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Several years ago, I wrote a post about my skincare routine, but it has gone through many changes since then. I thought it was about time I wrote an updated version, so I’m going to be sharing my current winter skincare routine.
My skincare tends to evolve over time depending on many factors such as the time of year, how busy I am, and what new products I discover. The seasons and weather make a huge difference to my skin. In the summer my skin can tend to get more oily due to sweating and also using more sunscreen. In the colder months my skin gets drier so I have to adapt and use more moisturising products.
Winter has just started so my skincare routine has been undergoing some changes. I have also recently discovered some great new products that I’ve been incorporating into my routine, so I’m going to be sharing my insights about those as well as describing my current skincare routine and practices. So, read on to learn about my winter skincare routine!
One more thing before we start. I would like to clarify that I am not a skincare expert, and I’m very much still learning what works for me. Therefore this is not expert skincare advice, but merely me sharing what I do personally. I hope this post might be helpful and give you some skincare tips and recommendations, but it is not an ultimate guide.
Morning skincare
When I get up in the morning, one of the first things I do is splash warm water on my face and particularly my eyes. This helps to refresh me and wake me up as well as getting any ‘gunk’ out my eyes as it feels gross to leave it there.
I take a shower in the morning, and I tend to splash water on my face in the shower too, or if I’m washing my hair then my face naturally gets wet too. Then, after my shower, I wash my face with a flannel or microfibre face cloth. At this point, I am still only using water. If I am in a hurry, then that’s all I will do, but if I have a bit more time I will either use an exfoliant or an anti-ageing serum at this point. I try to use these on alternate days.
A closer look at my anti-ageing serum
The anti-ageing serum that I am currently using is the Symmetry Anti Ageing Face Serum by The Edinburgh Natural Skincare Company. This serum contains a blend of natural essential oils including walnut oil, blackcurrant seed oil, rose geranium oil and several more, all of which have benefits for the skin. It is deeply moisturising to combat dry skin, which is just what we need at this colder time of year. This serum is 100% natural and is suitable for sensitive skin.
The serum comes in a pretty glass bottle with a dropper, which makes it easy to apply. You just apply one or two drops to your fingertips and gently smooth it into your skin. I love the way this serum feels on my skin, it is so soft and smooth and it makes my skin feel so moisturised, yet it soaks in really well and doesn’t leave my skin overly oily. It has a gentle, herbal scent and I can especially smell the rose geranium oil.
My skin has been feeling really nice since using this anti-ageing serum, and I’m looking forward to seeing the longer-term benefits and anti-ageing effects on my skin.
Final steps in my morning skincare routine
If I am staying home all day then I don’t bother with putting on any makeup, but if I am going out there are a few further skincare steps I take. I don’t wear a huge amount of makeup but I do use concealer under my eyes because I have always had quite bad dark circles. To prepare my skin for this I use an under eye cream first, so that the concealer will go on more smoothly. I’m currently using TEMPLESPA Windows Of The Soul Eye Treatment Gel-Cream, and NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer.
In the winter, my lips tend to get dry and chapped, so I am a big wearer of lip balm. I will always put some on before going out, and sometimes even if I’m staying in if I feel I need it. I frequently re-apply lip balm throughout the day, as and when I need it, to keep my lips feeling hydrated.
Evening skincare
The first step of my evening skincare routine is to remove any makeup that I am wearing. On the rare occasions when I wear mascara, eyeliner or any other heavy makeup then I will use an eye makeup remover and a cotton pad to remove it. Otherwise, if I am just wearing concealer, I will use a face cleanser and a flannel or microfibre cloth. If I’m not wearing any makeup at all, I will skip the cleanser and just wash my face with water.
About the cleanser I use
I am currently using the Virgin Organic Hemp Seed Oil Super Cleanser which is by The Edinburgh Natural Skincare Company. This is a softening and moisturising cleanser made of essential oils including virgin organic hemp oil, rosewood essential oil and rosemary essential oil. The ingredients are specially selected not only to be cleansing, but also to balance and moisturise your skin as well as have anti-ageing benefits. The cleanser comes in a glass bottle which shows off its beautiful olive green colour.
To use this cleanser, you use the pipette to drop a few drops onto your hand, and then massage it into your skin. Then, use a hot cloth to wipe off the cleanser. I’ve been following these instructions and I’ve found that it effectively cleanses my skin including my under eye area where I often wear concealer. I really like how this cleanser doesn’t just cleanse, but also makes my skin feel really soft and hydrated. It has a pleasant scent; the hemp oil dominates but I can also smell rosemary and lavender.
Next steps in my evening skincare
After this, I will typically alternate between using a hydrating product or an anti-ageing serum (currently the Symmetry Anti Ageing Face Serum that I talked about earlier). If I am having any particular problems with my skin, such as dullness or blemishes, I will then use specific products to target those, such as a glow serum or an anti-acne product. One of my go-to products is the Tisserand Tea Tree and Aloe Skin Rescue Stick which helps to get rid of spots before they properly break out.
Occasionally, I will also apply a face mask, but this is not a regular part of my routine – just a treat! I am a fan of LUSH and I like getting the free face masks for taking back 5 empty containers. So typically if I use a face mask it will be a LUSH one.
I mentioned earlier that I get dry lips in the winter, and I also get dry hands too. Before going to bed, the last thing I do in my winter skincare routine is to apply a thick coating of lip balm or a lip mask to my lips, which I leave on overnight. I also apply a generous helping of hand cream. This means that my lips and hands get well moisturised overnight which sets me up well for the next day. I’ve found it really makes a huge difference to my dry hands and lips, so I really recommend doing this if you struggle with the same problem.
General skincare practices
Alongside my winter skincare routine, there are a few other things I do to keep my skin in the best condition possible. Firstly, I take the Solgar Skin, Nails and Hair formula which is a supplement for healthy skin, nails and hair. Secondly, I drink a lot of water because staying hydrated is so important for skin health. Third, I try to eat a healthy diet, and limit sugar, but I am certainly not perfect on this aspect! I also take a digestive enzyme supplement before each meal because this helps me to absorb more nutrients from my meals, which will lead to better health overall including skin health.
Finally, although I don’t typically wear a lot of sunscreen in winter, if I am going to be spending a lot of time outdoors on a sunny day I will put some sunscreen on because it’s still possible to get sunburnt, even in winter.
Do you have a winter skincare routine?
If you follow a winter skincare routine, or have any skincare tips or recommendations, I would love to hear from you – please write them in the comments below. Whatever your take on skincare, I hope this post has been helpful for you.
If you’re in need of some new skincare products, I especially recommend having a browse on The Edinburgh Natural Skincare Company website, because they have some great skincare products including the Symmetry Anti Ageing Face Serum and the Virgin Organic Hemp Seed Oil Super Cleanser that I have been using.
Until next time, wishing you all the best with your winter skincare and I hope you find your way to healthy, glowing skin!
This was useful to read as I needed some ideas about updating my skincare routine for the winter months (definitely need to boost moisture protection because of the cold weather). Thanks for this!
I get really dry skin in the winter. Glad this post has been useful for you!