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Winter skin, it’s a thing.

As winter envelopes us and temperatures begin to plummet, the humidity in the air diminishes, particularly in the chilly Highveld regions of South Africa. Consequently, our skin becomes increasingly prone to dryness.

Winter is also the season for seeking the warmth of fires and heaters, which further exacerbate the dehydration of our skin and lips.

Thankfully, 20 branches of Skin Renewal Aesthetic clinics around the country offer a way to detour the dryness and keep our skin in its glow phase all year round.

Since dryness is used to describe a skin type that produces less sebum, there are specific treatments that can work to hydrate and moisturise. As a result of the lack of sebum, dry skin lacks the lipids that it needs to retain moisture and build a protective shield against external influences, which leads to impaired barrier function.

When barrier function is weakened, there’s a loss of moisture, and with this vital function of skin compromised, it is now less able to protect itself against the external factors that accelerate age-induced dryness further.

After the age of 25, the skin metabolism slows down, which means the skin becomes gradually drier and less elastic over time. When dry facial skin and wrinkles suddenly become apparent on the skin’s surface, age-induced dryness is even more evident. At this stage, it’s as if dryness is piling onto dryness during the colder months.

Here are a few treatments and strategies to prepare your skin for Winter:

1. Exfoliation: Weekly exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, allowing better absorption of moisturisers and serums. It is recommended to use gentle (non-abrasive) exfoliants 1-2 times per week.

2. Hydrating treatments: Apply serums containing hyaluronic acid before moisturising to deeply hydrate the skin.

3. Switch to richer moisturisers: Use thicker creams with barrier-restoring ingredients (such as peptides and ceramides) to provide a stronger barrier against dry air and cold temperatures.

4. Professional treatments: Schedule monthly chemical exfoliation treatments with a skincare professional, as winter is ideal for these due to reduced sun exposure.

5. Lip care: Apply nourishing lip balms regularly to prevent chapping and dryness.

6. Humidifier use: Add moisture to indoor air to combat the drying effects of heating systems.

7. Gentle cleansing: Use mild, fragrance-free, soap-free cleansers to avoid stripping natural oils from the skin.

8. Sun protection: Continue using SPF daily, as UV rays can still damage skin in winter.

9. Hydrating masks: Incorporate hydrating face masks into your routine for extra moisture.

10. Take shorter, lukewarm showers: Avoid hot water, which can strip skin of natural oils, and moisturise immediately after bathing.

All types of dry skin need a careful skincare routine so as to improve appearance and feel. Dry skin may react much more sensitively to soap and alkaline solutions like those found in many cleaning agents, so cleansing should be carried out with a product that is gentle and doesn’t strip the skin of any natural moisture. For this, look for formulas that are free of fragrances and colouring.

When it comes to hydrating your skin, the goal is to repair damage and maintain the protective barrier, which is especially crucial during winter. Finding the right moisturiser for maximum hydration and barrier support can be tricky.

Here are four key ingredients I look for:

1. Ceramides: These are skin lipids found in the epidermis, the top layer of your skin. Ceramides help protect the skin barrier and prevent water loss. When applied, they are hydrating and soothing, helping to control that winter itch.
2. Niacinamide: This ingredient boosts the production of skin proteins and lipids like filaggrin and ceramides. It helps maintain healthy skin, especially for those with dry skin or eczema and has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce redness.
3. Glycerin: As a humectant, glycerin draws water into the skin and prevents further water loss. It’s essential for combating dryness caused by factors like indoor heating and hot showers.
4. Hyaluronic acid: This ingredient is known for its ability to retain moisture, providing deep hydration and plumping the skin.

These ingredients work together to maintain skin health and hydration, making them vital in any moisturiser.

It’s also important to avoid certain ingredients that can worsen dry skin, such as sulfates, alcohols and alkalis which strip away natural oils. These ingredients are common in products such as cleansers, toners, body cleansing bars and shampoos.

Products labelled as “all-natural” aren’t always the best choice, especially if they contain a lot of botanical or plant-derived ingredients, which can sometimes irritate the skin. Additionally, alcohol in cleansers and moisturisers can be drying and irritating, despite its antimicrobial properties.

It might even be worth appealing to an aesthetics doctor, like the highly skilled and trained ones at Skin Renewal, as they can test for skin sensitivities and advise on your specific needs.

Head over to Skin Renewal for more skincare tips, treatments, and products that are highly regarded in the skin care industry.