For me, winter means far drier and less healthy skin. Not only is the weather colder, but I am stressed about deadlines, exercising less, and often on a plane for a long time to travel home for winter break. Naturally, all of these factors play roles in the amount of strain on my skin, so I have started to plan ahead to keep my skin healthy.
It is important to keep in mind that my skincare routine may not work for you, because everyone’s skin is different and changes all the time due to a variety of factors, like travel, stress and diet. However, these are the things that I have learnt work for my skin after three years of living through St Andrews winters.
1. Consistency is key
One thing I love about skincare is that you can test out lots of different products and see which ones you like best. But because winter can be so rough on my skin, I don’t like to experiment very much, preferring instead to rely on tried-and-true products that I know will keep my skin balanced. I have tried so many different face washes, but a face wash I constantly go back to is the Simple Moisturising Face Wash. It is unscented and gentle, so if you have sensitive skin or are allergic to fragrance, this would be a good choice for you.
2. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
My skin tends to be on the drier side, and winter only makes that worse, so my biggest priority is hydration. I started using CeraVe’s Moisturising Lotion back in September, which can be used on your face and body. This lotion is nice and light, so it doesn’t feel like it’s clogging your pores. All of CeraVe’s products have hyaluronic acid in it, which is a great ingredient that holds up to one thousand times its weight in water, meaning it will help your skin retain moisture. If I feel that I need some extra hydration (especially when I’m flying home on a cold plane with recycled air), I love the Burt’s Bees Hydrating Overnight Mask. Even though it’s an overnight mask, I have used it on flights and during the day on the coldest days in the dead of winter on top of a lighter moisturiser, and it has saved my skin.
3. Don’t forget sunscreen!
I remember one day in early spring during my first year of university when I looked out my dorm window and saw something bright peeking through the curtains. I wondered what it was, and I realised it was the sun, which I hadn’t seen for months. Even though it gets dark at 4:30 in the afternoon during the winter, it’s still important to wear sunscreen every day. The sun is still there along with its UV rays, so consistently wearing sunscreen will not only help your skin’s appearance by helping to fade dark spots, but by keeping your skin safe all year long as well.
4. Treat yourself
Unlike the face masks we have become accustomed to wearing during the pandemic that can trigger acne, sheet face masks will help take care of your skin. I love to put a sheet mask at the end of the night, especially the SkinRepublic CBD sheet mask from Superdrug. Once a week I’ll put a mask like this on and catch up on Late Night with Seth Meyers to fully unwind. It’s very hydrating and the CBD oil will help calm your skin, which is particularly helpful if you have any breakouts or redness. Whenever I use this mask, my skin looks less tired the next morning, feels more hydrated, and any breakouts I may have had will have calmed.
Over the past year or so, skincare has gone from a basic part of my daily routine to something I look forward to and enjoy. It gives me a moment of peace in the morning before I start my day, and a moment of calm at night after a long one. I value skincare not only because it helps to maintain my skin’s health and appearance, but also because it is something that I am able to manage even when the rest of the world feels very stressful and out of control!