Many of us will know the effects that the harsh winter cold can have on our skin. The cold plays havoc with our skin, leaving it feeling dry, sore and cracked.
Yet as the seasons change, our skin adapts to our environment, protecting us in all sorts of clever ways – sweating to cool us down in the heat, as well as raising our hairs and giving us goose pimples to warm us up in the winter. All temperatures and types of weather pose different challenges to the skin, so it is only natural that our skin will require different levels of attention at different times of the year.
We’re going to take you through some of the best skincare and makeup tips for hydrated skin this winter season to help you keep your skin in tip-top condition, even in the harshest of cold. And as a bonus, we’ll also reveal how you can pursue your passion for skincare with comprehensive facial courses and further training.
How the winter can affect your skin
In the coldest month of the year, harsh winds, rain, sleet and snow aren’t too gentle on our skin.
One of the biggest battles come wintertime is fighting skin dryness – the low humidity and dry air of colder weather pretty much saps the moisture from your skin, leaving it feeling dry and uncomfortable. This, combined with moving from the warmth of indoors to the low temperatures of the outside, can exacerbate symptoms and cause the skin to crack and bleed, as well as irritate existing skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
Get to know your skin – what your skin type tells you about finding the right skincare
For the best results, always start at the source.
Everyone’s skin is entirely unique to them and will require different attention depending on skin type and sensitivities.
Skin is often categorised into three main types:
- Dry skin is prone to dryness and flaking, often craving products with a high moisture content
- Oily skin types usually produce more oil, making the skin more prone to breakouts and congestion
- Combination skin types can suffer from both dry and oily skin at different points, and it can feel like you never know what it’s going to do from one day to the next
There is an abundance of guides to determining your skin type online, giving you a good place to start. It may also be worth considering visiting a dermatologist or makeup specialist to get some more specific advice on the needs and dislikes of your skin type.
8 tips for hydrated skin this winter
Facials, whether at a spa or self-administered, are like a reset button for the skin; a deeply cleansing and nourishing treatment that targets all the parts of the face to give it some proper TLC.
Here are some of our best beauty tips for the winter season to help you care for and protect your skin against colder temperatures:
- Identify your skin type to find the best products for you – The most important first step when it comes to caring for your skin in winter is to identify your skin type. Whether your skin texture is dry, oily or combination, knowing what you need to pay particular attention to with your skin is vital when it comes to purchasing skincare products.
- Curate your own skincare routine – Once you have gotten to know the skin you’re in, you can start building your own skincare routine. We suggest around a 3 step skincare routine to lock in moisture and give your skin the best line of defence during the colder months.
- Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise – The cold is notorious for drying out our skin, so moisturising products in every form are going to be your best friend during winter. You should look out for products with naturally moisturising ingredients, especially skin-wonder hyaluronic acid when purchasing this type of skincare product.
- Don’t forget sunscreen – We often associate sunscreen with hot summer days, but the sun still shines, even in winter, so it is vital not to miss this important step in your skincare routine.
- Makeup tips for dry skin in winter – Whilst makeup can be drying for the skin, being mindful of the products you use, and opting for more natural, lighter products or products with added moisturising properties will help maintain your skin whilst also allowing you to feel your best. Ensure you properly remove all makeup and fully moisturise after removal to reduce the risk of drying and other irritation.
- Overnight treatments can work wonders – Applying highly moisturising products before bedtime will allow your skin to get to work as you sleep – think of it like a deep-sleep condition!
- Be gentle – Sometimes, we can be a bit too rough with our skin, overdoing it with a facial scrub or rubbing it dry on a towel. This can be particularly troublesome in the winter, as the elements are already working against your skin. Actively treating your skin with a more gentle hand can work wonders. Try patting your skin dry instead, avoid highly perfumed products and be generous with moisturising products to give your skin a cushion of protection against the outside world.
- Working from the inside out – There is a huge connection between our skin health and overall gut health and hydration. Ensuring that you are nourishing your body right and staying well-hydrated is probably the best thing you can do for your skin. This way, your body has fuel to create all the natural tools it needs to keep your skin looking and feeling on top of the world.
Help others love and care for their skin
Whether you prefer face-to-face learning or would rather the flexibility of an online course, are looking for a facial refresher course or want to start from scratch with a comprehensive facial skincare course, we happen to have just the thing – a professionally crafted Certificate in Facials short beauty course right here at New Zealand Beauty School!
Skin facial courses are an excellent way to start your beauty career off on the best foot. This course will teach you how to deliver spa-standard facial treatments, getting to grips with the most popular beauty treatments of the moment. For example, you will learn facial massage to enhance your treatments, as well as in-depth knowledge about skin and the best products to use, equipping you with a tool belt of highly transferable skills that you can use to pursue a range of roles and industries.
Our course has been created by professionals, so you know you are getting the best! By using both video tutorials and text-based learning, this course gives you total flexibility to work your studies around your work and life schedule. You will also have your very own custom-designed beauty kit delivered straight to your door, containing all the things you need in order to succeed.
There are different sectors of the industry to explore, and it is possible to pursue a more clinical approach to skin therapy as opposed to focusing purely on the beauty side of things. With a dermal science or dermal therapy course, you’ll gain a greater and more thorough insight into the medical side of skin therapy, covering topics such as the removal of skin tags, hair, tattoos and leg veins, scarring, wound healing, inflammatory conditions and pre and post-operative skin care.
All courses come with a downloadable brochure with further details about course content, module breakdowns, how to access your learning online and tutor support. We also offer course fee payment plans to make investing in your future that little bit easier.
If you have any queries or questions about the courses and how we work, our course advisers are on hand to help you get on the right track.
What are you waiting for? Let’s get that dream of yours on the go!