Winter. The season when many of us notice a change in our skin's appearance, and usually not for the better. What was once radiant and glowing in the warmer months may now appear dull and dry. Bring your skin back to life with our top tips to get your glow back (and keep it!) this winter.
Winter brings a long list of environmental challenges that can’t be avoided (unless you plan on escaping to a tropical destination!). To counteract the effects of harsh winds and dry air we need to make a little extra effort when it comes to our health and skincare rituals. Let’s take a look at some simple ways you can protect your skin from the inside out this winter.
START FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Hydration
If there was ever a time we needed more hydration, it’s throughout the cooler seasons. However, the chilly environment of winter often makes it less enticing to drink the recommended 8 glasses of water each day. To stay on top of your hydration intake carry a water bottle around with you, keep water in reach when working at a desk and set yourself drink break reminders if you’re really struggling to find the motivation! You can also find fluids through antioxidant rich green tea, healthy vegetable soups and adding a dash of lemon and honey to warm water is a great way to hydrate while delivering additional nutrients to supercharge your wellbeing.
Omega Oils
Omega-3 fatty acids have various benefits for your body and brain and play a huge role in the health of our skin. Proven to improve eczema and maintain a healthy cell membrane, adding omegas into your diet or skincare is a foolproof way to a softer complexion and a healthy, hydrated skin barrier. Add these foods to your weekly diet for a boost of health Omega 3 Fatty Acids:
- Fatty Fish such as Mackerel, Salmon and Herring, Sardines and Anchovies
- Oysters
- Chia Seed & Flaxseed
- Walnuts
- Eggs
- Green Leafy Vegetables such as Spinach and Brussel Sprouts
Avoid excessive processed foods
Cold weather often leads to changes in dietary and lifestyle habits. On cool, crisp nights it can be tempting to cosy up on the couch with comfort foods such as burgers, hot chips and pizza. While there’s nothing wrong with this, indulging too often can leave us feeling and looking sluggish. Consuming fewer fresh fruits and vegetables can also deprive the skin of vital nutrients, leading to dullness and a loss of vitality.
EXERCISE
As it starts to get chilly we know how tempting it is to hit the snooze button and skip your workout… but there’s no better way to warm up your body and get your blood flowing than 30 mins of exercise. If you can drag yourself away from your warm winter comforts for a brisk 20 minute walk, you’ll be doing your mental, physical and skin health a favour. If it’s just too cold in your location, sign up for a class a few times per week or get your blood flowing at home with some yoga or pilates from the comfort of your lounge room.
WINTER SKINCARE UPGRADE
Avoid hot water and too much heating
Who doesn’t love the idea of a long, hot shower in the winter!? Unfortunately, hot water and dry air from the heater will quickly strip your skin of natural moisture that keeps it healthy, hydrated and protected. Take a short, lukewarm shower and rug up with fluffy slippers, a bathrobe and pour yourself a hot cup of peppermint tea to stay warm.
Change your skincare routine to suit your climate
Knowing your skin type is great, but it’s also important to understand that our skin and the environment we are in is always changing. When the weather cools, we become unwell or start working in a different environment, there are times we may have to alter our skincare products to support our skin through these stressful changes. The products you use through summer may need to change through winter, so assessing your skin’s health and the effectiveness of your daily products is essential to maintaining a healthy complexion and preventing any flare-ups or skin conditions.
Introduce a Face Oil
If you don’t have face oil in your current routine, now could be a great time to introduce one into your nightly rituals.
If you have dry, sensitive skin try LAMAV’s Omega Antioxidant Face Oil. Containing 100% pure actives, dry skin will find instant comfort with a burst of essential fatty acids to soothe, strengthen and smooth the skin’s surface.
Skin looking a little dull? LAMAV’s Vitamin C Brightening Oil will naturally brighten while restoring and protecting the skin. Bursting with antioxidants and nourishing oils, this is a must have for radiant skin this winter.
Acne prone skin, we haven’t forgotten about you! Yes that’s right, even your skin type can benefit from the right facial oil (particularly through the cooler months). LAMAV’s Vitamin A Repair Oil is light in texture but delivers some serious benefits for ageing and acne prone skin. Containing 2% bakuchiol to accelerate cell turnover and boost collagen production, you’ll enjoy stronger and smoother skin.
