Winter skin care tips — As the official start to winter clocks over here in Australia, it seems like a switch was flicked on the temperature (well at least in Queensland!). It was only the weekend the kids were jumping off the boat at Moreton Island, and by Friday we were all rugged up in our winter woolies!

Although the clean, crisp westerly air is refreshing and makes any views from the mountains to the ocean beautifully clear, it does make our skin more susceptible to dehydration, sensitivities, redness and overall looking a little lacklustre. Throw in some of the signs of a well-enjoyed Australian Summer sun, and your skin is definitely in need for some attention and care.

So here are my top winter skin tips.

1. Boost support to your skin internally!

This is my number one tip for a reason. While you could be using all the best products externally to support your skin over winter, if you’re not providing the necessary nutrients internally it will be hard to maintain hydrated, well-moisturised skin. A diet rich in essential fatty acids (particularly omega-3) will help to ensure your cells can produce healthy membranes (which go towards making your sebum/natural oil), ensure you produce the right amount of sebum to help stay moisturised, as well as producing a good quality sebum that is not too thick that it will block the pores. Include foods with good quality fats such as avocadoes, fish oils, nuts and seeds (flaxseeds, chia seeds, pepitas!), to help improve the skin’s barrier function, structure and appearance.

2. Make sure your using a skin-supporting cleanser

This is important in good skin care routines full stop, but even more so as we face the cooler, drier air. Foaming cleansers in particular strip your skin of its natural oils which are there to protect it. Not only does this affect your skin’s natural PH level, which is mildly acidic sitting around 4.5-6 to provide protection against our outside environment and create a healthy barrier, the wrong cleanser can also affect your skin micro biome – the micro-organisms that live on your skin to help keep it in balance (just like your gut biome). Avoid harsh cleansers, soaps, fragrances and even hot water which will further dry out your skin! The ideal PH for your cleanser should be between 4.5 and 5.5.

3. Gentle exfoliation

The reduced moisture in the air and drier skin can mean our dead skin cells are less likely to desquamate (shred off naturally) at their normal rate. A build-up of old cells will make your skin feel rough, flaky, and look lacklustre with any pigmentation spots appearing more visible. Exfoliating helps to bring back that glow and can be achieved through gentle chemical and physical exfoliations, as well as masques. Just be mindful using clay-based masques. While clays can have a range of benefits, don’t let them completely dry out as once they reach this point, they will be drawing moisture from within your skin!

4. Change it up

It’s unlikely your summer skin care routine will cut it in winter. If you normally use a lotion, being primarily water-based and offering the least effective results for dry, dehydrated skin, try swapping it to a heavier cream that contains more natural oils. Better yet, change it up to applying an oil-based product and water-based product (such as a hydrosol) separately .

Our Reset Barrier Balm is anhydrous, formulated particularly for those with dry and irritated skin (such as eczema) or for problem areas like the hands. Over winter this multi-purpose botanical balm can be your whole-body saviour. A great tip is to apply it straight after your shower while your skin is still damp. This will not only lock in post-shower moisture, but feed a decent dose of essential fatty acids and antioxidants to nourish the skin externally and continue to provide a protective barrier throughout the day/night against the dry air and harsh winds. This is one product I never leave the house without! It’s also a super-dense lip nourisher and protector against wind-burn.

For the face, our Quaintrelle Revival Serum is also armed with a balance of EFAs and antioxidants, as well as a concentrate of ceremides, proteins, vitamins, minerals, cholesterol and photosterols to support a healthy skin function. It is truly a multi-tasking well-aging product. Vitamin A (retinol) in particular can help over winter to ensure the turnover of cells remains at a healthy rate, which prevents dead-cell build up, flaky skin, blocked pores. Vitamin A can also work wonders on pigmentation and other summer-loving skin effects. A large portion of our Vitamin A (pro-vitamin A) comes from our beautiful, non-comedogenic Cacay oil which has 3 times more Vitamin A that Rosehip oil, as well as more Vitamin E & F than Argan. There is also a range of powerful actives and ingredients that work to reduce inflammation, redness and free radicals. Again, apply the serum to damp skin to help all ingredients penetrate faster to the deeper layers.

I also love to layer my products at night time – apply the Reset Barrier Balm after the Quaintrelle Revival Serum around the eyes and lips to really lock in the actives.

5. Vitamin C + Zinc

Make sure you're getting enough Vitamin C and zinc to support the formation of collagen which keeps your skin firm and plump, as well as protect it against free radical damage from the environment. Internally, foods such as citrus fruits, leafy greens, tomatoes are full of Vitamin C. Applied externally, skin care products with Vitamin C are key to preserve your collagen and elastin in the skin, and help prevent signs of premature ageing such as uneven skin tone. The Quaintrelle Revival Serum is formulated with a lipophilic (oil) based Vitamin C which is not only a powerful free radical-fighting antioxidant, it also doesn’t present the possible irritations that can come with other water-based Vitamin C products.

6. Stay hydrated

It can be easy to drop our water intake during the cooler months, but it is just as important in keeping your skin cells hydrated and plump. Rather than reaching for another warm cup of coffee which can be taxing on your adrenal system and also further dehydrate the body (despite my coffee-love!), try different blends of herbal teas which have skin-rejuvenating and clearing benefits as well. One of my favourites is dandelion and chicory root tea which can help cleanse and support a healthy liver function! A beautiful local brand I that makes a range of organic tea blends is Tea for She – and I just love businesses that have genuine messages and purposes behind them!

Also remember, if you saw one of our Instagram story highlights a while back, a key way to keep your hydration levels up is through the food you eat! Water-dense foods including watermelon, cucumber, apple, zucchini, pineapple, grapes and more can actually hydrate you better by providing your cells with gel water (or structured water) which, according to Gina Bria from the Hydration Foundation, is much more absorbable for our bodies. Check out our Skin + Energy Smoothie which will not only give you a good dose of hydration, it will also provide some EFAs.

7. Don’t push aside the SPF

Although we have the cooler mornings and earlier sunsets, don’t push aside your sunscreen and sun protection! UVB rays may be a little weaker during the winter (the ones that cause burning), but UVA rays (the ones that reach the deeper layers of your skin, the dermis, and cause premature ageing) can harm your skin year-round. A broad spectrum sunscreen is not only a necessity for your weekend adventures and family outings, but should be part of your daily routine, as exposure to the sun happens when we least expect it … like during your daily commute in the car. UVA rays can penetrate the windows of your car, home and office! We recommend a physical sunscreen rather than a chemical sunscreen (avoiding the chemicals Oxybenzone and Octinoxate).

8. Watch your use of hyaluronic acid

This last one is a little controversial. Yes, hyaluronic acid can be a great ingredient to have in your skin care products, but as it is a moisture-attracting and absorbing molecule, if your skin is dehydrated to start off with, and the air around you is lacking moisture as it does during winter, then the product will work by drawing the water/moisture from the deeper layers of your skin – leaving it drier than to begin with and prone to more signs of premature ageing! Make sure if you are using products with hyaluronic acid, it is applied to damp skin and is followed by other moisturising on top to create a healthy barrier.

Supporting your skin over these cooler months will help keep skin imbalances from dehydration at bay, and ensure your skin continues to thrive as we get outdoors and enjoy the fresh, clear days.