Cold calling: it’s time to revisit your ritual

Freezing your face can mean great things for skin ('icing' is all over IG these days) but, the cold winter months take their toll on your glow so it's best to take steps to cocoon your complexion. Just as you wouldn't brave snow days sans layers, skin cells need extra protection from cold, wind and heating - all of which leach precious moisture to leave your face (limbs and extremities) overexposed. 

So, while you're busy investing in scarves, cosy knitwear and coats-you-could-sleep-in, take time to consider your vulnerable visage and update your winter skin wardrobe...

Deprived of hydration (the air is less humid) your cells perish faster in winter which means that your post-summer lustre diminishes quickly. Slough away scales and dispel tell-tale dullness by upping the exfoliation. LIXIRSKIN's brilliant {Vitamin C Paste} is packed with L-ascorbic acid to quickly "eliminate sebum and dirt to effectively wipe the slate clean," says the founder (and pro-formulator) Colette Haydon, while goop's {Exfoliating Instant Facial} wages a two-pronged attack on the build-up that ruins your radiance. 

It's also important to insulate skin with light layers to nourish and shield from the everyday onslaught. Dry air and temperature changes can cause irritation and redness as blood vessels struggle to cope with the constant demands of your changing environment. Give them a break with skin-calming and nourishing serums and oils that will swaddle the skin and reduce water loss (water is key to maintaining skin's 'spring' as the mercury plummets).

Sandwich a hyaluronic elixir (there's buzz about THE INKEY LIST's purse-friendly {formula}) in-between toner and cream to promote dewiness and then follow with something that combats specific concerns. Dr. Barbara Sturm's {Calming Serum} bolsters barrier function and helps to reduce reactivity, while de Mamiel's {Winter Facial Oil} is a heavenly, cell-quenching cocktail of cherishing extracts that works to support your skin's health while preventing cold-weather despair (it's a thing).

Aesop's formidable {Elemental Barrier Cream} is bad news for 'bad guys' (take that central heating), creating a shield between skin and the everyday onslaught with plant oils and butters alongside an arsenal of balancing, healing (and spot-fighting) extracts. Or invest in Drunk Elephant's {Lala Retro Whipped Cream} - ideal day or night to protect and replenish. A feather-light 'top coat' to keep your face cosy, try slathering on before bed to 'undo' the day's damage.

Need something nourishing squared? Tuck your skin in with a snuggly blanket... REN Clean Skincare has just launched the rich and replenishing {Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm} to safeguard your skin's repair processes. Powered by plant oils to soften and help relieve redness, this gentle balm reassures the most sensitised skin to hydrate and heal weather-stressed scales. It's also ideal on the bitterest days to protect your cheeks and nose from the cold - simply smooth the excess through through the ends of your hair to fight frizz and prevent lengths from breaking.

Light a candle to upgrade your evening routine and help send you to sleep feeling zen (Oskia's {Rose de Mai Massage Candle} melts to form the most indulgent body oil). And don't neglect your kiss! Always keep Lanolip's bestselling {101 Ointment} in your pocket... you never know where there'll be mistletoe...

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