The Best Skin Care Tips for Cold Weather

Is your skin looking dull, feeling tight, flaky, and more irritable than usual? Alas, winter is here...

While your skin type doesn't change, changing seasons can influence how your skin feels, looks, and acts. Keep reading to find out our best tips for hydrated skin this Aussie winter.

Why Is My Skin Different During Winter? Here's Why:

Our skin's sebum (oil) production is stimulated by heat, so as the temperature drops, so does our oil production. Less oil production means our skin will feel drier, be less protected and potentially experience irritation. To make matters worse, lower humidity levels, and therefore drier air, increase our skin's water loss, causing our skin to be dehydrated. Dehydrated skin may appear dull, and fine lines and wrinkles can be more apparent. Oh, the joys!

If you are waiting for some good news, here it is; there are oodles you can do to winter-proof your skin. Let's keep your skin 'chill' despite the winter chill.

Swap to a Richer Moisturiser

Think of your moisturiser like you do your clothes; when you feel that cold snap coming, you swap out your summer wardrobe for your winter wardrobe. It is also one of the easiest and most effective tweaks you can make to your skincare routine.

In winter, you need a moisturiser that will create more of a barrier against the cold and wind, compensate for the lack of oil, and hold in as much moisture as possible. We don't ask for much, do we? To ensure your moisturiser does its job effectively, look for ingredients like ceramides, vitamin E, niacinamide, essential fatty acids, panthenol, and squalane.

Skin Tip: Always apply your moisturiser as soon as possible after showering. This limits the amount of moisture your skin loses. If you feel tight or dry 20 minutes after applying your moisturiser, it is time to make a change.

Mumbai Gold Day Crème 50ml $60

 

 

This velvety, buttery textured crème is super hydrating, enriched with the botanical powers of Seabuckthorn, Castor Oil, Gotu Kola, Turmeric and Squalane. Mumbai Gold is known for its ability to brighten dull skin and help smoother the skin's texture. For those struggling with Rosacea, Mumbai Gold can offer a soothing touch, calming redness and inflammation.

Day & Night Face Moisturiser 75ml $31.95

Switch to a Hydrating Cleanser

Your cleanser should leave your skin feeling clean, soft, and hydrated, never tight or dry. The cleanser that worked for you in summer is likely to strip your winter skin. In addition to producing less oil - when it's colder, our skin generally also sweats less. Swapping to a cream cleanser, oil cleanser, or a very gentle gel cleanser is a great way to ensure your skin is clean, but your moisture barrier remains intact.

Oil cleansers to use in winter:

Face Cleansing Balm 125g $55

If you prefer fragrance-free skincare this is for you! Experience the transformation from a solid balm to a luxurious oil, ensuring your skin feels silky smooth and deeply hydrated. Apply to dry skin. Use dry fingertips to gently massage over face, eyes & neck. Remove with warm water or damp cloth, preferably with a wine on standby! 

 

 

Cream and gel cleansers that won't leave your face feeling "tight" & dry:

Jelly Cloud Milky Cleanser $37

Jelly Cloud is a gentle milky cleanser, with a soft texture between a cream and gel cleanser that effectively cleanses away makeup and daily grime. Non-foaming and extremely gentle to the skin barrier. Leaving skin cleansed but still incredibly soft and hydrated, not tight and dry.

 

 

Sweet Orange Balancing Cleanser 100ml $35

A purifying deep cleansing gel formulated to clean and balance oily and combination skin. Papaya Extract, Desert Lime and Mountain Pepper Leaf assists with hormonal acne and breakouts while Lactic Acid and Fruit Acids (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) effectively remove excess sebum, make-up and impurities for a fresh and luminous appearance.

 

 

 Add Facial Oils to Your Routine

Your skin needs oil and water to function optimally. Skin naturally produces sebum (oil), an oily substance that lubricates and protects it. Some skin types produce more oil than others, this is largely determined by genetics. Unless you skipped ahead, you already know that colder weather can cause your skin to produce less sebum/oil. When your skin is lacking oil, it is dry. We can compensate for this lack of oil by using face oil. We usually recommend applying your face oil before your moisturiser. If your moisturiser is much lighter in texture, then apply your oil afterward. Think, thinnest to thickest. There are face oils to suit every skin type, even if you have oily skin.

