As the temperatures drop and winter settles in, your skin may start to feel the chill — quite literally. Cold winds, dry indoor heating and reduced humidity can all wreak havoc on your complexion, leaving it feeling tight, flaky, and more reactive than usual. But with the right tweaks to your skincare routine, it’s easy to stay glowing through the colder months.
We asked Khylie Ostle, Learning and Capability Manager at Skinstitut, to share her expert winter skin essentials — from barrier-boosting cleansers to redness-soothing serums and the one thing you should never skip, even in winter (yes, it’s SPF).
A Cleansing Oil
Swap to an oil-based cleanser to help protect your skin’s barrier while effectively dissolving makeup and pollution, says Khylie.
“Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser to avoid stripping natural oils,” she stresses.
Try Skinstitut’s Expert Replenish Squalene Cleansing Oil. It melts away make-up, sunscreen and the day’s debris while nurturing and hydrating the skin. Massage over face and throat and remove with a warm, damp face cloth. Do this once in the morning, and twice at night (once for make-up and sunscreen, the second time for any leftover pollution or cellular waste).
An Enzyme Peel
Check your exfoliating products aren’t too harsh and that you’re not using them too much. “Over-exfoliating can worsen irritation,” warns Khylie.
Skip scrubs and embrace a gentle enzyme product, like Skinstitut’s Enzymatic Micro Peel which is bead free and great for delicate skin.
A Redness-Reducing Serum
“Harsh weather conditions can lead to increased redness and inflammation, particularly for those with sensitive or rosacea-prone skin,” says Khylie. “Cold air constricts blood vessels, while sudden exposure to warmth or sun exposure causes them to dilate, leading to visible redness.”
Lifestyle can also wreak havoc. “Hot and spicy foods, lots of coffee and diuretic drinks, alcohol and some medications can sometimes aggravate and exacerbate the redness,” warns Khylie.
Adding a serum that calms and supports the skin is key. Try Skinstitut Laser Aid. It provides instant relief to stressed skin while protecting its barrier and locking in moisture. Antioxidant Vitamins B5 and E strengthen the skin’s natural barrier function, too.
If redness is an issue, Khylie suggests making a “natural mineral makeup and a good barrier SPF” your best friends.
A Rich Moisturiser
“Cooler months bring lower humidity levels, which reduce the skin’s ability to retain moisture,” warns Khylie. “On top of that, indoor heating, longer hotter showers and electric blankets further dry out the skin, leading to dryness, irritation, and sensitivity.”
Look for lotions laden with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides, advises Khylie. Try Skinstitut Moisture Defence-Ultra Dry. It nurtures and replenishes dry skin with the aforementioned ingredients, while protecting it with a good dose of antioxidants.
As always, drink plenty of water to hydrate from within. “You might wish to use a humidifier to add moisture to indoor air,” adds Khylie.
A Repair Balm
“Winter conditions can make the skin more reactive,” states Khylie. “Cold winds and extreme exposure to hot and cold dry air can weaken the skin’s natural barrier, making it more prone to irritation and stinging sensations. This can lead to increased sensitivity to skincare products and environmental factors. A weakened skin barrier allows irritants to penetrate more easily, causing discomfort.”
Skintitut’s Repair Balm is a bit of a cold-weather superhero. With ceramides and Shea butter, it calms stressed skin as it nourishes and revives. Khylie also suggests sticking to a simple, soothing skincare routine, avoiding harsh fragrances in skincare and makeup, and always wearing SPF50+ because, “even in winter, UV rays can cause damage.”
SPF 50+
On that note… Make sure you apply sunscreen every day. Skinstitut Age Defence 50+ doubles down on high sun protection with antioxidants to help boost your skin’s natural protective functions, hydrate and protect the skin. It’s lightweight and readily absorbed without clogging pores or leaving a white film on the skin.
