During the winter months our skin is subjected to different environmental challenges from those it faces in the Summer.   A proper skincare regime is important whatever your age; it just needs to adapted slightly from season to season.

Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies and is partially responsible for ridding the body of toxins.  This is why spots and blemishes appear, when our skin is working hard at eliminating these toxins.  Anything we put in our bodies affects our skin.  Smoking, sunlight, pollution, alcohol and a poor diet all contribute to damaging the skin.

A sudden drop in temperature can play havoc with our skin, making it dry and flaky and sometimes even sore.  A twice daily skin care routine needs to be established with the addition of a weekly “home spa” treatment.

If you use a liquid soap cleanser, it may be better to switch to a cream cleanser specifically designed for your skin type.  Liquid cleansers use water which can have a drying effect.  A cream cleanser removed with damp cotton wool will be kinder to your skin.

A good quality toner is important, but try to avoid alcohol based astringents as these will be very drying. Again there are many different types of toner on the market, so choose one that is suitable for your skin type.

You may need to change your moisturizer in the winter.  Moisturizers work by protecting the skin from natural moisture loss, which can be increased by cold or windy weather.  Even if your skin isn’t usually dry, a moisturizer specifically made for dry skin may be beneficial.

Once a week, a face mask will aid the body’s natural detoxification but again make sure that the mask is not astringent and is aimed at moisturizing rather than deep cleansing.   These types of face masks tend to stay soft and are glycerine based.

Many women think they only need protection from the sun in the summer but although the sun’s rays may be weaker, we still need to protect our skin from sun damage.  A SPF of 15 should be applied in the winter.  Some moisturizers and foundations have a “built in” sun protection factor, so if you lead a busy life, this could be your best option.

As our skin ages, it tends to be dryer so if you are in your forties or above this advice is particularly pertinent.

Not only does our face need some special attention in the winter but the rest of our body too.  Although most of it is covered by clothing, central heating can dry our skin out so regular mositurising after a bath or shower is essential.  Pay particular attention to dry areas on the knees, elbows, feet and hands.