Winter Skincare: Protecting your Face in Arctic Conditions

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BY AMY VICKERY

A few weeks ago I went skiing for the first time. We discovered I cannot ski. Well, not well. But before I went I was quite preoccupied with protecting my skin in dehydrating and arctic conditions. My skin came back in cracking condition. Here’s what I came up with for my winter skincare guide.

Daytime: Pump up the moisture and then barricade it all in 

Lots of lovely layers were the key to the daytime armour. First up, I washed with Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser (£34). A little light exfoliation means the ingredients penetrate more easily and this has got a gentle combo of salicylic, lactic and glycolic acid to whisk away cells. Plus its a gentler approach than my usual evening exfoliation which I dropped while braving the arctic (more on that later). Skin feeling less resilient? Try Clarins Extra-Comfort Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream (£25) – its soft and creamy and makes your skin feel like it’s been licked by kittens.

Then we put on Clarins Double Serum (£55) followed by Indeed Labs Hydraluron Serum (£24.99) to pump moisture into the skin. Feeling it? Good.

I decided to investigate Icelandic brand Skyn (sold at M&S Beauty) figuring that they’d be the country with the expertise to protect my skin on the slopes. And low and behold, I uncovered a gem in its Arctic Hydrating Balm (£25). My skin is combination and can get a bit oily on the t-zone, but this moisturised without any tell tale sheen and felt truly nourishing. In fact I used it on my neck as well and it polished off an annoying patch of eczema that I had hanging around. Highly recommended.

Right, where were we? Then we pop on some SPF. Eyes were treated to Clinique Superdefense SPF20 Age Defense Eye Cream (£30 – remember it’s all about SPF on the slopes). I did have Simple Soothing Eye Balm (£3.99) with me to supplement this – I have very dry, contact lense wearing, occasionally eczema-y eyes and this is one of my favourite eye creams.

In hot climates I stick to La Roche Posay Anthelios Face Anti-shine Dry Touch Gel SPF 50+ (£16.50), but when max moisture is needed I used a new favourite Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Defense (£26). Slightly tinted to offer a little illumination (but not so much you can’t apply plentifully), it sits beautifully on the skin and doesn’t pill.

Still with me? Go do your eye make up while that soaks in a bit. (I used a bit of Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘n’ Kohl pencil in Barbarella Brown (£19) with Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara in waterproof £9.99). Then (last bit) I popped on a bit of Olay Total Effects Pore Minimizing CC Cream (£14.99) and buffed in with a brush, followed by some Bare Minerals SPF 15 (£25) – it’s all to push that SPF up and protect your face to the max. And that’s your lot.

Out on the slopes, I kept a Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF30 for Oily Problem Skin ($30) in my pocket from a US trip – but Bare Minerals do a similar portable version (£25) in the UK. I was also armed with about 4 lip balms, the leading star of which was Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Original Ultra Moisturizing Lip Balm SPF 15 (£1.89 – although the tinted one is pictured I actually took the clear one since it could double up on dry patches).

Nighttime: Replenish and Protect

The heating is on all the time indoors in these temperatures so part of the night time regime was to protect skin from losing moisture at night. You’ll be pleased to know night time is shorter….

I get occasional breakouts so some nights popped Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Stress Control Hydrating Spot Treatment (£4.99) around my jaw line. Then it’s onto the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair (£49) – always essential. Simple Soothing Eye Balm (£3.99) again reinvigorates the eye layered over La Roche Posay Redermic Eyes (£24.50) for some anti ageing.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Jelly (£24.99) is next to reinvigorate your moisture levels. This is a real favourite of mine since it pumps moisture in without feeling heavy, clogging pores or taking an age to soak in. Finally my favourite flight cream goes on – Soap and Glory Beauty Sleep Accelerator Night & Flight Moisture Miracle (£13) which is great at protecting the skin and forming a barrier to stop evaporation.

Lips need some love so I smooshed on Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Champagne ($26 – thats the tube with all the paint flaked off), another US purchase, but yummy Nuxe Reve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm (£9.50) also does a great job with a squish of Blistex. Twice in the week I exfoliated before bed with Dr Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Peel (£22.95 for 10 – I’ve got the bumper pack in the first picture but keep sachets for holidays), a product that genuinely changed my skin. At home I use it every other night.

You’re probably knackered after all that so best hit the hay, but you can be sure your skin was best protected against the biting wind. My skin was clear and bright when I came back.