It’s officially autumn and the arrival of the cosy season always reminds me to check my back-up supplies of ultra-hydrating, barrier boosting formulas to help my skin withstand the impending cold spell.
Whilst your daily skincare regime should not vary too much throughout the year, it pays to have a winter rescue kit in the bathroom to help to remedy any of the common skin ailments that can occur this time of the year.
As colder, changeable weather can lead to sore, red, dehydrated, dry and dull skin, I recommend the following key ingredients remain on hand from now until Spring:
When it comes to supporting and comforting dry skin, ceramides are key. Ceramides are naturally occuring chains of lipids in the skin. A lack of ceramides can weaken the skin barrier, making it vulnerable to damage from external aggressors, such as bitterly cold temperatures. By enhancing your regime with the topical application of ceramides, you are able to fill in any gaps, thus strengthening the barrier.
To get nerdie, the skin produces ceramides naturally in the epidermal layers of the skin, where ceramides hold the upper epidermal cells in place and allow water reserves to be stored and reduce TEWL (transepidermal water loss). This gives a ‘brick and cement effect’, with the bricks being the cells and a large part of the cement being ceramides. It can help to imagine a house with no cement to keep the bricks in place – it leaves it vulnerable. The same rings true for ceramides, as the ingredient works to hold and keep a healthy barrier in place.
An impaired skin barrier allows invading pathogens to enter the epidermal layers and can then cause inflammatory responses within the skin. Unfortunately, our natural stores of ceramides are not always enough as ageing and environmental factors cause our cell cycle and production of ceramides to deplete over time. This can then lead to dry, inflamed and irritated skin and in some cases could even trigger skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis. A solution to this is to invest in a ceramide-based products and ensure regular application to treat transepidermal water loss and help to keep the skin calm, comforted and hydrated
Try
• Skingredients Skin Good Fats Ultra Hydrating Ceramide Moisturiser, €51, skingredients.com
• Dr Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturising Cream, €45, boots.ie
Glycerin is a humectant that draws moisture from the skin and keeps it there, quenching thirsty skin and building up the skin barrier’s resilience. It tends to get less attention than that of fellow humectant hyaluronic acid but offers heaps of skin-plumping benefits of its own, being regarded to protect the skin barrier more than hyaluronic acid does and aiming to restore the balance of the skin more optimally.
Try
• Fenty Skin Hydra’Reset Instant Recovery Glycerin Hand Mask, €18, boots.ie
• CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, €11
I couldn’t leave out this hero humectant, which undoubtedly should be a part of your skincare all year long but should also be prioritised in the winter. With each molecule holding an impressive 1000x its weight in water, hyaluronic acid can be thought of as a water reservoir for the skin with key benefits including replenishing lost moisture and keeping the skin hydrated, helping to plump up ‘drinkles,’ smoothing skin texture and speeding up wound healing.
Try
• ASAP Skincare Ultimate Hydration Treatment, €80, theskinnerd.com
• Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Night Cream, €45, boots.ie
• Top up your hydration levels during the day with a spritz such as the brand new Skingredients Spritz O’Clock (available now at Skingredients.com) or Pestle & Mortar Balance Facial Spritz which contains calming magnesium to soothe weather worn complexions.
• Take care not to over exfoliate. This can be really tempting when your skin is looking dull but over exfoliation can weaken the skin barrier, leading to more problems including sensitiation, redness and increasing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). I recommend that you exfoliate no more than 2-3 evenings a week and always opt for exfoliating acids rather than gritty, manual scrubs (which are far more barrier friendly) and follow with sunscreen every day.
Today
Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Water Gel Moisturiser (€15.99, Available in pharmacies nationwide).
This budget friendly beauty buy has been developed by dermatologists and contains a unique NMF (Natural Moisturising Factor) Complex containing 20% more hyaluronic acid to retain water to boost hydration, amino acid to support the skin barrier and electrolytes to boost ingredient absorption. NMF are a group of moisturising ingredients that are found in the skin and help to maintain optimal skin hydration. Over time, NMF levels deplete which results in lower moisture retention and less elastic skin. Claiming to boost hydration levels for up to 72 hours, this lightweight, oil-free formula provides a user-friendly solution and it won’t break the bank!
Payday
Murad Nutrient Charged Water Gel (€53.90, murad.com and theskinnerd.com).
Great for soothing all skin types, this lightweight oil-free gel moisturiser is enriched with vitamins B3 and E alongside the innovative Cumulative Hydration-Release Technology that instantly locks moisture to skin and increases retention for up to 5 days. Apply daily to alleviate dryness and keep the skin plump and smooth.