How to Get Glowing Skin this Winter (Despite the Dreaded Office Air-Conditioning)

How to Get Glowing Skin this Winter (Despite the Dreaded Office Air-Conditioning)

Colder temperatures, harsh winds, amped up office air-conditioning are here – let the battle for glowing skin this winter commence. It’s no secret that to beat dry skin and a sallow complexion during winter your skincare routine needs to contain lots of hydration and some extra TLC. I tweaked my skincare regime to help keep my skin looking alive and glowing this winter and this is what I’ve discovered:

Step 1 for glowing skin this winter – Stay Hydrated

via NaturalNews.com

Staying hydrated is probably one of the most important factors in how your skin will behaves during winter or at any other time for that matter. Because our bodies are made up of 60% water, we need to maintain a certain level of it to ensure all organs are functioning properly which in turn affects our skin and how it looks. Central heating, hot water and air-conditioning in winter months can all be harsh on our skin and it may not look it’s best during winter as a result.

What should I drink?

I find it easier to drink more water in winter, hot water and lemon is perfect to drink on a cold winter’s day. I only have one coffee on days that I’m in the office, not on days when I am out at metings or if I’m working from home. Days in the office are usually early morning starts and I need something to get me going, the rest of the time if I’m working from a coffee shop, co-working space or at home, I’ll drink green or jasmine tea which are both great for hydration.

Friends of mine have raved about their shiny new water bottles that encourage drinking the right amount of water each day and I’ve linked to a couple below. I have also recently discovered water bottles that contain crystals which some people believe provide other healing properties, I’ve got my eye on one of these from Gem Water – has anyone heard of these or tried them?

 

Step 2 for glowing skin this winter – Reduce the temperature of your bath water

Who doesn’t love a lovely hot shower to kick start the day or lovely warm bath to relax into after a long day? They’re lovely, but hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils, so the advice is to turn the temperature down a notch during winter. The harsh weather is already stripping our skin just by being outside so we should do all w can to limit this. 

I’ll be honest, I haven’t quite managed this myself (especially not when it’s freezing outside, what utter madness?!) but towards the end of the shower, I make the water as cool as I can stand and have a final rinse off in cooler water. That’s all I can manage at the moment, but I’m working on it.

Here are some of my favourite moisturising shower gels for dry skin:

 

Step 3 for glowing skin this winter – Change your facial cleanser

French women have perfected that, ‘I woke up like this’ effortlessly clear skin look and they sing the praises of micellar water as the reason behind it. They actually avoid using tap water on their face because the water in Paris is very hard. Micellar water hydrates whilst it cleanses and removes make-up at the same time without drying out the skin. You can follow-up with a thermal water spray which has fewer chemicals and impurities than water from the tap and pat dry with clean hands before moisturising.

Here are a few of my favourite brands of micellar water:

Step 4 for glowing skin this winter – Exfoliate

My skin definitely gets drier in winter and whilst I love a warm, cosy home, I don’t like the effect the heating has on my skin, it feels dry and dehydrated. Exfoliating to help get rid of dead skin cells helps skin to lock in moisture and give it back its glow. I have a few ways I like to exfoliate and change methods according to the amount of time I have and what my skin needs. This has definitely changed over the last year with how much I’ve learned about skin care and from other bloggers and skincare brands:

 

 

I received the Foreo Luna Go, with my subscription of Porter Magazine. The version I have has a non replaceable battery, so its one use that I’m not overly keen on, but I’ve had it for quite some time and it hasn’t died yet! I just add a blob of my cleanser to it and massage it all over my face it gives a very good clean and a gentle exfoliation.

The two products from The Ordinary are ones I purchased when I visited the Covent Garden store a few months ago. The AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution is the perfect exfoliating solution for winter weather. It smells quite ‘chemically’ but does the job and doesn’t leave irritated skin after using and I have relatively sensitive skin. The only thing thing I’m not keen on is that this is red and the pipette is not the easiest applicator.

The Pixi Glow Tonic is a great toner for a mild peeling product it contains 5% glycolic acid and can be used every day. 

Step 5 for glowing skin this winter – Switch up your moisturisers and hydrate

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil

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I adore this oil, because it’s for dehydrated skin it practically had my name on it when I was looking for a face oil. It has helped me to maintain an even skin tone and I have definitely noticed a difference since using this on my face. It’s a night treatment to use in place of your usual night cream and you’ll wake up with skin feeling lovely in the morning.

I have also added in a hyaluronic acid from The Ordinary and I use this after toning and before moisturising in the morning and evening. 

Here are a few other face oils I have heard lots of good things about. Most of them I have tried and I alternate between these depending on what my skin needs:

L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil

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I use L’Occitane Almond Oil in the shower which feels so nice on the skin, it lathers well to clean but the oil formulation leaves my skin feeling supple and moisturised too.

Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil

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I’m currently using Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil to moisturise after the shower. It smells gorgeous and it reminds me of my best friend who now lives in Australia as she introduced me to this product. You can use this to moisturise your body and as a treatment on nails and hair and my skin feels baby soft afterwards.

As you can see, I take this oil moisturising thing seriously, but I really do see the benefits of well moisturised skin, so even if you implement one of these types of moisturisers in your regime, I’m confident you’ll notice difference.

One step I added in last year is another one I’m about to repeat this year is the Bobbi Beown Tinted Balm. I wear Medium to Dark and this feels and smells lovely on the skin, gives a proper dewy glow and a light to medium coverage. Try some out at a Bobbi counter and let me know what you think.

Step 6 for glowing skin this winter – Eat ‘good’ fats

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Via Madeline Shaw

Eating for that glow from the inside out is probably one of the best options for combating harsh weather during winter. Some well-known foods to eat to help your skin glow this winter are; almonds, which contain vitamin-E to help skin maintain elasticity and youthfulness. Avocados, salmon, any other oily fish or flaxeed oil containing omega-3 oils to help the skin appear more supple and smooth and green leafy vegetables like spinach which contain vitamins and nutrients which make sense to eat to look alive!

All of these foods taken together are exactly the building blocks you need for glowing skin this Winter.

Try to incorporate one or two of the steps above to see your skin get its glorious glow this winter!

Do you have any of your own tips to share that I’ve missed? Do share below!

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8 Comments

  1. December 14, 2016 / 3:51 PM

    Great tips! I’ve been searching for a new oil-based shower oil, so I’ll have to check the L’Occitane one you’ve recommended here!

    XX,
    Lauren

    • December 14, 2016 / 9:56 PM

      Glad you like them, shower oils are actually really difficult to find, but they feel so nice don’t they! Let me know what you think of this one. Because of the festive season they do a small gift set of the almond range so you can get hooked without too much initial commitment the standard bottle is quite big lol 😉

  2. Ann
    December 14, 2016 / 7:19 PM

    Love the blog! I am on the Tube with my L’Occitane shower oil. I used the tester and rinsed my hands in store and the gentle fragrance is gorg?

    • December 14, 2016 / 10:02 PM

      Thank you Ann! Really appreciate the love. That’s exactly how I was hooked, they have brilliant demo tables in there! The range smells gorgeous but it’s not too overbearing is it? So slad you like it.

      Cx

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