The long British winters take their toll on our skin. Many of us suffer from seasonal skin disorder when it comes to the complexion, which seems to lose its glow and bounce by the time January arrives and can become increasingly grey and dry as winter stretches on…and on. It's easy to incorporate a little self indulgence into your skincare regime in the form of a regular winter skincare routine. Here, we've put together some top tips for nourishing your skin and reducing dryness in winter.
When you consider the many elements impacting the skin during the cold season it’s little wonder the epidermis suffers. Humidity levels drop in winter, central heating in homes, offices and cars suck moisture from the air and cold temperatures, harsh winds and dry weather batter the skin. We drink less water in winter than in summer, are attracted to hot comforting drinks that often dehydrate us, and we’re more likely to take long hot showers and baths which strip the skin of its natural oils. Sebaceous glands don’t work as well in winter either and are less effective at producing moisture. All in all the skin is fighting an uphill battle, but there are things you can do to remedy the problem.
Fill a large jug or bottle with 8 glasses of filtered water in the morning and try to get through it by bedtime and you’ll notice how your skin re-plumps after just several days. Try to include plenty of omega-3-rich foods in your diet such as oily fish and tofu, walnuts, flaxseeds, and soybeans to nourish your skin from the inside. You can counteract the impact of hot baths and showers by reducing their temperature and duration, then straight afterwards slather a rich moisturiser all over your body, neck and face to treat dehydrated, flaky skin on the body. Do your research to find the best natural moisturiser for dry skin, preferably free from toxins and replete with plant ingredients to heal your skin holistically
A.S.APOTHECARY have developed some very effective treatments for dry skin. Our Wild Beauty Balm Concentrate #30 contains beeswax, which locks in moisture for hours, along with the goodness of its 15 active oils. Among others, hemp seed oil will powerfully hydrate drying skin and is rich in omega 3,6 and 9. The presence of Argan oil, a wonderfully therapeutic ingredient, is effective at treating cracked, irritated or damaged skin because of its concentration of antioxidants and fatty acids. Argan oil also soothes and plumps the skin as is nourishes and is gentle for people with sensitive skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.
The skin located under the eyes and around the eyelids is the thinnest in the body, just 0.5 mm, and as such it is one of the first areas to show signs of ageing and is particularly sensitive to drying winter conditions. The Wild Beauty Balm was developed especially for even the most sensitive skin and applied at night or before venturing out in cold weather and drying winds it will soften, nourish and protect these areas. Redness as a result of battering weather and dehydration is another symptom of winter skin, and Myrica gale is another special ingredient in the Wild Beauty Balm, which heals, soothes and reduces redness.
In the summer our skin is exposed and we are reminded to rub in cream regularly, but skin hidden by layers of clothes is often neglected. Apply a generous layer of body lotion daily during winter to keep the skin healthy and soft. Our Ultimate Body Lotion is silky and easy to apply, but the new formula Amanda has designed means it is now even richer and more unctuous. It does not sit on the surface of the skin but sinks right in and leaves skin glowing and healthy but not at all greasy. One of the many active botanical ingredients is Grapeseed oil, which is high in the anti-oxidant vitamin E to help fight against pathogens and ageing, and also linoleic acid, which boasts anti-inflammatory properties, reduces acne, and retains moisture.
We use only Pear Tree Well water in our Body Lotion, a beautifully pure and locally sourced water which is rich in trace minerals and a high silver content, making it both clarifying, refreshing and healing.
And finally, let’s not neglect the lips, they commonly suffer in winter, and need extra special attention. A really nourishing lip balm will cure dry lips. We make three different lip balms but our Myrrh and Rose Geranium, Repairing Lip Balm #9 is especially good during winter months. It will soothe and nourish dry, dehydrated lips, protect from harsh weather and further damage, and it contains Myrrh, which is tremendously effective for healing and preventing cracked, flaking skin.
Do let us know if you have any effective home remedies for dry skin, we would love to hear from you. For 10% off our Beauty Balm and Body Lotion, as well as monthly news, offers and information about our events and workshops, please subscribe to our newsletter.