One minute, your skin’s parched by
the heating, the next it’s shiny from that rich cream. Achieving the right
balance can feel impossible, but the latest moisturizing innovations combine
clever hydration with lightweight formulas to give you perfect winter skin.
We all know the effect winter has on skin;
the colder weather coupled with dry air from central heating has the annoying
ability to deplete our body of its natural moisture. The result? Skin that
feels dry, flaky and uncomfortable. And though common sense says that, just as
we envelop ourselves in the heaviest duvet we can find when the mercury drops,
we should grab the richest cream on the shelves, it turns out that slathering
on the thickest moisturizer we can find isn’t always the answer.
Though thick, intense lotions and butters
can provide instant comfort, they can also lead to oiliness hence the new crop
of far less rich but just as effective winter creams. ‘The latest super hydrating
moisturisers are superior because they’re more akin to serums albeit in a jar
offering a similar lightweight structure but with intense moisturisation,’ says
Dr Tom Mammone, Clinique’s executive director of skin physiology and
pharmacology. ‘It means they can work with any skin type because they won’t
aggravate oily skin and they’re moisturizing enough for dry skin.’ Think of
them as the equivalent of wrapping your skin in light cashmere layers rather
than smothering it in a heavy, chunky knit.
If you’re not quite convinced that a lighter-textured
moisturizer can really be that effective on your parched winter skin, it’s
worth looking at what’s actually going into these new creams. ‘It’s about the
ingredients as well as the texture of a product that makes it moisturizing,’
reveals beauty specialist and skincare expert Sarah Chapman. ‘While something
that’s heavier and thicker can feel like it’s doing more (and in severe cases
of dry skin, it does provide immediate relief), the latest lighter-weight
serums and creams are a lot more easily absorbed into the skin because they
have a lower molecular structure, meaning they can pack in more hydrating
ingredients,’ she explains.
It’s also worth remembering that, because
your facial skin has more oil glands than the skin on your body, it doesn’t
need the same sort of products, meaning oil deprived areas like your arms and
legs require a richer textured product to combat it. Great news if you feel
that, when it comes to winter, your only option is to trade in your dry
complexion for a more moisturized and therefore spottier/shinier one.
So, ingredients-wise, what should we be
searching for? The latest products go far and beyond bog-standard moisturisers,
using new and high-tech hydrating techniques and delivering a double dose (or
even more) of humectants (the things that pull water from the atmosphere into
your skin) such as hyaluronic acid and Pentavitin, to glycerine, which is
particularly soothing for really dry skin. Essentially, they act as ‘moisture
magnets’, locking water into skin cells to instantly plump your complexion and
draw moisture in and, most importantly, retain it.
‘I recommend looking for skin-barrier
strengthening and repairing ingredients that reduce any water loss and help
give your skin a healthy balance,’ adds Tom. ‘Look out for olive squalane,
sodium hyaluronate, glycerine and aloe leaf juice.’
What’s more, these new products aren’t just
hydrating but boosted by anti-aging ingredients, skin soothers and ingredients
that offer instant fixes. How clever is that?
H20 Oasis 24 Hydrating Booster, $37.5,
use for dry skin
This oil-free, water-based serum instantly
moisturises with a blend of marine botanicals, antioxidants and plant extracts
and because it’s olive-free, it feels fresh and lightweight on your skin.
Hydraluron Moisture Booster, $37.5, use
for very dry skin
This light serum contains the purest form
of hyaluronic acid with the bonus of holding up to 1,00 times its weight in
water. Skin genuinely feels smoother and softer after just one application.
Nuxe Sérum Crème Fraiche de Beauté, $39,
use for all skin types
This ultra-concentrated serum contains
natural-origin hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and almond and white flower extracts
to soothe. And it claims to keep skin soft for 24 hours.
Originals Make a Difference Plus +
Rejuvenating Moisturiser, $49.5, use for dry skin
Originals
Make a Difference Plus + Rejuvenating Moisturiser
Combining a cocktail of powerful plant
actives known for their moisturizing qualities (and a handful of gorgeous
smelling essential oils) this is a must-have for parched complexions.
Elemental Herbology Moisture Replenish
Cell Plumping Facial Moisturiser SPF8, $63, use for very dry skin
Need your moisture fix to last? This
omega-rich cream contains Aquarich, a 24-hour moisturizing complex that keeps
your skin hydrated all day.
