Winter is coming

is coming! Winter

As if to add insult to injury, the cold weather brings with it harsh dry air, which wreaks havoc on the complexion.

Here we look at the products some top brands recommend to mitigate the effects of winter on the skin

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With winter fast approaching, salons will typically start to see more clients with dry skin conditions and concerns.

Say the experts at Esse: “The skin is dynamic and will change according to its environment, so if we are treating a client who is experiencing increased dryness, it might be necessary to alter their current skincare routine. This will ensure that we are able to maintain a healthy barrier to keep the skin nourished and protected throughout the colder months.

“Now would be a good opportunity to reassess your client’s skin and make any changes, if necessary, to their current regime. First, determine whether the client is experiencing dryness (lack of oil) or if the skin is just in need of extra moisture as there are obvious signs of dehydration. Dryness and dehydration are often linked, however they can require different types of products to correct.

“To reduce TEWL (transepidermal water loss) and further dryness, the focus should be on keeping the skin’s barrier intact. It is key not to over cleanse and to use a gentle cleanser free of any harsh cleansing agents. If the client is experiencing some flakiness or uneven texture associated with dryness, then they might need to gently exfoliate the skin once a week, which will help with the absorption of their treatment products.”

Guinot

Guinot’s Bioxygene Range is ideal for maintaining radiance during winter as skin can become dull. Bioxygene Cream combats environmental irritants related to lifestyle and is formulated with Pro-Oxygene, which helps increase the oxygenation of skin cells for radiant skin. Hydrocyte Complex intensely moisturises the skin, while vitamin E contains anti-free radical properties.

The Serum from the Bioxygene range is formulated to preserve a healthy and radiant complexion and combat external irritants. Detoxilline detoxifies the skin, while purisoft (moringa seed) protects skin against damage caused by pollutants, including exhaust fumes, smoke and dust.

Also from Guinot, Age Logic Rich is the perfect moisturiser for mature skin, making it visibly more youthful and properly nourished. ATP-Actinergie provides essential energy for vital cell functions and improves cellular oxygenation, boosting the metabolism, while rambutan leaf extract facilitates collagen and elastin fibre synthesis and cohesion, to firm and smooth wrinkles.

Rich in saturated fatty acids, Liposkin helps to rebuild the skin barrier and intensely nourish the skin. Pro-ceramides boost the synthesis of major lipid components (ceramides) that aid the skin to restructure the intercellular cement.

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pHformula

From pHformula, the HYDRA concentrated corrective serum is described as ‘a winter must-have’ as it replenishes skin moisture with the hyaluronic acid complex that contains both high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid. The product is also formulated with glycosaminoglycans and alpinia galanga leaf extract to retain moisture in the skin and plump fine lines and wrinkles. 3D HYDRA complex, consisting of 3D HYDRA, natural moisturising factors and skin-identical ceramides, provides 3-dimensional hydration to the skin.

“What makes the HYDRA concentrated corrective serum different is the Cell-2Cell Messenger complex that improves cell communication between the keratinocytes, as well as between the keratinocytes and fibroblasts to ultimately improve cell functioning,” say the pHformula team.

The ferulic acid complex, consisting of ferulic acid and vitamin E, assists with superior restoration of the skin and protection against free radicals and lipid peroxidation. This complex will not only fight premature ageing, but also prevent sun damage and treat hyperpigmentation.

Matis

National education manager for Matis, Lisa Charlton, recommends three products to treat winter skin, including Densifiance-Night. She says: “This night cream is targeted at mature skins that are struggling with poor elasticity and

an uneven skin complexion. An overnight restructuring treatment, it acts to firm, smooth, and even out skin tone, revealing a better complexion each morning.”

The highly active formula pairs DensiDerm technology (reinforced action on collagen and elastin) with glycolic acid (action on the appearance of age spots).

Matis’ Night-Reveal 10 is also an overnight treatment product in the form of a mask that helps to speed up cell renewal and aid the fight against the visible signs of ageing by being a non-invasive alternative to cosmetic surgery.

Charlton notes that glycolic acid is combined with hyaluronic acid to re-plump the skin and reduce wrinkle depth. “The complexion is evened out and dark skin spots are lightened. There are visible results from the very first morning:”

Lastly, Nutri-Mood is a climatic protective moisturiser that protects the capillary structure in the skin against harsh environmental conditions. Its rich, creamy texture envelops skin in a protective cocoon. The synergistic action of its active ingredients – SurviSystem3 (a Matis ingredient), kokum and shea butter – arm the skin to withstand external factors. These include cold, wind, dryness, bad weather, sudden changes in temperature, etc. Skin is protected, nourished, more supple and feels more comfortable.

Esse

Moisturisers containing vegetable oils and omegas to nourish and repair the skin will help to bring comfort to and maintain a healthy barrier in winter, according to the Esse team.