Facial oils we're loving:

Bakuchiol Face Oil 30ml $62

A botanical face oil, infused with borage, bakuchiol, hemp and seabuckthorn and pear seed oils. Nourishing & hydrating luxe formula, penetrates quickly into the skin.

When It Comes to Winter Skincare WE AMP UP THE ACTIVES!

Skin concerns like pigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity can also be more apparent when it's cold. With less sun exposure, winter is the best time to treat these concerns. You could introduce a retinoid and/or vitamin C product, or depending on your skin concerns, look into professional treatments.

Retinoids are clinically proven to help treat many skin concerns. They are known as the gold standard for younger-looking skin - in addition to sunscreen of course! Due to their ability to speed up skin cell turnover, retinoids also help to treat acne.

Vitamin C is also clinically proven to help improve the appearance of the multiple signs of aging and pigmentation. It is possible to have too much of a good thing, and always err on the side of caution when introducing active ingredients, go low and slow and increase as tolerated.

It is not recommended you use any retinoid product while pregnant or breastfeeding. We recommend chatting with your skin specialist, dermatologist, and/or GP before introducing active ingredients.

Worth trying:

Colombo Night Repair Crème 50ml $80

Colombo Night Repair Crème is a moisture-intensive luxury night cream specially formulated to restore the lipid barrier of dry and fissured skin. It actively helps repair damaged skin and revitalizes elasticity. Enriched with plentiful Ceramides, Vitamin C, B5, Jojoba Oil, Olive Qqualane, as well as plant retinol - Buckichiol and a dash of luxurious Sandalwood Oil. If you're worried about retinol drying you out, this is the one! No dry flaky patches and it feels lush and hydrating on the skin.

Pollen Plumper - Vitamin C Face Moisturizer 50g $79

A powerhouse blend of nature's finest ingredients, expertly formulated to brighten and nourish your skin. Hand-filled in Melbourne and encased in an innovative airless pump jar, this moisturizer ensures the highest potency of Vitamin C, great for all skin types. A Vitamin C serum suitable for most skin types, especially great if you are a beginner.

You Still Need to Wear Sunscreen In Winter

The sun may not seem as strong in winter, but grey skies do not protect you from the damaging effects of UV radiation. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin than UVB rays and can travel through clouds and windows, meaning even if you don't get sunburnt, even if you don't go outside, incidental exposure is enough to damage your skin cells long term. If that doesn't mean much to you, think of it this way - uneven skin tone, more wrinkles, loss of firmness, not to mention increasing your risk of skin cancer.

Do we have your attention now? Cool kids wear sunscreen, rain, hail, or shine, indoors or outdoors!

This Acne Friendly Aussie Made Sunscreen Will Leave You Glowing

SPF 50 Natural Tinted Moisturiser 50ml $40

 

 

Avocado Zinc's SPF 50 Natural Tinted Moisturiser offers a vegan, 100% natural alternative to foundation. Provides excellent coverage, evens skin tone, and hides blemishes. It blends seamlessly across all skin colors, offering deeply moisturizing benefits with SPF 50 broad-spectrum protection. Silky and luxurious, it's the ideal foundation substitute for a flawless, protected complexion.

SPF 50 Natural Tinted Moisturiser comes in 3 shades:
Light - suits extra fair skin
Light-Medium - suits fair & lightly olive skin
Medium-Dark - suits tanned & dark skin              

Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. Re-apply frequently. Avoid prolonged high-risk sun exposure. Wear a hat, protective clothing, and sunglasses when exposed to the sun.

Our lips need all the help and protection they can get in winter! Here's a multi-tasker we adore:

SPF 50 Natural Cheek & Lip Tint $35

Acting as a lip balm, lipstick, blush, eye shadow, and SPF in one, it simplifies your makeup routine. Enriched with nourishing Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Castor Oil, and Vitamin E, it offers a boost of color, hydration, and sun protection.

Comes in 3 gorgeous shades Berry, Coral and Red Earth. 

Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. Re-apply frequently. Avoid prolonged high-risk sun exposure. Wear a hat, protective clothing, and sunglasses when exposed to the sun.

Bring the Sun, Bronzy and Sun-kissed Skin Safely with This Sunless Must-have Duo.

