I don’t know about you, but I spend most of winter looking forward to spring. The start of lighter evenings and warmer temperatures all appeal to me far more than central heating, woolly sweaters and warm boots.
The only problem can be remembering to start prepping skin that’s been hidden away for so many months in time for clear, glowing and bright skin when you finally take off all those layers. The skin on your face and body gets thoroughly abused by cold, wet and windy weather in winter, as well as heating in your home, and constantly going from cold to warm environments. This is a good time to re-visit the products you are using at home and target dry, flaky or itchy skin so that it is back in tip top condition as we move into spring.
Look after your skin – it’s the largest organ of your body and often the most neglected, yet with some easy steps and a little tlc you will have that all important healthy glow in no time.
I always start with a ‘double cleanse’: this consists of washing your face twice in the morning and twice in the evening. Why do I recommend this? The first cleanse will remove make-up, SPF, oils, sweat and impurities whilst the second cleanse will get into the pores and clean your skin.
I also begin a targeted regime of exfoliation and moisturisation in spring so my face is repaired, hydrated and looking fantastic by summer. The added bonus is that make-up goes on much better, and lasts far longer on exfoliated skin, so you’ll be doing yourself a favour now too.
Finally, make sure you are using an SPF30 or higher every day, as the sun’s harmful UVA ray that ages our skin is as strong on a winter’s day as it is in summer. It’s a habit you need to form to look after your skin now and help minimise wrinkles and brown spots appearing later in life!
Don’t forget the rest of your body! How many of us stop our skincare routine at our neckline, yet the décolleté is a problem area for so many of us. Take your facial products down onto the chest and then invest some time into looking after your body too. I’m a big fan of dry body brushing as it has multiple benefits. It will stimulate the body’s lymphatic system to drain toxins away, it exfoliates the skin to remove dead cells, and the stimulation of your cell renewal will help the skin to hydrate itself from within. It takes just seconds before you jump in the shower and then finish with a body cream to seal in moisture. I like to use a cream that contains hydroxy acids so that it actually helps to gently exfoliate as well as nourish my skin.
Time to change foundation? Move away from heavier foundations and powders that could clog pores and could make your skin look worse. With the right skin care routine, as detailed above, you could get away with a tinted moisturiser or a lighter foundation. It’s also the perfect time to review your make-up and give it a bit of a spring clean. Throw away anything that you haven’t used for the past year – these products have an expiry date so look through and be ruthless!
I recommend giving yourself a small beauty treat once a week, often it’s the small indulgences that make a dramatic difference in how you look and feel. After all, you can’t look after everyone else if you don’t take care of yourself too!
Article by Kelly Shaw
With over 20 years’ experience as a beauty therapist, Kelly Shaw’s passion and dedication to the industry has enabled her to achieve professional success as Spa Director for some of the world’s most exclusive global resorts.
Founder of Kelly Shaw Consultancy Ltd and Hampshire’s multi award-winning boutique salon k:SPA, Kelly also sits on the board for both CIBTAC and BABTAC – British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology.