVA radiation. All of our Dermalogica daylight defense solutions provide you with broad spectrum sun protection - both UVA and UVB protection. If you are concerned with fine lines or deeper lines, loss of skin tone and firmness, age spots or patches of hyperpigmentation, even acne, breakouts or sensitivity, regardless of your skin concern, please add into your homecare routine daily daylight defense all year round to help achieve your skin goals and optimum skin health.
Q: I currently use skin hydrating masque and try to apply it at least once a week. I do tend to feel more dry as the temperatures drop. During the cooler months would you suggest increasing this to twice a week? I also use Super Rich Repair at nighttime.
A: Yes you could certainly step up how often you use your Skin Hydrating Masque to twice a week and Super Rich Repair is definitely a favourite at night time for those cold winter months. If you're still feeling a little tight, be sure to add in some exfoliation at home, to help to enhance the hydration and skin nourishment of your following products. At Dermalogica we love to multi-masque - that is patchwork different masques onto different areas of the face. Check out our MultiVitamin Power Recovery Masque as a great way to personalise your masque routine at home.
Q: I have drier skin in Winter but I'm still breaking out. Can dry skin cause breakouts too? Why?
A: Unfortunately this is true. You would think that with no oil in the skin (a dry skin) that you would be free from breakouts, but it's not the case. Without oil our skin has trouble holding onto water, and without water our skin can't function effectively. This means that our skin has trouble naturally shedding itself and maintaining a clear skin. These flakey dead skin cells that can't shed then build up and clog your skin pores and lead to bumps in your skin and then lead to breakouts. Throughout the winter months it is important to find the right exfoliant that suits your skin to help buff off these congesting dead skin cells. At home add in our new Daily Superfoliant to your routine to help smooth, clear and protect the skin. Also, winter is the perfect time to book in and experience one of our amazing supercharged professional expert strength treatments, either the BioSurface Peel or the IonActive System. Boosting your skin hydration and replenishing your lost oils will also help you to keep your skin clear of breakouts caused by dryness.
Q: What skin care ingredients I should look out for now that we're heading into Winter?
A: To offset the winter blues for your skin most skin types and conditions will benefit from slightly shifting your routine to one that is more nourishing and protective. Plant based phyto oils and silicones are my favourite to help create invisible shields to protect our skin against dehydration and surface skin challenges – check out Phyto Replenish Oil, Barrier Repair or any of our amazing primers for example! Vitamins A, C, E and Panthenol (B5) are certainly favourites, along with supercharged peptide technologies are perfect to rejuvenate, replenish and stimulate a sluggish, tired skin during the winter months. If you don’t currently have a night time treatment in place, winter is the perfect time to introduce your skin to extra nourishment and stimulation, so check out our Overnight Retinol Repair or Overnight Repair Serum and see which you suits you best.