Exfoliate to avoid flaky skin build up
During winter, the natural exfoliation process slows down. This means that dead skin cells accumulate on the skin's surface, creating a barrier that prevents light from reflecting evenly. As a result, the skin appears dull and textured. You can apply all the serums in the world, but dry skin will stay dry without some light exfoliation. LAMAV’s Jojoba Exfoliating Scrub nourishes the skin with fatty acid rich oils while at the same time breaking down dead skin cells thanks to the inclusion of fruit derived AHA’s, revealing a softer and smoother complexion.
Double Cleansing with an Oil cleanser
Regardless of the season, double cleansing (particularly at night) is non-negotiable. Investing in a daily cleansing ritual will help to naturally speed up cell turnover to rejuvenate the skin and allows nourishing leave-on products to actually absorb into the skin to deliver hydration.
For a first cleanse we recommend an oil cleanser for all skin types. Starting with an oil cleanse is the most gentle and effective way to remove heavy makeup, SPF, foundation, impurities and excess oil. LAMAV’s Marula Oil Cleanser contains a lightweight blend of natural oils that will gently dissolve makeup while restoring moisture balance and repairing the skin’s barrier.
Follow up with our Hydra Calm Cream Cleanser if you have sensitive, dry skin or reach for our cult favourite Sweet Orange Balancing Cleanser for those with normal or oily skin.
Sleep your way to better skin
Night time isn’t just a time to rest our eyes, it’s also a time for our skin to rest, rejuvenate and repair. We all know that getting adequate sleep is really important for our overall health, and being intentional with what we put on our skin prior to catching up on some shut eye is just as important for our complexion. After double cleansing, nourish your skin with one of our Boosters and follow up with our leave-on Beauty Sleep Mask to lock in all the goodness! You’ll wake up with calm, plump and hydrated skin.
Hydrate skin on the go
We all know how quickly the frosty winds of winter can knock the hydration straight out of your skin. For hydration top ups on the go, throw LAMAV’s Rose Hydrating Mist Spray in your hardbag and spray as needed throughout the day. It will refresh your makeup and provide an instant glow.
You still need SPF
Just because the sun isn’t streaming down, doesn’t mean you should ditch the SPF. Whilst the sun may feel less intense, it can still significantly impact the health of your skin. A little sun exposure through winter is essential for health but too much exposure (even in winter) can lead to premature aging and an uneven skin tone.
BODY CARE
It can be easy to become lazy with body care throughout winter. We get it - the thought of taking off your snuggly dressing gown or comfy winter tracksuit is enough to make anyone shiver! But, just because we don’t expose as much skin through the cooler seasons it doesn’t mean we should neglect the skin on our body. Here’s a few simple ways you can give your body some TLC in as little as 5 minutes per day:
Exfoliate with LAMAV’s Exfoliating Mitt or Garshana Dry Body brush prior to showering to keep dry skin at bay while stimulating blood flow for smooth, healthy skin.
Reach for one of LAMAV’s Ayurvedic Body Oils and add to a warm bath or indulge in an Abhyanga Body Massage prior to showering. Top up hydration daily with our body oils post shower to deeply nourish dry winter skin.
Don’t forget your hands! Dry hands, brittle nails and rough cuticles are even more common through winter, so keep LAMAV’s Vitamin C Hand Cream in reach to comfort rough, dry hands.
SAFE SELF TANNING
During winter we tend to spend more time indoors, resulting in a pale, dull complexion. While there’s nothing wrong with a lighter complexion, the right self-tanning product can help bring our summer glow back without exposing our skin to too much sun.
Invest in a tan that supports skin health and hydration, such as LAMAV’s Gradual Tanning Moisturiser. Opting for a tanning moisturiser will provide a subtle, more realistic colour through the cooler months while delivering hydration that our skin so desperately needs. LAMAV’s Gradual Tanning Moisturiser contains a nourishing blend of oils and is enriched with bio-active magnesium to support overall wellbeing and skin health.
