Your skin’s not just dry… it’s parched and pleading for help. And that’s because winter is brutal. Icy-cold, windy conditions outside combined with dry indoor heating strip your skin of its natural moisture, causing irritations, flakiness, and dull patches. Bianca Leonard, Marketing Manager at lifestyle technology brand, Solenco, says that just like you wouldn’t step out without layers of knitwear, your skin deserves a layered defence too. She shares her favourite skin-care layering formula.
Layer 1: Start soft
If your face feels squeaky-clean after cleansing, that’s your cue to switch. Foaming face washes tend to strip away the little bit of natural oil your skin still has left. A creamy, hydrating cleanser is the way to go in winter – something that leaves your skin feeling fresh, not frozen.
Layer 2: Bring on the bounce
Toners have had a serious glow-up. These days, they’re less about astringent sting and more about hydration. Look out for gentle, moisture-boosting ingredients like rose water or glycerin to plump and prep your skin for what’s next.
Layer 3: Get serious about serum
A hydrating serum is your winter MVP. Hyaluronic acid draws moisture deep into the skin, while squalane helps lock it in. Layer it straight after your toner, while your skin’s still slightly damp, for extra oomph.
Layer 4: Seal the deal
A rich moisturiser is non-negotiable. You want something buttery and nourishing, like the textures found in Korean skincare, made popular by the ‘butter skin’ trend. Ceramides, shea butter, panthenol all hug your skin and say, “I’ve got you.” And if you’re still feeling a bit tight? Add a few drops of facial oil or a barrier cream on top to seal everything in.
Layer 5: SPF, always
Yes, even in winter. Even when it’s cloudy. Even when you’re just going to gym. UV rays don’t take a season off, and neither should your sunscreen.
Layer 6: Hydrate the air, too
Here’s the step most of us forget: your environment matters. When the air’s dry, your skin gets even drier no matter how many serums you slather on. That’s why a humidifier can be a game-changer. Leonard says that a humidifier adds moisture to the air to help your skin stay supple and dewy.
Her pick? The Solenco Ultrasonic Humidifier. “It’s my non-negotiable winter skin essential. It stands out for its warm-mist and silver ion sterilisation function, which removes 99.99% of bacteria from the water so that the moisture my skin absorbs is clean and pure.”
At the end of the day, great skin isn’t just about what you put on it; it’s also about the world you create around it. And when you get the balance right? That’s when winter stops feeling like survival mode and starts feeling like self-care season.
SUPPLIED.