“Skincare containing pre and probiotics are key, as these beneficial microbes will support the skin’s microbiome and further reduce TEWL”, they say. Esse has a selection of moisturisers that will help to support a dry skin. The Esse Rich, Esse Nourish and Esse Ultra moisturisers all contain these key ingredients to nourish and protect the skin throughout the dryer winter months – making them the ideal winter skin saviours.

Another beneficial ingredient to use when treating dry and dehydrated skin is hyaluronic acid, as it is intensely hydrating, with an instant plumping effect. It also boosts penetration of other actives and follow-on products. The Esse Hyaluronic Serum is 100% natural and certified organic. In addition to hyaluronic acid, it also contains probiotics and antioxidant rich rooibos and olive leaf extract to intensely hydrate the skin, reduce inflammation and slow down skin ageing.

Using a mask once or twice a week can further benefit and bring comfort to a dry skin. The Esse Cream Mask deeply feeds and softens the skin, with pre and probiotics, super nourishing oils and high levels of hyaluronic acid for an intense moisture boost.

Beauté Pacifique

SuperFruit Moisture Enforcement Vegan Serum from Beauté Pacifique is a unique, water-based serum. Containing extracts and juice from the Nordic superfruits (i.e. sea buckthorn, cloudberry, lingonberry, sugar beet and birch), it prevents impurities and redness in young skin, while making the skin more even.

Two different kinds of the extremely water-binding hyaluronic acid provide the skin with a thorough, long-lasting moisture boost, keeping the skin supple. The serum also contains the B vitamins, niacinamide and panthenol, which enhance the ability of the skin’s outermost barrier to protect it from potential everyday impacts and dehydration. Ingredients in the Superfruit Serum include: betula alba juice (binds extra moisture to the skin and seems to have a firming effect); beta vulgaris (beet) root extract (enhances the natural moisturebinders in the skin and provides extra moisture); buckthorn (evens out the skin’s pigmentation and makes the skin more resistant and robust); cloudberry seed extract (delays the loss of elasticity in ageing skin); and papain (part of Beauté Pacifique’s new advanced exfoliation system).

Also from Beauté Pacifique, Xtra Dry Skin Fix is a dermatological super cream that helps to maintain a high level of moisture continuously throughout the day. It contains a potent concentration of natural squalene, leaving a deposit of cream inside the skin’s surface, which is reactivated by contact with water, locking in moisture to maintain constant hydration.

Xtra Dry Skin is positioned as a medical grade aid in helping to treat dry, chapped and damaged skin.

DermaFix

Maintaining skin barrier is imperative to a healthy skin. Should your barrier become impaired, the skin will respond with an increase in skin sensitivity, with accompanying redness and irritation. This may also lead to a flaking skin with a resultant rough texture.

DermaFix Cosmeceutical Skin Care offers a variety of targeted topical solutions maintaining skin barrier health and resolving the concerns of a dry skin: A case in point is DermaFix Skin ResQ, a superior formulation that offers anti-oxidant protection whilst keeping the skin moisturised, hydrated and supple. Formulated for universal use, Skin ResQ rapidly penetrates into the skin for all day protection, without the sensation of a greasy film.

Offering superior skin hydration benefits with universal use is the DermaFix Vitamin Therapy Masque, a light-weight, nutrient rich, intensive treatment masque. It may further be used as an overnight skin booster, alleviating skin dryness whilst offering skin repairing and mature, dry skin.

Designed to protect the skin against oxidative damage, DermaFix Argan Oil is an organic nourishing elixir that also offers skin nourishment and anti-inflammatory benefits.

DermaFix CBD Lotion / Oil is made with the purest organic Swiss Cannabis CBD (cannabidiol) oil and offers antibacterial, antiinflammatory and skin calming properties whilst hydrating and soothing an irritated skin.

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anti-inflammatory benefits.

DermaFix Hydra-Silk Cleanser is a light emollient cleanser that gently works to lift away make-up and other impurities without stripping the essential lipids on the skin, while the DermaFix BioEffective Cream is an extra nourishing, active revitalising and regenerative skin treatment for

SIX

From SIX, the Comfort Cleansing Cream leaves the skin feeling velvety soft, with a light honeysuckle fragrance to enchant the senses.

Active ingredients include jojoba butter, vitamin B3, sweet almond oil and shea butter.

For overnight application, the SIX Moisture Boost Mask is the equivalent of eight cups of water for the skin. It soothes, plumps, revives and protects the skin.

This product is formulated with the following active ingredients: fatty acids, safflower seed oil, shea butter and peach fruit oil.

Ideal for dry, dehydrated, combination and sensitive skin, the mask can also be left on for 20 minutes and then rinsed off, should an overnight application not be desired.