Cover your Bases Bundle $54.95

 

 

 

Sontse. Created by Australian woman and beauty enthusiast Jayde Houndalas, the Sontse range was mindfully formulated in response to her own journey of understanding and education on the importance of sun safety.

                    

                   USE CODE VAMS20 FOR 20% OFF ANY PRODUCT

 

Limit Hot Showers and Heating

Trust us, we get it, there is nothing better than a long scalding hot shower, but unfortunately, we have to be the bearer of bad news - hot water can damage your skin barrier, and increase moisture loss and inflammation, particularly the skin on your face.

To add insult to injury, excessive use of heating can further dehydrate our skin, only worsening our winter skin woes. Instead, try using a humidifier to add moisture to dry air, and rug up with warm clothes and all the cozy blankets. As a matter of fact, we just so happen to be cocooned in our blanket as we're writing this. If it's been one of those days and you need a long hot shower to soothe your soul (you're only human), make sure you are replenishing the moisture loss from the inside and out.

We suggest drinking the recommended amount of water daily, and layering mists, serums, and/or masks to supplement hydration topically.

 

For an Extra Boost of Skin Hydration Try These:

Hydration Face Serum with Niacinamide $54

 

 

Tidhá's multifunctional hydration serum is your go-to for those seeking long-lasting hydration. Catering to sensitive skin, the formula is infused with potent antioxidants that shield your skin from the harmful effects of free radicals, pollution, and environmental stressors.

Zen Bio Cellulose Sheet Masks $55

 

 

 

A pack of 3 sheet masks to drench your skin with all the hydration. Bio cellulose sheet masks are made exclusively from natural coconut fibers, all-natural ingredients and are 100% Biodegradable. Using Bio cellulose technology, the mask moulds to the curvatures of your face sealing in all the active ingredients for your best and brightest glowing skin yet. Scan the QR code on the back of the masks to lead you to a guided meditation to help you unwind and enhance your self care moment.

Hydrating Facial Spray Mist $39.95

 

 

              

 

Because more is more - hydration that is! Formulated with sensitive skin in mind, no artificial fragrances and essential oils reduce the risk of irritation to the skin.
No fragrance-induced sneezing with this one! Made for itchy, irritated, and dry skin, this facial mist is your go-to solution for maintaining a healthy skin barrier and boosting the effectiveness of your serums and moisturizers.    

Exfoliate But, Less Is Best!

Without regular exfoliation, your skin can appear dull and drab, but just because it's winter does not mean your skin needs to look like it! You definitely don't need to exfoliate as much as in summer, we suggest using a chemical exfoliant, one to three times per week depending on your skin type and sensitivities. If you can't give up the feeling of a scrub, opt for a gentle physical exfoliant. Put the old school (ahem, walnut) scrub down.

P.S. Exfoliating correctly also makes your moisturiser sink in and do its job better. Never exfoliate over damaged or broken skin!

To Uncover Glowing Skin and Treat Acne Try These

Acne Clearing Gel Honey Shots $56

Specially formulated to tackle the toughest skin challenges, it combats acne, blemishes, and breakouts, while simultaneously nourishing your skin and fortifying its natural barrier.  Antibacterial, hydrating, and soothing, our favourite for targeting breakouts and acne in winter. What do you get when you cross a Registered Nurse, experience in research and wound care and an upbringing tending to family beehives? Australia’s first 100% Australian Manuka Honey beauty brand, Pollen Nation Skin.

For Winter Body Care We're Loving:

Exfoliating Body Scrubs Bundle by Oat Body $89.95

Each scrub in this collection targets a range of skin concerns, from dryness and redness to eczema, acne, stretch marks, and pigmentation. Start your week with the soothing Sweet Vanilla Escape, perfect for gentle exfoliation and a delightful aroma. Midweek, rejuvenate with the invigorating Coffee Indulgence, awakening your senses and revitalizing your skin. As the weekend approaches, Feelin' Peachy revives your skin with its refreshing and revitalizing touch. End your week indulging in Chocoholic, a luxurious treat for nourished, glowing skin.

Check out the full hair care range at VAMS Beauty. You won't regret it!

Read More On Hair Care: The Ultimate Guide to Hair Oiling for Hair Growth

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Ellie & Tiana 💖