The 5 Essential Winter Ingredients I Recommend Most to Our Customers
I'm Jess and I work for Adore Beauty's Customer Experience team and have also studied Beauty Therapy. I spend my days talking about all things beauty and recommending products to our amazing customers. Some of the products you’ll see me frequently reaching for are my Alpha-H Midnight Reboot Serum, Virtue Healing Oil, and Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask (of course!)
If we haven’t ever met, let me do a quick intro for you lovely Beauty IQ readers!
My name is Jess and I am part of Adore Beauty’s Customer Experience team.
A huge part of my role is interacting daily with our lovely customers to help them find the perfect products for their individual needs.
My extensive background as a Beauty Therapist has equipped me to offer well-rounded advice and recommendations guaranteed to enhance your routine and achieve those glowy results!
Recently, I have been receiving a number of enquiries about winter skincare, particularly which ingredients are best for tackling dryness and sensitivity now that the cooler weather is well and truly upon us.
The combination of chilly air, crisp winds and artificial heating can wreak havoc on our skin, leaving it dry and irritated.
This is why it’s super important to prioritise nourishment and hydration above everything when re-evaluating your routine during this time.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the ingredients I always recommend to keep the skin thriving during these cold, winter months.
Ceramides.
Ceramides are natural lipids and protectors for the skin.
They make up a big part of your skin’s structure and are crucial for locking in moisture and protecting from damage. Using ceramide-rich products is key to maintaining healthy, hydrated skin, which is why you should be looking out for this goodie in your products.
My ceramide skincare recommendations:
This cleanser is effective yet gentle, making it an ideal choice for dry or sensitive skin types. Ceramides work together to lock in moisture so that the skin remains soft, hydrated, and balanced.
An intensely nourishing moisturiser that hydrates without leaving the skin feeling heavy. The Viviology Ceramide Moisturiser is perfect if you are looking to enhance moisture and give your skin some well-deserved comfort… minus the greasy residue!
Formulated with a 1% Ceramide Complex, this product helps to boost hydration and reduce dry, flaky and sensitive skin. This would be suitable, especially for those with sensitivity looking to replenish and protect while also giving an enviable glow to the skin.
Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a naturally occurring substance.
As a humectant, it does a fabulous job at preserving hydration, protecting our barrier and shielding it from environmental damage.
Only when our skin is properly hydrated, can it stay looking fresh and healthy, while also doing a better job at protecting itself and bouncing back from any issues. Need I say more?
My hyaluronic acid skincare recommendations:
This best-selling lotion in essence is truly remarkable. It can deeply hydrate even the driest of skins but can be enjoyed by all skin types. Formulated with Hada Labo Tokyo’s iconic Super Hyaluronic Acid™, this hydrating hero will leave your skin feeling refreshed and replenished.
This product combines cross-linked, high, medium, and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid to provide ultra-long-lasting hydration while visibly plumping the skin. Mesoestetic HA Densimatrix will leave you with deeply hydrated and rejuvenated skin.
Skinstitut Multi-Active Mist is a hydrating spray toner that offers antioxidant protection, reduces redness and boosts skin's radiance. A great, convenient, on-the-go option for dehydrated, sensitive or ageing skin.
Glycerin.
You might be thinking this one is a no-brainer however, I firmly believe glycerin is one of the most underrated hydrating ingredients in skincare.
Despite its widespread presence in countless products, not every product labelled as "hydrating" actually contains glycerin—shocking!
Some product formulations may actually contain different humectants or moisturisers, so it's always a good idea to check the ingredient list of your products.
Glycerin has a low molecular weight which allows it to penetrate deep into the skin, where it attracts moisture and brings it to the surface, leaving skin supple, smooth, and well-protected.
With all that being said, I really don’t think this ingredient receives the recognition it truly deserves.
So, I thought I would give glycerin an honourable mention today as this unsung hero has well and truly earned its time in the spotlight.
My glycerin skincare recommendations:
This probiotic-rich overnight mask delivers essential nutrients to the skin while providing hydration and antioxidant protection to bring your skin barrier back to its healthiest state. Chef’s kiss!
A gentle cleanser crafted for even the most sensitive skin types. Its nourishing formula works to effectively cleanse while safeguarding the skin’s natural protective barrier.
Squalane.
Squalane is an emollient that helps to moisturise and lock in hydration.
It mimics the skin’s natural oils, which helps to keep the skin barrier intact and prevent moisture loss.
Unlike lots of other oils and emollients, squalane is lightweight and non-greasy so it really is a great option for all skin types as you won’t need to worry about this being too heavy or clogging pores.
My squalane skincare recommendations:
A nourishing and gentle cleanser designed for all skin types, including sensitive skin, that effectively dissolves makeup and impurities while hydrating and soothing. The squalane-rich formula leaves the skin perfectly balanced.
Enriched with squalane, panthenol and hyaluronic acid, this impressive gel cream has a lightweight formula that instantly cools and soothes the skin upon application. An excellent choice to take care of dry skin this winter.
Truly a calming hug for the skin, the BOOST LAB CicaPlus Repair Serum, packed with Centella Asiatica and other skin-loving ingredients, offers hydration and barrier support for skin that is in need of some nurturing.
Panthenol.
Panthenol, also known as vitamin B5 is a powerhouse in the realm of skincare.
Panthenol has the capacity to draw moisture into the skin and hold it there while also reducing irritation and aiding in the skin’s natural healing process.
Its amazing ability to deeply hydrate while also soothing and supporting skin repair truly makes this ingredient a standout and non-negotiable in my eyes!
My panthenol skincare recommendations:
Formulated with green tea and panthenol, the BEAUTY OF JOSEON Calming Serum provides a moisturising and cooling effect on the skin, helping to restore balance and bring your compromised skin back to a healthier, more resilient state.
This clever multi-tasker uses a combination of advanced peptides and nourishing actives to target fine lines and wrinkles while improving skin firmness and elasticity. Savvy!
A nourishing sheet mask for the most sensitive of skin. The La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Mask features panthenol and soothing thermal spring water to provide intensive hydration and repair. Applying this is like giving your skin the mini-vacation it deserves.
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