We’ve rounded up the best moisturises for the winter, according to your skin type.
It gets dark at 4pm. The denier of your tights has increased. And that nice satin scarf you got last Christmas no longer offers enough protection against the piercing cold. Along with chilly winds and longer days, winter is accompanied by an increased chance of dry skin caused by low environmental humidity. This low humidity can intensify the escape of moisture caused by a lack of protective oils in the skin. Winter can also have adverse effects on your skin’s elasticity according to health writer Jessie Quinn, from the DermStore. Below are some moisturiser recommendations for the winter, according to your skin type:
Normal Skin:
Normal skin is generally well-balanced and is scientifically referred to as being “eudermic”. Given the “normality” of their skin type, during the winter, people with normal skin can utilise products with a cream base without becoming oily, as dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla notes.
Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream, £29.99
This cream contains all the naturally derived ingredients that will have your skin leaping for joy. A few of these include avocado pear oil, rich in fatty acids that aid in nourishing and moisturising the skin, Shea butter derived from nuts grown on the African Karate nut tree protects the skin and manuka honey used for centuries by indigenous Maori women, which retains moisture without making skin greasy. This cream also boasts antioxidant properties, courtesy of extracts from the leaf of the native New Zealand plant kawakawa.
Dry Skin:
Dry skin refers to skin “that produces less sebum than normal skin”, as the Eucerin website details. This lack of sebum results in a lack of lipids essential for moisture retention and protecting the skin from the external environment.
Aesop Camellia Nut Facial Hydrating Cream, £47
This cream is targeted towards those with dry skin and those with sensitive skin. Not only is the packaging for this product gorgeous (brown glass to protect the product from UV rays), this cream also packs the most hydrating power out of the entire “Aesop” range. A chilly cocktail of nut and plant extracts, such as Sandalwood and Chamomile Bud, this cream works to provide moisture that lasts without leaving behind a greasy finish.
PHB Hydrating Moisturiser with Frankincense and Sandalwood, £17.95
This luxurious cream is designed for dry, dehydrated and mature skin. The two active ingredients work together to soothe dryness and promote cell renewal for a bright skin complexion. Other active ingredients, Baobab oil derived from the Baobab tree and Rosehip oil work to nourish the skin with the necessary vitamins and fatty acids it needs to remain soft and supple. PHB products are also Organic, Vegan and Halal and 20% of their net profits go to charity.
Oily/ Combination Skin:
Oily skin is skin that is identified by an overproduction of sebum, as Jennifer Acosta Scott, writer for Healthday notes. People with this skin type are prone to a shiny, greasy complexion and clogged pores. The solution to these skincare woes, according to a spokesperson for REN Skincare is “gels, serums and light creams”, so you can stay moisturised without overwhelming your skin:
REN Flash Hydro-Boost Instant Plumping Emulsion, £34.00
Ren’s “clean skincare” slogan speaks volumes. This product is not as heavy as other creams and is based on natural ingredients such as safflower oil. It works to boost and lock moisture in the skin and contains hyaluronic acid, which aids in plumping the skin and smoothing out its texture.
Aesop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel, £81.00
Now, this is what you call a powerhouse of a product. It contains vitamin B (Panthenol), which, as Cammy Pedroja of Healthline writes, aids in skin hydration, elasticity and smooth appearance as well as vitamin C, in the form of “magnesium ascorbyl phosphate”, which according to Indian Dermatology Online, increases skin’s hydration levels and reduces excess oil production. If that isn’t enough, it also lightens acne scars and minimises pores. People with combination skin (a mixture of skin types; with the T-zone and cheeks varying in their type) can also use this cream, as well as those with sensitive skin.
