Problem Solvers

How to combat the most common winter skin woes

Last Updated: 24/10/2021

Cold weather? Cocktails? Too many mince pies (or too little shut-eye)? Whatever the culprit, we’ve got the solution to winter skin woes. You’ve got 99 problems – not least of which is your family’s loooong list of allergies (board games and Great Auntie Gertrude) – but, your skin needn’t be one!

If you’re craving hydration…

Temperature changes play havoc with hydration levels. The air is less humid which means you’re undoubtedly feeling (and looking) a little bit parched. Sandwich light layers of serum and cream to preserve precious moisture and bolster skin’s barrier function.

Look out for hyaluronic acid – you’ll find it in Allies of Skin’s lates {Triple Hyaluronic Antioxidant Hydration Serum} – and follow with something that’s light but replenishing (just imagine you’re ‘dressing’ your skin – several ‘thin’ garments are snugger than one chunky jumper). Caudalie’s {SOS Intense Moisturizing Cream} intensely moisturises, soothes and relieves tightness – all while plumping and softening skin. The results speak for themselves: in a clinical study, participants saw an increase in skin hydration by 90%, and 90% agreed their skin felt soothed.

If blemishes need banishing…

Festive fizz and abundant sweet treats are a ticket to pimple-ville (“Stop this, I want to get off!”). Brimming with antibacterial actives and pore-purging salicylic acid, Sunday Riley’s {U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil} is a mean, green spot-fighting machine – burrowing deep within skin to help balance and gently expunge all the ‘bad stuff’ that leads to unwelcome eruptions. Meanwhile, the {Smooth & Clear Gift Set} from Paula’s Choice is a duo of the brand’s beloved Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and 2% BHA Body Spot Exfoliant, so you can look merry and bright this festive season.

If your schedule is jam-packed…

The cleanser that you’ve been waiting for, this balm-to-oil formula from Alpha-H will effortlessly lift SPF, make up and impurities without disrupting your skin’s natural pH level — all while hydrating, regulating your own oils, unblocking pores and supporting skin barrier function for optimally healthy, happy skin. Versatile and delightful to use (no matter your skin type), you can use this {Melting Moments Cleansing Balm} as a single cleanse, as a step in a double cleanse, or even as a 10-minute moisturising mask. In fact, this cleanser was made under the assumption that it would be applied and then washed off in seconds — making it perfect for busy bees or those who’re simply too tired to spend precious minutes on their skin each night.

If crow’s feet are creeping…

Especially fragile, skin is much thinner surrounding the eyes which is why it’s the first place to prove you’ve been up to no good. Leached of the moisture that keeps your cells plump {“Thanks Prosecco!”), this delicate tissue can feel über dry and your fine lines appear much more noticeable.

Try to hydrate through the evening – follow each drink with some water – and when you get home and pass out, try to do it in ‘P**sed Princess’ style. Sleep on a Slip pillowcase or invest in this ultra-stylish {Limited Edition Celestial Nights Gift Set} to prevent waking up with deep creases (it works!), and try to apply an eye cream before zonking. Failing that? Keep the (aptly branded) {C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream} by Drunk Elephant in the fridge to de-puff and diminish the give-away signs of last night in the morning…

If your glow has gone AWOL…

Misplaced your radiance? Counteract signs of the festive excesses and quickly recover your lustre with enzymes that slough away scales and a pearlescent serum to boost luminosity. Circumrefence’s {In-Depth Hydration Face Mask} is the superhero your skin needs any time its feeling dry, dehydrated or generally lacklustre, this weekly mask is a shot of hydration delivered via a rich, floral cream guaranteed to make your bathroom feel spa-worthy. SUMMER FRIDAYS’ {Overtime Mask} is the ultimate foil for your midnight oil-burning. A multi-action treatment, this fast-acting mask works to polish your skin and jump-start sluggish cells, while Dr. Barbara Sturm’s {Glow Drops} are laced with light-scattering pigments to grant a ‘soft focus’ effect so you look like an angel (even if haloes have slipped a little).

SHOP SKIN CARE >>



Emmie Thornhill

Emmie Thornhill

Deputy Content Editor

Emmie is Cult Beauty’s Deputy Content Editor. Her love of skin care began in primary school when she first learned the term “hormonal acne” and has been in a love-hate relationship with tea tree oil ever since. She lives in East London – where you can normally find her baking, tending to her plant jungle or planning her next tattoo or hair cut/colour appointment – and is known to start DMCs with you about your birth chart placements, the importance of wearing SPF every day and the difference between a vagina and vulva.