The surprisingly cheap skincare an expert recommends for winter
Updated
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If your skin isn't dry and flaking in the winter weather right now, we'd love to know your secret.
However, after chatting to Dr. Michele Squire, a PhD scientist, former registered nurse and the founder of Qr8 Mediskin, a company that provides skincare guidance, we've got a few of her secrets to share.
Dry skin in winter partially comes down to the lack of humidity in the air, plus activities that dry it out (like sitting in front of the heater). For that reason, moisturiser will be your best friend.
"It's the time for a lovely, heavy, nourishing moisturiser that's just gonna wrap your skin in a nice warm blanket," Dr. Squire says.
She particularly recommends products with humectants – ingredients that hold water near the skin. One to look out for when scanning the ingredient list is glycerin.
"We never recommend expensive moisturisers, because you just don't need them. There's nothing magical about them," she tells us. Instead, she recommends brands like Avène, La Roche-Posay, CeraVe, DermaVeen and Aveeno. And surprisingly, Vaseline.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
Vaseline Petroleum Jelly
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If you're looking for something cheap to kick off your winter skincare, Dr. Squire highly recommends Vaseline.
"Vaseline is super handy," says Dr. Squire.
The thick, vaguely oily substance has been around for decades. The only ingredient is petrolatum, an occlusive that helps form and protect the skin barrier. Dr. Squire says you can put it on the higher points of your face that get quite dry (think cheekbones, the tip of your nose). It also makes a great lip balm.
"It's just the best thing for holding water in the skin. And if your skin's really dry ... you don't even need to use it over the top of moisturiser. You can just use Vaseline," Dr. Squire says.
CeraVe Moisturising Lotion 473mL
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Another affordable option, the CeraVe Moisturising Lotion is a really gentle product. It's free of artificial fragrances, sulphates, alcohol, and parabens, so you can trust it's unlikely to irritate your skin.
DermaVeen Hydrating Facial Moisturiser 75mL
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Just $15 on Amazon, DermaVeen is another thick moisturiser that's perfect for the winter weather. Rich in texture, it contains colloidal oatmeal, which helps build moisture back up in the skin. Another hypoallergenic option, DermaVeen is free of lanolin, parabens, artificial dyes, and artificial fragrances.
Avène Eau Thermale Revitalising Nourishing Cream 50mL
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While a bit of a jump in price, the Revitalising Nourishing Cream from Avène is a popular moisturiser among skincare aficionados. It contains Avène Thermal Spring Water, a nourishing ingredient, plus the humectant glycerine to keep the moisture close to the skin.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Prebiotic Moisturiser 40mL
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The La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Prebiotic Moisturiser has a gel-like texture rather than a cream, making it a preference for many. Designed for combination or sensitive skin, it's another gentle option free of fragrances and alcohol.
Aveeno Daily Moisturising Body Lotion 1L
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The skin on our bodies gets pretty dry in winter, too, so be sure not to neglect it. The Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion is another rich option that'll wrap around the skin and offer it some love. A pH-balanced formula, it also avoids parabens, dyes, and drying alcohols.
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