Taking Care Of Oily Skin In The Winter

During the Winter, our skincare routine requires to be adapted for the colder climate. As the temperature drops and the humidity lowers we may notice a change in our skin whatever our skin type. Combination and oily skin types are affected too.

How Winter affects the skin

The low humidity affects our skin as it’s the humidity that keeps us smooth and stops any dryness. You may think that this won't affect oily skin but you would be wrong. A combination of low humidity and central heating can cause oily and combination skin to begin to feel and look dry, red and sensitive. However, this doesn't mean that your sebaceous (oil) glands will stop producing excess oil. Yes, it will be less in the winter months but once your skin is dry the sebaceous glands work harder to produce more sebum, which can ultimately lead to acne.

So, what can you do?

Morning Routine for Oily Winter Skin

Here is a step by step guide of what your morning routine should look like:

1. Exfoliate- Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin using a chemical, granular substance or exfoliation device/tool. Scrub your face and body thoroughly but don’t be too harsh. Use a gentle exfoliating gel packed with vitamin E and natural hydrators such as DermaQuest Algae Polishing Scrub.
2. Double Cleanse- Cleansing is super important as this is the process of removing all dirt and excess oils from your skin. We double cleanse as the first cleanse is to remove everything and the second cleanser is to give it a thorough clean to really get rid of all those impurities that can clog the pores and lead to acne breakouts. Ensure that the last rinse is done with cold water so that the pores close and do not allow excess dirt in. We recommend DermaQuest Essential Daily Cleanser along with DermaQuest Essential B5 Hydrating Serum and why not try our EasyGlo’ Ultrasonic Cleansing Brush to apply these with.
3. Moisturise- Moisturising is essential as it reduces your chances of any skin problems arising. It keeps your skin healthy, helps to fight wrinkles and can keep your pores full of good elements. It’s best to pick a water based moisturiser with oily skin as it will allow the skin to breathe and not get covered with more oil. Try DermaQuest Essential Moisturiser to keep on top of this.
4. SPF- Protecting your skin from harmful UV Rays is an absolute must for anyone and should be that final step of the morning skincare routine. Protecting your skin from the sun is super important as it will prevent your skin from being damaged and in some cases causing skin cancer. SPF should be applied all year round. Whatever the weather, not just when it’s hot and your skin needs protecting all the time. We recommend the DermaQuest Sheer Zinc SPF 30.

Night Routine for Oily Winter Skin

Here are the steps of what your nighttime skincare routine should be:

1. Cleanse- The same as the morning routine, cleansing is always the first step as the face needs a thorough clean before applying any other products to it. Removing all the dirt, oils and make-up that have built up throughout the busy day is essential. Do not use face wipes and these will only smear your make-up, sweat and dirt across your face, not remove it properly. We recommend DermaQuest Delicate Cleansing Cream for the night time cleanser.
2. Serum- The serum is a hydrator that serves to deeply hydrate the skin while active features help treat specific skin conditions. It is a way of offering intense nutrition to our skin as a concentrated cosmetic. DermaQuest Essential B5 Hydrating Serum does this job perfectly.
3. Moisturiser- Post hydrator (serum) moisturiser will work to lock in the hydration by adding a protective barrier, allowing all products to take shape and do their work overnight. We recommend DermaQuest Essential Moisturiser.

Different skincare tools can be used too during these routines such as our Easy Exfoliator and EasyGlo’ Ultrasonic Cleansing Brush. These devices are a great way to really scrub and clean your face in order to keep it fresh, clean and glowing!

Handy Tips on Winter Skincare

• Switch to a water based moisturiser. You need to replenish the loss of moisture in the skin but oil based moisturisers will make your skin increasingly oily and may lead to breakouts. The Essential B5 Hydrating Serum will do this.
• SPF should be zinc based as this is non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores like some other SPF’s will. Always make sure that you use a separate SPF too rather than one that's included in your moisturiser or foundation as this will dilute the protection of it. Try DermaQuest Sheer Zinc SPF 30.
• Wash your face twice a day. This will keep the excess sebum to a minimum.
• Stay hydrated. Drinking 8-10 cups of water a day is vital to the skin as it flushes out toxins from the body and bacteria from the skin.
• Pat, don't rub. Simply pat your skin with a towel. Rubbing your skin can irritate your sensitive pores and lead to excess oil secretion.
• Try a serum such as Hyaluronic acid. This is a great product to add to your routine during winter for those with oily skin. Stick with a light and soothing serum that will hydrate the skin from within. It will work to balance oil and water levels on the skin. Again, Essential B5 Hydrating Serum is great for this.

What to Avoid

• Hot showers. As lovely as a hot shower can be, especially in the Winter, it dries your skin out too much leaving it looking dull. Stick to lukewarm water.
• Avoid using excessive acids such as glycolic and swap to lighter options such as mandelic, lactic and fruit acids.
• Avoid reaching for the super thick creams, instead double up on serums and lighter cream textures.

And that is how you take care of your oily skin during Winter, keeping you fresh and glowing! We hope this has helped you understand a little more about skin health.

If you'd like to know more, book in for your personalised online skincare consultation with a GlowBay expert.