Winter Is Officially Here, So It’s Time To Switch Up Your Nightly Skin Routine

Winter is finally upon us, bringing with it an onslaught of dryness, dehydration, and dullness. And to help defeat these common skin ailments and keep your complexion glowing, it’s important to sort out a stellar winter skin care routine.

The key to a successful nightly skin care routine in winter is hydration, so we’ve pulled together a guide complete with our favourite products to help you establish a ritual that works for you. Scroll down for your fail-proof formula for bouncy, dewy skin all winter long.

Opt for a gentle cleanser

As anyone with dry skin would know, winter comes hand in hand with dehydration, so it’s important to find a cleanser that hydrates rather than strips your skin. There’s nothing worse than that dry, squeaky skin sensation.

Choose an oil-based cleansing balm or micellar water for your first cleanse to remove makeup and any build-up from the day. For your second cleanse, a cream cleanser will work wonders to get rid of any extra impurities and leave your skin feeling soft and nourished. Oh, and you may want to avoid washing your face in the shower — the scalding hot water may feel good at the time but will leave your skin feeling stripped and dehydrated.

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, $26.39 at Chemist Warehouse

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, $78 at Adore Beauty

Layer up your serums

Cold weather typically brings with it dull, tired-looking skin. So if your complexion is in need of some serious TLC, a concoction of targeted serums will be your saving grace.

Look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, ascorbic acid and botanicals to hydrate, plump and supercharge your complexion.

La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Anti-Ageing Serum, $50.39 at Chemist Warehouse

PHASED Skincare Vitamin B5 Serum, $24.99 at PHASED Skincare

Don’t skip the exfoliation

Don’t push all your exfoliants to the back of the beauty cabinet just yet. You’re going to need a solution to whisk away dry skin, and an exfoliating serum, toner or mask will do just that while still providing nourishment.

Opt for a serum or oil-based exfoliant and for those with dry skin, stick to once or twice-weekly use to avoid over-exfoliating.

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, $42 at Paula’s Choice

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Peel, $25 at MECCA

Night cream is a must

Winter really puts your skin through the wringer, so you’ll need a rich night cream to help lock in moisture and repair your skin while you sleep.

A ceramide-powered cream is a great way to boost your skin’s barrier and lock in hydration. And just like in your go-to serums, humectants such as glycerin, glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid are the key to waking up with a plump, glowing complexion.

The Inkey List Ceramide Hydrating Night Treatment, $23 at Sephora

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Night Cream, $189 at MECCA

Finish with a hydrating oil

Facial oils are, perhaps, one of the simplest and most effective ways to defeat dry skin. Think of oils as your moisturiser’s trusty sidekick that will save the day (or night) and add an extra shot of hydration.

If you’re prone to breakouts, look for an oil with non-comodegenic ingredients such as sea buckthorn, squalane and camellia oils that will replenish your natural glow without clogging pores.

Habitual Beauty Rejuvenating Facial Oil, $120 at Sephora

The Ordinary 100% Organic Virgin Sea-Buckthorn Fruit Oil, $24.90 at Adore Beauty

Add a weekly mask (or two)

Level-up your skin’s hydration with a nourishing face mask. Not only will your skin be left feeling silky soft and replenished, but setting aside some ‘me time’ to simply sit and mask is also a great weekly wellness ritual.

Whether you opt for a sheet mask, gel mask or overnight sleep mask (perfect for the time-poor), your skin will thank you. And don’t forget to add a conditioning lip mask for the perfect pout!

Go-To Repair Shop, $50 at MECCA

Never be without lip balm

Dry, chapped lips are a common occurrence in winter but you’ll be less likely to suffer a sore pout if you keep a trusty lip balm at your bedside. The best lip balms for winter are ones that not only hydrate but contain soothing ingredients to ease any pain when it does strike and an occlusive, protective formula to keep lips shielded while you sleep.

Carmex Lip Balm, $6.19 at Priceline

Main image credit: Getty

What winter skin care products do you have in your toolkit?