The cold snap has officially hit, and while we’re still catching glimpses of the sun peeking out from behind autumn clouds, those rays of light haven’t fooled us- summer is long gone.
With a new climate comes a new set of skin concerns and, in turn, the need for a skincare routine refresh. We look to the newest skincare brand from the purest place on earth, Kotia.
Why do we need different skincare in winter?
Your skincare routine needs to change seasonally to adapt to a new climate. In the summer months, there’s a bit of humidity in the air. In the winter, the dry air essentially sucks the moisture from our skin, leaving dry, flakey, tight complexions in its wake. Even if you’re spending the bulk of the season indoors, there is absolutely no moisture in the air that comes from intense, artificial heating meaning that, in winter, we are quite literally surrounded by elements that can and will dry out our skin.
To combat this, we need to look for skincare products that are formulated to restore that moisture to the skin and reinforce its natural barrier function to protect it from environmental stressors. The Kotia skincare range, with its unique 100% deer milk ingredient, provides this nourishment with far more protein than any other milk.
Which ingredients should we look for in our winter skincare?
Your winter skincare regimen should have a real focus on strengthening the skin’s barrier to protect it from the damage inflicted by the winter chill. Look for antioxidant rich skincare and product packed with essential omega 3 fatty acids to protect the complexion from both environmental and free radical damage while ensuring the skin continues to function at its very healthiest year ‘round.
Even with that added protection, the skin is still susceptible to the effects of the dry, cool air in winter. Choose ingredients that not only hydrate the skin, but increase the skin’s natural ability to hold onto that moisture. Vitamin E, for example, is particularly hydrating and is a real salve for chapped, irritated, dry skin, while Hyaluronic Acid has the ability to hold up to a whopping 1000 times its own weight in moisture.
Your winter skincare routine..
Cleansing, by nature, has the potential to dry out the skin, stripping it of its natural oils as it works to remove excess oil and grime. For winter, choose a gentle, nourishing texture, like that of the Kotia Exfoliating Cleansing Milk, to replenish lost moisture as it removes bacteria.
Serums are intended to be the most potent element of our skincare routine, designed to target our most specific skin concerns. This in mind, choose a serum for winter that works to combat dryness and soothe irritation. Look for ingredients that provide intense hydration and brighten dull winter skin. We suggest the Kotia Rejuvinating Serum.
During winter, it’s worth investing in a night specific cream, aside from your daytime moisturiser, to really allow your skin to repair itself after a day in dry air. Look for products designed to plump up the skin and retain its natural moisture stores such as the Kotia Regenerating Night Cream. For day time, choose a moisturiser formulated to protect the skin from harsh environmental factors such as the Kotia Hydrating Day Cream.
Once a week, treat your skin to a deeply nourishing mask to enhance the skin’s barrier and limit moisture loss. We suggest the Kotia Nourishing Cream Mask which includes minerals such as calcium, magnesium and silica to enhance the skins natural barriers to limit water loss and improve skin elasticity.
PHOTOGRAPHY SHAUN LYLE
WORDS GEMMA WATTS & HOLLY TITHERIDGE
