As we approach the depths of winter in the UK, many of us will be preparing for a difficult time for our skin. Research shows that cases of people suffering from acne increase by 11% during the winter months in Britain, and with more and more areas of Britain heading into a Tier 3 lockdown, 55% of people have said that their skin worsened during lockdown. With this in mind, the combination of these factors creates a recipe for disaster.
As stress levels rise from being stuck inside and frantic workloads just before the Christmas break, many will be experiencing break-outs, but will also cut corners with their skincare routines. Plus, with the cold winter air sucking the moisture from our skin, and a lack of Vitamin D leading to dullness and fatigue, winter lockdown will prove challenging in the skin battles we face every day.
Winter can be an especially difficult time for maintaining routine and motivation when it comes to skin issues, and consequently, many of us are left asking the recurring question: how can I fix my skin?
Hydration is key
Drinking more water helps to flush out toxins from the body, leaving the skin looking more radiant and youthful. As our skin is also comprised of up to 30% water, increasing water intake helps it to look plump. Try drinking at least 2 litres a day to really notice the benefits.
Stick to a routine!
Lifestyle changes, such as entering strict lockdown measures, disrupts your body’s routine, and has the potential to cause unwanted breakouts. To help restore your body clock, try to go to sleep at a similar time each evening, also making sure to get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep each night. Following a 3-step ‘cleanse tone and moisturise’ skincare routine twice a day will also help to keep it looking its best.
Use SPF
Over a quarter of Brits did not know that the winter sun can still cause much damage to our skin. Make sure you’re using a moisturiser that contains an SPF of at least 15 – even under make-up – to help protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Exercise for a least 15 minutes a day
This helps increases blood circulation to the face. Red blood cells help carry oxygen and vital nutrients to parts of the body that really need it – more blood cells mean more nutrients! Exercise, therefore, helps to combat the drying effects of the winter air which can cause dullness in the appearance of skin.
You are what you eat
Eating a balanced diet and getting in those essential vitamins helps your skin from the inside-out. Ensuring you get your 5-a-day will increase your intake of antioxidants, helping reduce pigmentation as well as wrinkles. Including healthy oil-rich foods in your diet, such as tuna, has also been shown to increase collagen production in the skin, improving its overall texture.
No Comments