| Winter-proof your skin
Follow our guide to saving face (and body) from the harsh elements of autumn and winter We winterise our wardrobes - banishing bikinis and skimpy T-shirts to the top of the closet - as a matter of course, we should do the same with our skin care routine. As the cold weather blows in, we all need a new regime that takes into account the extra bite of blistering winds and icy temperatures, not to mention the Sahara-like dryness of the average centrally-heated home and office. Try our three-step plan to winter-proof your skin. Clean sweep Even if you swear by soap and water, your skin will thank you for switching to a gentle, water-soluble cleanser - or a cream version - at least until the first sight of daffodils. Soap strips the complexion of its natural, protective oils - which no moisturiser can replace - leaving it exposed to the elements. According to leading facialist Amanda Lacey, 'Today's cleansers get skin perfectly clean without upsetting its fragile balance.' If you're still not convinced that using a cleanser will get your skin clean enough, swipe away the last traces of dirt and grime with rosewater (available at all chemists), rather than alcohol-based toner, which also overstrips skin, leaving it vulnerable. Moisture surge One telltale sign that skin needs some extra TLC: if your make-up seems to vanish into thin air. 'Women often find that their make-up looks patchy in winter and just doesn't stay put. The right moisturiser will fix that,' says Guerlain Creative Director Olivier Echaudemaison. At base, moisturisers are a mix of oil and water, and all of the moisture evaporates almost as soon as it's applied to skin (this is why so many creams feel cool when you first put them on). However, the oils in the formulation sit on the skin's surface, preventing the skin's own natural moisture reserves from escaping (it's actually a beauty myth that skin cells 'absorb' the water in a moisturiser like a sponge.) How can you make your moisturiser work most effectively for you? At night, cleanse, then pat skin dry and seal with a rich moisturiser or facial oil. There's an increasing range of these available from Clarins, Decléor, Aveda and E'SPA - which you'll find in leading department stores. Believe it or not, oils are even an option for oily skin, as long as they have a rebalancing plant element like ylang ylang. For your morning routine, there's no need to use cleanser; just swipe with a warm, wet flannel before moisturising. Sunscreens aren't essential from the end of October through to the end of March, despite what some dermatologists might tell you. According to Mike Brown, Boots' Scientific Skincare Advisor, use your common sense when considering one. 'Even if it's a very sunny winter day and you're going out for a long walk, then an SPF8 is probably adequate,' he says. When it's cloudy or overcast, or on days when you'll barely see the outside world, applying a sunscreen is just overloading your skin with unnecessary chemicals. Scrub up Exfoliation is a must for keeping skin on the body and face replenished, especially during winter. According to facial guru Eve Lom, 'Moisturisers can't penetrate through layers of dead skin, and when applied to non-exfoliated skin, they'll only lead to dry-looking patches and flaking make-up.' While you can buy muslin washcloths from the likes of SpaceNK, for a less expensive option, you can cut squares of muslin - available at fabric stores - into 50-cm squares, and use these to remove cleanser and make-up. 'That's actually all the exfoliation that facial skin needs,' Eve explains. Body skin is tougher, however, and is best buffed in the bath with a moisturising exfoliant cream or a salt scrub, in which salt crystals are suspended in skin-quenching oil. This is a timesaver, too, as you don't need to add moisturiser afterwards. Some other skin-saving tips for chilly weather:
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