Is your skin feeling dry and irritated? Winter can be brutal on your skin. Cold air, low humidity, and indoor heating all strip moisture from the skin barrier, leading to dryness, flakiness, sensitivity, and irritation. But a few simple changes to your routine can help protect your skin microbiome and restore hydration from the inside out.
Get your skin’s microbiome back in balance in 5 easy and natural ways.
1. Gently Exfoliate to Renew Your Skin Barrier
Dry, dead skin cells can build up faster in winter, making your skin feel rough and dull. A weekly exfoliation helps promote cell turnover and improves absorption of your moisturiser. For a gentle, skin-loving scrub, combine 1 tablespoon of ground oats, 1 tablespoon of raw honey, and 1 teaspoon of plain yogurt. Massage onto damp skin and rinse with warm water.
2. Moisturise with SPF (Yes, Even in Winter)
UV rays don’t take a break in winter. Use a moisturiser with SPF to protect against sun damage and windburn while locking in hydration. Look for formulas rich in ceramides or hyaluronic acid to support your skin barrier.
3. Hydrate From the Inside Out
Cold weather and indoor heaters tend to leave your skin dehydrated. Keep your water intake up, switch to richer moisturisers, and use a humidifier to add moisture back into dry air, especially while you sleep.
4. Boost Your Skin with Winter Produce
Load up your meals with skin-supportive nutrients. Citrus fruits, kiwi, and berries are packed with vitamin C to help boost collagen, while leafy greens, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes deliver antioxidants and beta-carotene to support repair and protection against environmental stress.
5. Start with Your Gut for Stronger Skin
Good gut health can often result in better skin health. Our gut is home to about 70% of the body’s immune system and is key in maintaining immune health and inflammation, your immune system’s first line of defence. Gut bacteria are also responsible for the production of neurotransmitters, which send messages through the body’s nervous system. For instance, Acetylcholine is produced in the gut and can influence skin barrier strength. Another neurotransmitter, GABA, helps to modulate sensory signals, including those related to itching.
Eating foods rich in fibre and polyphenols can help feed and promote the growth of good gut bacteria. An easy way to keep your gut and skin feeling radiant this spring is by enjoying a daily scoop of Care+ Gut Nutrition powder with a 15 ml serving of Gut Starter with Hyaluronic Acid. Packed with a specialised selection of prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics for gut wellbeing, together with natural functional superfoods such as skin-boosting marine collagen, moisture-rich hyaluronic acid and antioxidant-rich papaya and raw honey.
