7 steps to glowing winter skin

Banish bad skin this season! Amy Francombe has your expert approved guide to the ultimate rainy day skincare routine

- Amy Francombe

STINGING winds, colder temperatures and the ravages of central heating (if you’ve allowed yourself that luxury) can wreak havoc on the skin during colder seasons. All environmental factors can impact the look and feel of our skin but winter, in particular, poses unique challenges as harsher conditions upset the skin’s barrier function. In response our skincare regime needs an update to combat the fluctuating climates. Never fear, though, on hand are award-winning aesthetic doctors Dr Sophie Shotter and Dr Parisha Acharya who share their seven tips for the best winter skin of your life.

The non-negotiable step

Even when it’s miserable outside, SPF is a must. “The UVA levels over winter are pretty much as high as over the summer months,” confirms Dr Shotter, who believes in adding a coat of SPF after moisturising (and before putting on your makeup).

“Sunscreen is your ultimate anti-ageing product. It helps defend against skin cancer, pre-cancerous changes, and promotes skin health by maintaining collagen and elastin that act as scaffolds for our skin,” adds Dr Acharya, a facial aesthetics specialist in London. Both experts recommend Heliocare 360° Fluid Cream (3) (heliocare.co.uk; £28), but Teoxane Advanced Perfecting Shield SPF30 (teoxane.com; £52) and Horace’s mattifying face moisturiser SPF30 (9) (horace.co; £22) are great options, too. As non-comedogenic formulations, they give great coverage without blocking pores and causing breakouts — meaning there’s no excuse to miss this step.

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