Winter is here - time to prepare your skin

We've had the first cold snaps and all the indications are that it is going to be a cold, wet winter so weve put together a list of our top tips for keeping your skin looking fresh and healthy between now and the spring.

In much the same way as the hot sunshine can cause problems for our skin, the cold and wet can also play havoc.

Winter sees our homes and offices become warm and dry places because of the constant use of central heating systems and we immediately step outside from this into the cold throughout the day so it is important to prepare and protect our skin.

Winter Skin Top Tips:

1. Replace soap with a water soluble cleanser and wash your face with lukewarm water.  Soap dries the skin by stripping it from natural, protective oils.  A high quality gentle cleanser will help maintain your skins natural balance.
2. Consider using a humidifier in your home or at work, the extra heat circulated by heating systems can dry out the air.  As an alternative you can place a bowl of water near a radiator.
3. Dont forget the SPF!  When the temperature is lower many of us forget the sun's harmful rays, make sure you continue to apply sun protection factor of at least 15.
4. Moisturise religiously.  You should apply a heavy layer of moisturiser on a cold day to fight back against the elements.
5. Wear gloves.  Your outer extremities will feel the effects of winter more quickly than the rest of your body, a pair of gloves will make sure that the moisturising you are doing isn't in vain

Be careful when exfoliating.  Don't exfoliate too often and dont overuse products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids.  Exfoliation is good for dry skin but it also leaves the new layer of skin unprotected from the cold weather.

SkinGenesis recommends DermaQuest Skin Therapy products.