How To Beat Dry Winter Skin with Barbara Sturm

Why Does Cold Weather Cause Dry Skin?

You could say it’s the skincare horror show. Dryness, redness, flakiness, chapped, irritated, sore skin. That’s what happens when the temperature drops. Not exactly the image projected on the glossy magazine fronts. So why does this happen particularly during the colder months?

The thin outer surface of the epidermis acts as the protective skin barrier that prevents toxins from entering through the skin. Winter brings about changes in humidity, temperature, and weather conditions. The fragile skin barrier takes the brunt and, battered by wind, rain, and the freezing air, becomes damaged, leaving it wide open for nasty germs and free radicals to get through and wreak their havoc.

Another issue is that the humid air outdoors, coupled with the indoor central heating, means that there’s less moisture about. This is detrimental because the skin barrier craves moisture, which helps it to perform better. Less lipids equal less moisture and that spells bad news for skin because it exacerbates dryness.

Best Skin Care Routine for your 40s

For women, 40s is the era of transition with perimenopause hormonal changes, dryness and the signs of ageing topping the list of skincare concerns. The imbalance in hormones can cause a range of issues from hormonal breakouts to exceptional dryness. Collagen levels are also in big decline (and yes, we know this sounds really depressing) meaning that skin loses its firmness and moisture levels hit rock bottom, all of which can lead to a dull and dry complexion and the formation of lines and wrinkles.

Exfoliation is key to maintaining a smooth, even complexion with a natural glow. Dr Barbara Sturm Facial Scrub helps to treat ageing skin with an uneven tone or texture by removing dry, flaky skin and encouraging cell renewal. An alliance of active ingredients work together including nourishing silk extracts, Horse Chestnut (to stimulate blood circulation and strengthen blood vessels) and Vitamin A, the cornerstone of many anti-ageing products to tackle lines and wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, as well as speed up cell turnover for a youthful, glowing complexion. Used twice weekly, this wonderfully gentle yet powerful exfoliator leaves the perfect canvas for follow-on products.

Alternatively, if a minimal skincare routine is your goal, opt for Dr Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser. This innovative powder is transformed with warm water into a foaming cleanser and exfoliator, simplifying your routine with two steps in one. Ascorbic Acid (otherwise known as Vitamin C) provides the skin brightening action whilst natural nourisher, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, replenishes lost moisture ensuring that, whilst excess sebum is removed and dead skin is dissolved, hydration levels are not affected.

A facial serum is a simple way to deliver lots of active natural ingredients to the skin as the smaller molecules mean that they can penetrate more deeply for optimum results. Dr Barbara Sturm Glow Drops is a wonderful hydrating serum that reduces signs of ageing and helps tired skin look brighter using clever light-reflecting particles.

With Bistorta Root Extract for a radiant glow, soothing Purslane to calm inflamed skin, Hyaluronic Acid that acts as a humectant to retain moisture within the skin cells and the wonderful-sounding Wild Rose Extract to refine pores; this is a turbocharged face serum that packs a punch when it comes to the signs of ageing.

The final step in any skincare routine worth its salt is a long-lasting moisturiser. Dr Barbara Sturm Face Cream is a deeply nourishing hydrator that uses antioxidant powerhouses, Purslane and Skullcap to help reduce inflammation and prevent cell ageing which simply translated means that you’ll see a visible improvement in lines and wrinkles. There’s also nourishing Shea butter and Glycerine, known for its moisture-retaining properties which is why skin feels lavishly soft and smooth after use.