Your wardrobe isn’t the only thing you need to change up in the winter months. As the weather becomes drier and colder, addiing rich moisture is essential to prep and treat winter skin.
The lightweight gel moisturizers, and foaming facial washes that worked well in summer may not cut it come December. Keep reading to discover how to change your skincare for winter with No7’s guide and winter skin care tips.
What happens to skin in the winter?
Skin often appears drier, duller and flakier in the winter months – especially more delicate areas around the eyes and lips. Winter can also trigger sensitive skin, so the hands, face and any other areas exposed to the elements may suffer.
Why is my skin so dry in the winter?
Dry indoor heat, cold weather, harsh wind, and low humidity levels can all strip the skin of moisture. This can lead to a complexion that feels drier, less radiant and more flaky than usual.
Severely dry skin in winter can also lead to microscopic cracks in the outer skin layer, leading to inflammation, itching and redness in the skin.
How to keep skin hydrated in winter
Lifestyle tips for winter skin
Along with adopting a winter skincare routine, there are a few lifestyle changes that you can implement to help with dry, winter skin.
- Use a humidifier in your home: They help draw moisture back into the air which can help dry, winter skin to retain hydration.
- Use milder temperatures when showering: Although a hot shower can warm you up, hot water can strip skin of its natural oils.
- Hydrate from the inside: Drinking enough water can help keep skin hydrated and reduce dryness.
- Limit alcohol intake: Alcohol can increase inflammation in the skin and may worsen dry, winter skin as it has a dehydrating effect on the body.
- Apply SPF daily: While there is less UVB around in winter, levels of UVA are still significant enough to age and damage the skin.
A winter skincare routine
Maintaining skin’s hydration and moisture with a winter skincare routine helps protect the skin from the drying effect of external aggressors and central heating.
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Buy now with No 7 Step 1: Transition to a hydrating cleanser
Buy now with free deliveryIf you’ve been using a foaming or exfoliating cleanser throughout summer, switch it out for a cream or lotion cleanser that treats winter skin gently without stripping away much-needed moisture.
No7 Restore & Renew Cleansing Lotion is formulated with natural AHAs and antioxidants from a blend of fruit extracts to thoroughly dissolve makeup, impurities, and pollutants. It helps to improve the skin’s tone, texture, and clarity, for skin that feels cleansed,invigorated and hydrated.
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Buy now with No 7 Step 2: Gently exfoliate
Buy now with free deliveryAs skin becomes drier and more sensitive during the winter, it’s important to tone down exfoliating to avoid potential irritation. Rather than a physical exfoliant that requires scrubbing, opt for a chemical exfoliant up 3 timer per week to gently buff away dead skin cells and to improve moisture retention.
No7 Laborotories Resurfacing Peel is powered by 15% pure glycolic acid and is dermatologist approved. The gentle yet effective 5-minute wash-off treatment peels away dead skin cells while visibly reducing the signs of aging for skin that looks more even, radiant, and youthful.
Warning: This product contains an alpha hydroxy acid that may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn. This product must not be used in conjunction with other products containing acids, including retinoic acid, AHAs or BHA exfoliants. Do not wax/exfoliate the face or use any other peel products within 24 hours of using a peel.
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Buy now with No 7 Step 3: Layer skincare with the best winter face serum
Buy now with free deliverySerums help protect winter skin by providing an extra layer of hydration, and humectants like hyaluronic acid help to draw hydration to the skin for a plump, younger-looking complexion.
Formulated with No7’s unique anti-wrinkle and firming complexes plus hyaluronic acid, No7 Restore & Renew Serum works to treat the look of deep wrinkles while lifting the appearance of mature skin. It’s infused with pro-retinol and age-defying ingredients that penetrate the skin’s surface 10 layers deep for a complexion that looks revitalized.Lines and wrinkles that appear visibly reduced in just 2 weeks.*
*Based on consumer testing on UK women
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Buy now with No 7 Step 4: Hydrate with a rich face moisturizer for winter
Buy now with free deliveryA winter face cream should be rich in consistency to help seal in hydration and provide daily protection from external aggressors.
One of our best winter moisturizers, No7 Hydraluminous Water Surge Gel Cream is a cool, refreshing gel–cream that absorbs instantly while delivering an immediate burst of moisture. Infused with antioxidant-rich Vitamins C and E and Pollution Shield Technology, it helps protect skin from external aggressors while keeping skin hydrated for up to 72 hours.
Skincare tip: Moisturizing immediately after bathing helps lock in moisture
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Buy now with No 7 Step 5: Apply an occlusive night cream
Buy now with free deliveryTo help seal in hydration and avoid water loss from the top layer of the skin, opt for a moisturizing night cream with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, hibiscus and peptides.
No7 Lift and Luminate Triple Action Night Cream is designed to address the 3 key signs of aging, with visible results from the first morning. Formulated with No7’s powerful anti-wrinkle peptide formula, this winter night cream helps to smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while hyaluronic acid and hibiscus improve the look of firmness, revealing a more lifted appearance.
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Buy now with No 7 Treat redness with calming ingredients
Buy now with free deliveryIf you’re prone to redness, you are more likely to notice a flare up in the cooler months, especially around the nose and cheeks. Opt for winter skincare treatments with gentle ingredients like rosewater, glycerin and oatmeal.
Infused with rosewater, No7’s Menopause Skincare Instant Cooling Mist helps to leave skin feeling cool, calm and hydrated. It’s also formulated with moisturizing glycerin, helping dry and menopausal skin to feel hydrated, smoother and more radiant.
