My Winter Skincare Routine

I'm sure I'm not the only one who experiences their skin getting a little out of control during winter. When the temperature and humidity drops so does the levels of moisture in my skin. Today's post features all my favourite skincare products I've been using to boost hydration as well as to even out my skin's texture, fade acne scars and prevent future breakouts.

1// Cleansing - twice a day

Cleansing is the first step to maintaining healthy skin. I wear makeup most days so double cleansing is a must for me to make sure there is no trace of makeup left on my skin! To remove most of my makeup I really love using micellar water as it is quick and effective - even for waterproof eye makeup! Not to mention using a micellar water with cotton pads is more cost effective than buying makeup wipes. My favourite is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. After removing my makeup I will then go in with Philosophy Purity Cleanser to remove any other impurities left on my skin. I absolutely love this cleanser as it leaves my skin squeaky clean without being too harsh. It is also fantastic at removing eye makeup without causing irritation to the eyes.

2// Toning - twice a day

There's a long running debate in the beauty community - to tone, or not to tone. I've always used a toner as part of my basic skincare routine and definitely recognise the benefits. During winter I've switched to using the Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner which has both glycolic acid and grapefruit extract to gently exfoliate the skin. Since my skin has been a little more dehydrated than usual, using this exfoliating toner helps remove any flakiness on the surface of my skin as well as maintaining the skin's natural glow. A really great one to try if your skin is looking a bit lacklustre.

3// Exfoliating - 2/3 times a week

My winter skincare routine features exfoliating with the Origins Never a Dull Moment Scrub between two or three times a week. It's super important not to exfoliate too often with an abrasive, manual exfoliator otherwise you could be damaging healthy skin cells rather than just removing the dead ones. I love Never a Dull Moment because it smells incredible and is really fantastic at brightening the complexion. As well as being a manual exfoliator, it has fruit enzymes as well to further exfoliate the skin.

4// Moisturising - twice a day

Probably the most important part of your skincare routine to maintain during winter is moisturising. The skin is so easily dehydrated during the colder months that it is crucial to maintain the moisture in your skin to protect it. I have been using the Origins Make A Difference + Rejuvenating Moisturiser which not only moisturises the skin but will repair the skin so that it holds onto moisture more efficiently. I have been using this moisturiser both morning and night because it is super hydrating but also a fantastic base for makeup. If I feel like treating my skin to something a bit richer I cannot go past the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. Drink Up Intensive is such a treat for your skin, not only because it seriously injects life into dehydrated skin but it smells so delicious it's my favourite part of my skincare routine!

5// Nourishing - 1-2 times a day

Especially during winter I want to be extra sure that I am not only hydrating my skin but protecting it from the harsh cold and dry weather conditions by feeding it extra nutrients. My favourite way to do this is to use a facial oil and at the moment I've been loving the Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil. I use about two drops and pat it into my skin. I love using a facial oil in the morning before applying makeup to really hydrate and smooth out my skin.

6// Treatment - as needed

As well as my basic skincare routine, I like to add different treatments to target specific skincare concerns. Having oily/combination skin means I often get the odd breakout and I am always struggling with blackheads on my chin and nose. To really decongest my skin and help reduce blackheads I like to use a mask once or twice a week, depending how my skin is feeling.

At the moment I'm loving the Origins Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask. With calming ingredients like zinc oxide and camphor, as well as sulfur which helps absorbs oil, this masks leaves troubled skin feeling super soft and refreshed as well as noticeably reducing any redness or inflammation. I also like using this mask because it has salicylic acid which exfoliates within the pores, therefore you aren't just decongesting the skin, but helping reduce the risk of future breakouts.

Of course to banish spots as they happen, I can't go past the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. A true miracle product that has cult status for a good reason, this stuff will get rid of pesky white heads over night!

So that's my skincare routine! For some it may seem a little excessive but as a skincare junkie I really love indulging in taking care of my skin. If you are thinking "ain't nobody got time for that!" my advice would be to have a simple routine that includes cleansing and moisturising daily.

xx Cat