Are your clients presenting in clinic with common winter skin concerns? In this article, Alycia Smith, Education and Communications Lead, and Tania Bennett, Clinical Educator NZ at Advanced Skin Technology, provide their expert advice on how to address these seasonal skincare issues.

As the colder winter months approach, our skin faces new challenges. The sudden dip in temperature, chilly wind gusts, and decreased humidity compel us to find ways to stay warm. Drinking more hot beverages, indulging in longer and hotter showers, and relying on indoor heating often result in noticeably drier, more sensitive, and lacklustre skin.

Our customers winter skincare often looks very different from their summer regimens, and so it should. It should address these changes, provide protection, and support overall skin health through the harsher conditions of winter. With the right skincare routine and treatments, you, as the guardian of their skin, can play a crucial role in preserving a healthy, radiant complexion all winter long.

Here are my winter essentials to boost, hydrate and keep your customer’s skin radiant this winter. Following these recommendations, they can look forward to a winter with healthier, more radiant skin.

1. Hydration is Key

To combat the dryness and sensitivity that often accompany winter, it’s crucial to boost your skin’s hydration levels. Look for skincare products proven to be effective and enriched with the nourishing properties of hyaluronic acid, vitamin B3, shea butter, glycerin, and ceramides.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a major component of the skin and has many functions for overall skin health. The first sign we are losing our natural stores of Hyaluronic is dehydration, often leaving the skin dry, itchy, and dull. Choosing skincare containing HA is a great way to quickly bring back the water stores in the skin, resulting in a dewy, comforted and plumper complexion.

Try: PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum

Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) is an industry favourite for hydration. It is known for its barrier-supporting properties, helping the skin retain moisture, making it smoother and less wrinkled.

Try: Aspect Extreme B17

Shea butter, a deeply moisturising and hydrating ingredient, is perfect for dry and dehydrated skin. Its high concentration of fatty acids and vitamins helps seal in moisture and create a protective barrier on the skin.

Try: Aspect Super Moisturising Complex

Glycerin is an excellent humectant. Its chemical properties allow it to absorb and pull water from the air towards itself. It is very effective at reducing moisture loss by holding water within the skin’s surface layers and preventing the skin from drying out.

Try: Aspect Dr Mild Clean

Ceramides are essential for maintaining the skin’s balance, protecting it from dehydration and external irritants.

Try: Skinbetter Science Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment

These potent skin-hydrating ingredients work to attract and preserve moisture, ultimately giving the skin a plump, smooth appearance and reducing the look of fine lines, providing you customer with the reassurance that their skin is in good hands.

2. Gentle Exfoliation

During the winter, many people experience dull, flaky skin, but there are effective solutions to combat this issue. It’s crucial to incorporate gentle exfoliation into the skincare routine to remove dead skin cells and reveal a brighter, smoother complexion. I highly recommend using a mild chemical exfoliant such as lactic acid or a gentle fruit enzyme mask once or twice a week.

Lactic acid is widely recognised as an incredibly effective exfoliant, particularly beneficial for winter skin. It not only exfoliates but also offers deep moisturisation, working to gently resurface and rejuvenate dull, dry skin while leaving it feeling nourished and revitalised.

Try: Aspect Exfol L

Fruit enzymes are an excellent exfoliating option for those with drier and more sensitive skin. When applied to the skin, these enzymes break down the cells of the top layer, known as the stratum corneum, removing old cells that can clog pores and hinder overall skin function.

Try: Aspect Dr Lanazyme Micro Peel

3. Nourishing Moisturisers

During the winter months, your customer’s skin may benefit from shifting a summer moisturiser to a richer, more nourishing winter formula that provides a protective barrier. Look for formulas that contain emollient ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and squalane.

Shea butter, as mentioned above, is excellent for hydration, but its buttery texture also provides superior, long-lasting barrier support. Due to its high-fat content, this natural moisturiser is perfect for combating dryness in the winter months.

Jojoba oil stands out from other moisturisers due to its exceptional qualities. Unlike other oils that form a protective barrier on the skin to prevent water loss but get absorbed quickly, jojoba oil contains a high number of ceramides, which are excellent for hydrating the skin.

Squalane, previously derived from animals but now sourced more ethically from plants, is an oil that is essential for skin barrier function. When added to moisturisers, it creates a breathable barrier on the skin, reduces water loss, and helps maintain the skin’s moisture levels. Additionally, it offers protection from excessive heat from central heating and extreme cold.

4. Probiotic Skincare

The skin is a complex organ encompassing a diverse array of microorganisms forming the skin microbiome. Harsh winter conditions can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to skin issues. Incorporating live probiotic biome care products into skincare regimens can effectively restore and enhance the skin microbiome, thereby promoting overall skin health. Probiotics play a pivotal role in harmonising the skin’s microbial community, fortifying the skin’s barrier function, mitigating sensitivity, and enhancing immunity.

Try: BioJuve Living Biome Essential Serum & Activating Mist Duo

5. Laser Treatments

Winter is the perfect time to take advantage of laser and light-based therapies like IPL, BBL, or Moxie. These cutting-edge treatments effectively target an array of skin concerns, from pigmentation to fine lines and wrinkles. With decreased sun exposure during the winter months, your customer’s skin will have ample time to undergo proper healing and recovery following these transformative procedures.

6. At-Home Pampering

Encourage your customers to embrace the power of at-home treatments! Treat themselves to invigorating hydrating masks, rejuvenating exfoliating treatments, and revitalising facial massages to enhance circulation and achieve a radiant glow. Let them know how essential it is to dedicate time to nourishing their skin and partake in self-care rituals that contribute to their overall physical and emotional wellbeing.

7. Sun Protection and Antioxidants

During winter, it’s absolutely essential to prioritise sun protection. Even in cloudy weather, UV rays can still cause significant damage to your skin. Additionally, winter activities like skiing often expose us to higher altitudes where the UV Index is extreme despite the cold temperatures. It’s imperative to choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF of 50 that provides UVA and UVB protection and apply it daily. Moreover, incorporating antioxidants like vitamins C and E into your skincare routine can significantly bolster your skin’s resilience against environmental stressors.

8. Retinol for Radiance

Retinol, an incredibly potent form of vitamin A, superbly brightens, rejuvenates, and densifies the skin by enhancing its natural processes. During the winter, when skin tends to appear lacklustre, retinol significantly accelerates cell turnover and fosters the production of healthy skin cells, resulting in a striking improvement in skin tone. Furthermore, it remarkably diminishes the appearance of dark spots, fine lines, and uneven texture. It’s prudent to commence with a low concentration and gradually heighten usage as your skin adjusts. Moreover, winter serves as an excellent opportunity to elevate the retinol program for existing retinol customers.

9. In-Clinic Treatments

For an extra boost of hydration and radiance, encourage in-clinic treatments. Regular facials and advanced skin treatments will help you monitor and maintain maximum hydration and radiance for your customers throughout the colder months. Monthly superficial peels are ideal for assisting in removing dry, flaky skin, allowing for better absorption of your active topicals. They improve hydration, soothe irritated, itchy skin, and tackle pigmentation issues. Skin micro-needling is another great option for winter, encouraging skin renewal, including hydration, leaving the skin looking dewy, plump, and youthful.

Winter skincare demands a distinct approach from summer skincare. Emphasising hydration, gentle exfoliation, nourishing ingredients, and targeted treatments will ensure a vibrant, healthy complexion during the colder months. Helping your customers establish a self-care regimen alongside regular clinic treatments is fundamental to expertly managing skin through our harsh winters. With the right winter skincare regimen, your customers will exude a radiant glow all season long!