Winter Skincare Routine

This is my second ever beauty related blog post woo!

With these months of the year, for the UK, comes cold weather. The wind, the rain, the low temperatures, it all has an effect on our skin. This time of year it’s more important than ever to make sure you keep your skin hydrated and take extra care of your body.

I’ve always been one to moisturise and generally I’m good at washing and toning my face, but after watching a few youtube videos and reading a few articles, I realised that I should start incorporating a few different things into my skincare. I know that the skincare market is totally flooded with different brands that claim to do amazing things, but I just wanted simple skincare that I know works and won’t cost me a fortune, this is where ‘the Ordinary’ comes in.

I’d heard a lot about this brand and almost assumed that it would be one of those brands that bloggers were just being paid to promote, but I was wrong. The skincare really is just simple acids, toners and moisturisers that don’t feel the need to rip people off just because they can. Their reviews are what sold it to me, I went onto beauty bay on black Friday and saw all their products with mainly 4-5stars on their products, the reviews spoke for themselves. Along with the already fairly prices products, beauty bay were doing a 20-30% off site wide, even better…cha ching!

It’s an affordable, well reviewed, cruelty free and vegan brand… it’s a no brainer for me really, I went for only a few products because I didn’t want to spend lots of money and find out this stuff didn’t work, even though that would have made no sense due to the amazing reviews they’d gotten.

What products I went for;

Amino Acid +B5

The concentrated solution is formulated with amino acids and pro-vitamin B5 to deliver surface and below surface hydration while aiding in skin repair, elasticity and anti-irritant functions.

Silcone Primer

Mattifies and hydrates skin, blurring pores for a high-definition makeup look and helping foundation to adhere to skin for longer.

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

• Niacinamide – Excellent for improving general skin health, niacinamide boosts skin’s immunity and improves moisture retention by strengthening the epidermal barrier.
• Zinc – Supports skin structure by healing damaged skin and encouraging the production of collagen and elastin.

Salicylic Acid 2%

Gently exfoliating the inside walls of the skin, Salicylic Acid 2% Solution clears and clarifies the complexion.

Natural Moisturising factors + HA

Protecting and hydrating the skin’s outer layer, Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA is made up of compounds found naturally in the skin. Offering immediate and long-lasting relief, this amino acid-packed formula soaks into the skin in the most effective, natural way.

I was always a bit confused at when I’d use what products, thinking that if I put one treatment on, the use of another wouldn’t work because it would just be putting something ontop of something else and it wouldn’t be able to get into my skin. But after doing some research, I found that this isn’t the case. I managed to find a website that talks about my products and when it’s best to use what product and which to use together at the same time etc. I’ll link that here

I’ve seen great results from these products, from pore minimisation (something I struggle with), general hydration and complexion, as well as my make up looking SO much better than it ever has!

Other ways to care for your skin this winter –

Baths – these are a must! Not only do they do the obvious (relax you like crazy) they’re also time for yourself to warm up, relax your muscles, pop on a candle, listen to some music (or watch something) and using bath products is a great way to moisten your skin all over without having to apply moisturiser. My favourite are LUSH’s bath oils – they’re little bars you pop into your bath that melt away…they fill your room with beautiful scents and leave you feeling silky smooth.I was so excited to start using the new things I’d bought, but I was confused…surely if I put on X, if I put Y on top it surely won’t do anything to my skin, because X got there first. But I was wrong! I did some research and I found which products I can apply at one time and which I should apply at a different time (e.g. one in the morning and two in the evening for example). Because it’s a well known brand, you will probably be able to find a routine online that incorporate the products you’ve bought, that way you can know when it’s best to use what produts, and which products you can use at the same time.

Moisturiser is crucial at this time of year, I like to use a thicker, heavier moisutriser through the winter because at this time of year I get really dry patches of skin and I experience some cracking, which we do not want! I’m always on the look out for a good moisturiser that’s no fuss, that does the trick and that won’t break the bank. I recently went to see Joanna Lumley at the Demontfort Hall, she spoke about skincare briefly and mentioned that she does and always has used ‘Astral’…a really cheap moisturiser that you can find in places like boots and superdrug. Well, if it’s good enough for Joanna Lumley (who looks absolutely sensational), then it’s good enough for me. I really trust what older women say about skincare, because they’ve already done all the trying and testing of brands, so if they’ve stuck with something for years, you can trust that it works. I’m totally sold with this moisturiser, it’s about £3 for a huge tub that I think will last me my whole year of traveling (for my face only)…what a bargain! It really does moisturise your face, as well as being the perfect base for your make up…it gives me a lovely dewy finish…no dryness is sight!

With the days getting shorter and the nights getting longer, we all feel the urge to hibernate and stay indoors. Pamper evenings are the answer to this, and with pamper evenings, comes the absolute need for face masks, I like to stick these on whenever I have a spare 10 minutes, if I’m writing a blog post, or cooking some dinner, they can just do they’re thing to my face whilst I’m doing mine…my favourites are mud masks!

Hydrating sprays. I love these sprays so much and I must say I have a good little collection going on. These sprays are so multipurpose, they can be used to prime, set and generally hydrate your face…I like to carry one with me to give myself a little sprits when I feel I need it. I love a dewy finish at that helps with this! My favourite hydrating facial sprays have to be Mario Badescu facial sprays, and L’occitaine. They’re great all year round, but especially in winter to give your face a little moisture surge throughout the day. They’re not expensive either and they last a long time, so definitely consider incorporating one into your skincare routine…as well as all the other times I’ve mentioned using these sprays, I also use it before bed, after all of my skincare is done and all my moisturising is done…one last hydration before bed.

Do you change your skin care routine during the winter?

What’s your all time favourite skin care product?

Until tomorrow,

Megan 

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