WINTER SKINCARE: NEW CLASSICS

Winter’s coming, and with it the need to nourish your skin with products better suited to the drier climate and dropping temperatures. But it’s not just a matter of slathering on a thicker substitute for your moisturiser — creams aren’t created equal, and thicker doesn’t necessarily mean more hydrating.

The first step is committing to a full suite of skincare: a lotion, toner or essence to prep the skin and draw subsequent products deeper into the dermis; a serum that’s packed with high-dosage actives to combat key concerns; and a cream whose chief purpose is to seal in all that good stuff and keep it from evaporating into the atmosphere.

Issue: Dry Skin

For dry skin, all three leave-on steps are non-negotiable, but also consider switching to a gentler cleanser, such as a micellar water. Then, Guerlain’s Orchidée Impériale The Essence-in-Lotion is designed for an intense moisture boost, softening the complexion instantly. Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Hyaluronic Serum is perfect for potent hydration, while the thick and goopy moisturisers — like Crème de la Mer and Giorgio Armani’s Crema Nera Supreme Reviving Cream — are made for you; just remember to warm the cream between your palms so you can spread it evenly across your face. You can even mix in a couple of drops of facial oil with your serum or moisturiser to boost effects.

Issue: Dull Skin

Dullness is connected to hydration, but also to dead skin cells that block your skin’s ability to reflect light. As such, gentle exfoliants are your friend, particularly ones of the chemical persuasion, like Tatcha's Polished Deep Enzyme Powder. A radiance-adding serum like Clé de Peau Beauté’s The Serum uses red, yellow and green kelp to activate the skin’s natural vitality.

Issue: Sensitive Skin

If rosacea, eczema and all sorts of weird patchy issues plague your skin in dry weather, you may be reluctant to overuse products, but your chief rule should actually be to make sure your products are free of irritants – make sure to patch-test products before committing. Focus on products with oils that also strengthen epidermal barrier function and skin immunity, such as Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Face Cream Rich.

Issue: Oily Skin

Counterintuitive it may be, but oily skin is usually a problem with dehydration — the issue being that the same products that protect dry skin will clog complexions that overproduce oil. In this case, the texture of your chosen product is important, and one like Tom Ford Research’s Crème Concentrate is designed with hyaluronic acid and an almost gel-like texture that helps the cream sink into skin without sitting on top of it. Its partner, the Serum Concentrate, also contains lactic and glycolic acids that help cell turnover and diminish acne scars.