Do YOU have Winter Skin?

Is your skin feeling more dry, dull and dehydrated than usual? Are you suffering with increased sensitivity? Are you noticing your skin is breaking out? If so, you’re not the only one. Inconveniently, alongside the cozy nights and hot chocolate, winter brings the cold weather and lack of humidity which, for some people, can cause issues with their skin.

Let’s take a deep dive into WHY we experience this and HOW The INKEY List can help you bring the moisture back into your skin this winter...

Why is my skin drier and more dehydrated in the winter?

Winter throws a lot at our skin. The drop in temperature, loss of humidity and central heating are the perfect recipe for dryness and dehydration. Subsequently, this causes skin to lose its ability to retain moisture, making it feel dry, dull, and tight.

The colder weather reduces sebum production (sebum acts as a natural protective barrier), so water escapes from the epidermis and skin becomes dehydrated faster. This is what Dermatologists refer to as Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL).

Dry skin vs dehydrated skin - what’s the difference?

Skincare is already confusing enough, and then you discover that dry and dehydrated skin are not the same thing. In fact, quite a bit different and require different treatments. Let’s talk through it:

Dry Skin: This is a skin type.

This is caused by a lack of sebum (or oils) in your skin and dry skin does not change depending on season or environment. You may notice more flakiness, rough texture, redness, and irritation (in more severe causes: eczema and psoriasis). Recommended products to help with dryness: Oat Cleansing Balm, Bio-Active Ceramide Moisturiser, Dry & Rough Skin Solution (10% Urea).

Dehydrated skin: This is a skin condition.

This is caused by lack of water and can affect ANY skin type. So yes, even if your skin is oily, you can still be dehydrated. This skin condition can change depending on season and environment. You may notice more dullness, darker under eyes, itchiness, and more visible fine lines/wrinkles. Recommended products to help: Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Polyglutamic Acid Serum.

How to prevent and help your dry and dehydrated skin this winter?

Adjust your skin care routine

• Swap to a more hydrating cleanser and moisturiser: Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser and Omega Water Cream are great options.
  
  
• Look at double cleansing if you do not do this yet to tackle your winter skin. The Oat Cleansing Balm is a PERFECT first cleanse.
  
  
• Hyaluronic Acid Serum is winter skin’s BFF. Make sure to apply this to damp skin after cleansing to maximise the hydration.
  
  
• Add our Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm into your daily routine. This is formulated with 2% Ultra Filling Spheres which deliver Hyaluronic Acid to the lips to plump and moisturise.

Moisturise right after washing

Less is sometimes more with exfoliants:

Gentle exfoliation is essential for dry/dehydrated skin to remove any dead skin cells from the surface. Our PHA Toner is the perfect exfoliant that helps improve skin texture and its humectant properties naturally lock in moisture. This is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Apply sunscreen daily

As tempting as it can be to cut out sunscreen in your winter routine, harmful UV rays stress the skins moisture barrier all year round. Sun exposure can trigger dehydration. Our Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30 is the perfect daily protection to have in your routine.

How to treat winter breakouts?

Winter can be notorious for causing more breakouts than usual. So, if you’re struggling with this, here are a few things you can try:

Succinic Acid Treatment – The ultimate non-drying spot treatment. This clears blemishes fast, reduces the appearance of redness and minimises clogged pores. Formulated with 2% Succinic Acid, 2% Sulfur and 1% Salicylic Acid, this is a must-have hero product. 

Salicylic Acid Cleanser – Our bestselling, ultimate skin-clearing cleanser. Formulated with Salicylic Acid to help unclog pores and tackle breakouts without stripping the skin of its natural oils.

INKEY TOP TIPS:

Mix Polyglutamic Acid Serum with your foundation/skin tint to achieve that Dewy/Hydrated finish. It’s our Co-Founder Colette’s secret to glowing skin all year round.

To see if your skin is dehydrated: Pinch a small amount of skin on your cheek and hold for a few seconds. If your skin quickly bounces back, it’s unlikely you are dehydrated. However, if it takes a little longer, it’s a sign of dehydration.

In conclusion, the winter can cause mayhem with our skin and ultimately be a pain in the backside - causing dryness, dehydration, and breakouts (to name a few). However, with the right knowledge and products for your skin, you CAN achieve your skin goals all year long.

Click here if you have a question about your skin and want to ask me anything at askINKEY!