Winter is here, and while cosy sweaters and hot chocolate are dreamy, my skin often throws a tantrum when it’s cold. If you’re like me - blessed with the oh-so-fun combo of dry and sensitive skin - winter can feel like an uphill battle. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back! After years of fighting for happy skin in winter, I’ve finally managed to build my arsenal against dry, dull and irritated skin.

Step 1: The Right Cleanser Matters:

First things first: ditch those harsh cleansers. You want something gentle, creamy, and free from anything you know might irritate your skin. Steer clear of cleanser/exfoliator hybrids, these will just strip your skin of all moisture and make your face feel tight and sore. In the winter, I also like to cleanse once per day - only in the evening.

If I’m wearing makeup, I take this off with an oil based cleanser like Clinque’s Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm. It’s one of the few cleansers that successfully removes all of my waterproof mascara. It also washes away better than any other oil based cleanser I’ve tried and doesn’t leave my skin feeling oily. After I’ve taken my makeup off I usually go in with a cream based cleanser like Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Polish. It’s one of my holy grail products that I have been using on my skin for over a decade. It’s full of natural ingredients, smells gorgeous and always leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean. If I haven’t I worn makeup I skip the cleansing balm and just use Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Glow. It’s a unique gel to oil to milk cleanser. Because of this, I feel like I don’t have to double cleanse. Again, it leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean with the added benefit of a little glow.

Step 2: Hydrate Like Your Life Depends On It

Winter air is thirsty, and it’s out to steal every drop of moisture from your skin. After cleanser make sure you use some type of hydrating toner or serum. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid are great at helping your skin retain moisture and that bouncy feeling. When applying your serums, it’s important to tap the product in and not rub! Tapping helps with premature wrinkles and allows the product to sink in better. Always try and leave serums on your skin for a few moments before going on to the next step in your routine.

Personally, I have tried many hyaluronic acid serums and whilst I don’t have a particular favourite, I think it’s worth mentioning a few. If you’re looking for a budget friendly hyaluronic acid serum try out the Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Serum. It’s inexpensive and does the job, I usually find I need to do a few more drops than other serums, but the results are still fine. For another inexpensive serum, I’d recommend The Ordinary Hyaluronic Aicd 2% Serum. It has a much thicker texture than the Boots one and I only need one or two drop to cover my entire face and neck.

Step 3: treatments, always treatments:

All of us have unique skincare concerns, whether it’s anti-aging, redness, pigmentation or acne. So it’s important to carve out a step in your routine that addresses these specific concerns. For me, it’s a little bit of preventative anti-aging and dullness around my eyes. To combat these concerns, I use a mixture of products that also don’t agitate my sensitive skin.

For preventative anti-aging, I go in with a retinol serum 2 times a week. My personal favourite is The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalene. This is a high strength retinol. If you haven’t used retinol before, I suggest starting off with a less intense one so that your skin can get used to it. A good alternative would be The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalene. The important thing to remember about retinol is that is should only be used in your night time skincare routine. Retinol can make your skin very sensitive to UV, so you should never apply it in the morning.

To brighten up my under eyes and eyelids I like to use a Vitamin C eye cream or gel. I am quite pale, and the skin around my eyes is very thin which can look almost purple in the winter. My favourite at the moment is the Boots Vitamin C Brightening Eye Gel. The gel feels nice and soothing on my under eyes which also helps with puffiness.

step 4: mindfully moisturise

Now that our skin is clean, hydrated and treated, we need to moisturise. Choosing a moisturiser can be so overwhelming because there are so many different ones out there that claim to do so many different things. So before you build a moisturiser into your skincare routine you need to ask yourself, what are your skin goals?

For me I want a moisturiser that is not only going to lock in moisture but also help target some of my skincare concerns, like dullness. My favourite moisturiser that leaves me feeling bright and glowy throughout winter is the Liz Earle Revitalise and Glow Illuminating Gel Moisturiser. Like all the other Liz Earle products I mentioned, it smells amazing and is made with only natural ingredients. Perfect for those of us with sensitive skin. Another moisturiser I often reach for, if I feel like I don’t need that extra “glow” is the classic CeraVe Moisturising Lotion. It’s the perfect essential moisturiser for dry skin in the winter, and it’s limited ingredients makes it perfect for sensitive skin.

Step 5: Treat Yourself

Once or twice a week, it’s important to treat your skin and indulge in a hydrating mask or an overnight sleeping mask. It’s like a mini spa day for your face. I like to try out a variety of different masks with different purposes. Some days I’ll try out one that focuses on hydration, whilst other times I like to use ones with a plumping effect. It just depends on what mood I’m in. However, in the winter I always steer clear of clay masks, as I find that these actually dry out my skin even more. Instead, I opt for sheet masks which leave my skin hydrated and happy.

And there you have it - my winter skincare routine in a nutshell. Although it’s important to remember that skincare is not the be all and end all when it comes to healthy looking skin. We also need to be mindful of healthy habits and lifestyle choices that may impact our skin. After all, our skin is the biggest organ in our body and we need to remember that lotions and potions are not going to remedy our problems by themselves. Also, when it comes to skincare, consistency is key. The best results always come to those who wait.