Skin, like you, needs different things in different seasons.  While it may sound extravagant to have a ‘wardrobe’ of skincare, it actually makes sense.  The same moisturiser that keeps me happy in summer just won’t  cut it in the cold winds of winter.

I’m big on my skincare.  Taking proper care of my skin has been a revelation, and cleansing at night is one of my rituals to help trigger my brain that it’s time for sleep.

My skincare wardrobe reflects how I create my capsule wardrobes.

Say what?  Bear with me:

• In summer I wear lots of little, thinner layers so I don’t over heat ; my skincare is the same in that I layer up with lots of thin, hydrating and ‘liquid’ moisturisers.
• In the winter I wear fewer layers, but those layers have decent insulating punch; therefore my winter skincare should also be fewer products, but each product should be active and have ‘pizzazz’.

Cleansing

It goes without saying that you should always cleanse properly with some sort of cleanser, and then towel off with a hot face cloth.  None of this splash of tepid water on the face.

At minimum I like to have 2 cleansers going at a time – one heavy duty oil or cream for the times I need decent cleansing and comfort application rolled into one, and one that is lighter that doesn’t need a full facial massage in order to cleanse.

Alpha H’s Balancing Cleanser is the stuff of old school glamour – a basic cold cream that envelopes your face in a pillow of reassuring creaminess, which doesn’t strip the skin but does give you a decent clean.

First Aid Beauty (FAB) Face Cleanser is a non foaming formulation that can be rinsed off with water that gives a quick and refreshing cleanse, taking just the superficial oil on the surface of the skin.

Acid Exfoliation

Exfoliation of the surface of the skin is just as important in the winter as it is in summer.  Avoid scrubs (they do nothing for the face and make you more sensitive instead) and go for something that contains an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) instead.

Pixi Glow Tonic has a cult following and is gentle enough to use everyday.  If you want to learn more about the effect of acids in skincare, checkout this article here from Caroline Hirons, a no nonsense and plain speaking expert in the beauty industry (my go-to gal when I want to find out more about product).

Another Alph H offering here is their concentrated glycolic acid treatment, Liquid Gold. (LG). This also has a cult following and should only be used a few times a week.  It’s a treatment for the skin containing the highest amount of glycolic acid commercially available for use.

Whenever my face feels very dull, I swipe this on after cleansing and then go to bed.  The glycolic lowers the pH of the skin’s acid mantle, forcing it to work its way back up to reach equilibrium again, giving the skin a work out that should leave with you serious glow and a smoother complexion.

Moisturising

I always opt for moisturisers that contain vegetable or nut oils in the colder months.  On my skin, they absorb better and nourish the skin against the elements more effectively.  Whenever I am in want of serious comfort for my face (because walking around with your head wrapped in a duvet just seems impractical), I reach for Aesop (online or also at Luxe in Liverpool Street).

The Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream is fairly new to me, but the Parsley Seed Hydrator, phwoar!  This is my second bottle, and I always forget how much of a punch it packs on the hydration scale.  The formula is runny, so much so you wouldn’t imagine that it would have much staying power once absorbed.  As soon as you apply it though, you can feel the velvety tack of the lotion.  I know I’m in for a good night once this is on my face.

The Mandarin Hydrating Cream is similarly unctuous in texture, but leaves you feeling properly hydrated.  Despite the apparent viscosity of the cream, it absorbs beautifully, guards against the cold winds, and doesn’t budge or insipidly slide off as the day wears on.

This is just a snippet of what I’m using in winter this year.  Do you have any favourite products or routine that you swear by to keep your face in shape when the temperatures drop?