Our morning and evening skincare routines are essential for maintaining a healthy, hydrated face. However, as we head into the winter, we must make sure we are using the correct products in the correct order, so that we achieve a fresh, glowing look.
As temperatures begin to drop, and we spend more time at home with our central heating, our skin can face a multitude of challenges including dry and flaky skin. It is a good idea to introduce more ingredients that will maintain a healthy barrier function and protect the skin in a colder climate.
Over at Millies, we are passionate about helping you achieve your dream complexion. So, that’s why we’ve put together these AM and PM winter skincare regimes.
If you tend to suffer from dry skin during winter, then check out our expert guide on combating dry skin coming into the colder months.
Winter Skincare Regime for the AM
Step One: Cleanser
Cleansing should be the first step in a daily routine, removing all traces of make-up and impurities that are sitting on the surface of the skin. Leaving impurities on the skin can lead to problems with congestion, milia, blocked pores and rough dull skin. Cleansing morning and evening will prevent or treat these problems and help maintain luminous radiant skin.
Cleansers are a preventative product and a treatment product, they are designed in many forms to suit every skin type and preference. They clean, prep and balance the skin for serums and moisturisers to penetrate deeper, therefore, enhancing the overall results. Every skin type needs to cleanse morning and evening, however, there are many options to choose from depending on your skin type and preferences.
Shop our full range of face cleansing products here.
Step Two: Toner
The next step of your AM winter skincare regime should include a toner. Toners will remove any last traces of makeup, dirt or any other impurities that are still trapped in your pores. The ingredients in toners will also restore your skin’s PH level after cleansing. This is extremely important as maintaining a stable pH level plays an important role in skin barrier function which will help keep moisture in and minimize irritation.
Toners will also help smooth your skin tone by refining rough patches and if used daily can have a major impact on the tightness of your pores and overall skin appearance. Some of us may be tempted to skip the toning stage of our morning skincare routine because of the fear of drying out the skin, however, we recommend you do not do this. After all, toner is essential for shrinking those pores! So, instead of giving this step a miss altogether, opt for an alcohol-free toner.
Step Three: Antioxidant Serum
Following your toner, the next step of your morning skincare routine should be some type of antioxidant serum. These serums are fantastic at protecting your skin from environmental damage and sun damage. Even if your skin doesn’t show signs of damage, still complete this step. After all, prevention is the best form of protection. With daily use, they can reduce lentigines (sunspots), help combat visible signs of ageing and calm skin inflammations.
Throughout winter, your skin may become dryer than usual due to harsh weather conditions and other environmental factors. Therefore, antioxidant serums such as Vitamin C, Niacinamide and Vitamin E are ideal, as they will leave your skin feeling polished with a more youthful texture.
Read More: Our Skincare Specialist’s Top Advice For Ageing Skin
Step Four: Moisturiser
During the winter months, a good moisturiser will be your best friend. As mentioned before, your skin tends to get a little dryer than usual when the colder weather approaches, and because of this, it needs a little more TLC than normal. A great winter facial moisturiser enhances the moisture content of your skin while also improving its smoothness.
As a rule of thumb, anytime you wash and cleanse your skin, you should follow this up with a moisturiser. Any time you wash your face, hands, or body, you strip the skin of its natural oils, and since these oils help to lock in moisture, it's vital to replace them - especially in winter!
Step Five: Sunscreen
Despite the cold weather, your skin can still undergo sun damage during the winter. Ultraviolet rays prevail all year round, which means your skin may be absorbing more of the ultraviolet rays than you realise. Because of this, it is essential to wear sunscreen anytime you are outdoors.
In addition to this, wearing sunscreen daily can help protect your skin from wrinkles and other signs of premature ageing. It may also help your skin avoid inflammation and redness, so make sure you don’t leave this step out!
Read More: Should sunscreen be part of our daily skincare routine?
Winter Skincare Regime for the PM
Step One: Double Cleanser
The first step of your nighttime skincare regime should be to cleanse. With a build-up of makeup, dirt and other grime on your skin, it’s best to double cleanse your face before heading to bed. This way you can be sure you have removed all of the fifth collected throughout the day.
Pre cleansing Oil is a great way to start your night regime, this will remove makeup, excess oil and dirt that the environment has put on your skin throughout the day. It also allows a deeper cleanse from your cleanser. Throughout the winter months, our skin can become quite dry. Therefore, it’s a good idea to choose a gentle cleanser that will also hydrate the skin.
Read More: Skin Congestion Part 1
Step Two: Toner
Just like your morning skincare routine, you should use a toner after cleansing. However, not all skin types can tolerate doing this twice a day, so make sure your skin can handle this formulation. In addition to this, all skin types can experience dryness during winter due to harsh weather conditions and environmental factors. If you experience any of this it’s probably a good idea to go with an alcohol-free cleanser.
For a more glowful look, you can always follow this step with a hydration mist for a boost of nourishment.
Step Three: Eye Cream
The skin around the delicate eye area is 5-20 times thinner than the rest of the face. As the skin is thinner it can’t absorb ingredients as well as the face therefore needs to be treated separately to ensure ingredients penetrate without causing congestion or puffiness.
When the temperature begins to drop, the first part of the face to suffer is the eye. Because they are one of the most sensitive areas, harsh weather conditions can make our eyes extremely dry. Throughout the winter months, it’s a good idea to use an eye cream that has plenty of hydrating ingredients. Not only will this help with the dryness, but it can also help dark circles, puffy bags and early signs of ageing.
Shop our full range of eye cream products here.
Step Four: Treatments
The winter is a great time to invest in some treatments for your skin. Whether it’s spots or acne treatments, or even a retinol serum, your evening skincare regime is the perfect place to do it. Throughout the winter months, our skin will need an extra bit of TLC, so make sure you are paying attention to what your skin is telling you and approach it appropriately.
A great serum will become your hero product in your nightly routine if you choose wisely. Invest in a product that contains ingredients such as Vitamin A, C and Hyaluronic acid as these are essential in serums.
Step Five: Night Cream
No nightly skincare regime is complete without a great night cream! Night creams are brilliant as they boost your collagen production. This not only helps your skin to look plumper and firmer but also reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Throughout the winter months, opt for a night cream that has plenty of moisturising and hydrating properties. This will give the elasticity of your skin a much-needed boost and will leave your skin feeling soothed and refreshed.
Finally, if you feel like really pampering yourself, working a treatment mask into your nightly routine is a fantastic way to treat your skin.
If you enjoyed this article, why not take a look at our guide to spring cleaning your skincare routine with Millies.ie.
