Achieving Glowing Skin in the Dead of Winter

If you’d asked me last year how to achieve a glowing skin look in winter, I would have blinked at you – because my skin in winter is normally far from glowing… Think dry, dehydrated and sallow – my skin is typically at its optimum in the summer months. But this year I seem to have cracked it. I’ve locked down a routine that seems to be working for me so thought I’d share the routine I’ve been following to create good skin, every day.

The Treatment.

One of the key steps to getting my skin back on track was a chemical peel that I had in mid-January with Dr Nicole at Lumiere Clinic, Manchester. I had the Obagi Blue Peel Radiance Chemical Peel to help clear congestion across my nose and reduce inflammation. The peel consists of a combination of salicylic and lactic acid which gave my skin such a glow! My skin was slightly pink afterwards but it really helped to freshen everything up.

The Products.

Whilst the treatment definitely helped, I’ve also locked down a routine that seems to be prolonging the effects of the peel and keeping my skin fresh.

Cleansing

One of the things I was advised to avoid was oils and this has meant I’ve switched up my daily cleanser. In the morning I use my trusty Garnier Micellar Water to freshen the skin, but to remove makeup in the evening, I’ve been really enjoying the Pixi Rose Cream Cleanser (gifted) which removes all my makeup without leaving a film on my skin, but doesn’t leave my skin feeling dry. I always remove this with a warm flannel and gently exfoliate the skin to gently buff away dead skin cells.

Toner.

If you’re a long time reader of this blog, you may remember that in 2014 I was head over heels for Bravura London who offer incredibly affordable chemical toners and I’m back on the bandwagon. To try and replicate the chemical peel, I purchased their Lactic and Salicylic Acid and use these in the evenings. Following cleansing, I apply the Bravura London Lactic Acid for about 20 minutes, but if you’re new to chemical exfoliation, please follow the directions on the bottle. I then use a hot flannel to remove the toner, and apply the Bravura London Salicylic Acid which I don’t remove until morning. Both of these have a fairly high concentration and are both under the £10 mark.

Night Moisturiser.

In the winter months, I’d typically reach for a thick oil but have swapped this for night moisturisers and overnight masks that are rich in hyaluronic acid and glycerin instead. At the moment I rotate between a few options depending on how my skin is feeling. A long-term favourite is the Erborian Sleeping BB Mask (gifted) that feels so rich and comforting that my skin always has a glow by morning. But if I’m after a lighter boost is the Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Memory Sleep Mask which is a lovely weightless formula that is rich in omega 3, 6 and 9 which leaves skin soft and supple. This does feel a bit greasier on the skin compared with the Erborian mask so I prefer using this when I’m planning to wash my hair.

Lip Balm.

I’ve been swearing by the Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm for years because it’s the only lip balm that delivers intense nourishment and means my lips stay chap free all day. It’s a unique texture that reminds me of a paste, so I prefer it for the night, but it’s so worth it. I notice a massive difference when I run out so it’s the type of thing I ensure that I always have a backup of.

Day Treatment.

I’ve been trying to be really organised with a day serum so have been religiously using The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA before my daily moisturiser. I’ve read incredible things about the benefit of Alpha Arbutin on the appearance of spots and hyper-pigmentation, and combined with the Hyaluronic Acid, the use of this gives my moisturiser a boost. I’ve been using this now for about 2 weeks and can genuinely see a difference in my skin in the reduction acne scarring.

Day Moisture.

Again, for the day time, I switch between a couple of moisturisers depending on how my skin is feeling. For days where I need a bit of a boost, I’ve been really enjoying the REN Clean Skincare Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream. A weightless formula, this always makes my skin feel fresh and glowy, but still moisturised. On days where my skin is a bit lacklustre, I reach for the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream which is intensely nourishing and leaves my skin feeling plump and hydrated.

And as a skincare/makeup hybrid, I’ve been skipping a traditional foundation and have been reaching for the Trinny London BFF Cream (gifted) which is an absolute skin saviour. It doesn’t carry much pigment but blurs the skin to the point where you don’t need to worry about a lack of coverage. I apply this with my fingers like a moisturiser and it leaves my skin looking radiant and even.