When the weather gets colder, our skin can often get pretty unhappy. With harsh winds, cranking up the central heating, and dried-out air, it’s common for your skin to start feeling a little tight and dehydrated.

Alongside dry and dehydrated skin, you may also start to see signs of redness and irritation that can make your complexion feel uncomfortable.

Before you step out into the cold air, you should make sure to prep your skin for the harsh weather—after all, it’s much easier to protect your skin than to try to repair the damage caused by winter skin conditions and environmental pollutants!

Here are 4 tips to protect your skin from harsh weather this winter:

     1.  Switch up your moisturizer for something thick and balmy

If you’re still using a lightweight moisturizer in the winter months, it could be really underperforming when it comes to delivering your skin the moisture and hydration it needs.

Switch to something more nourishing, or a product that has a balm formula that will create a protective layer over your skin before you head out.

      2.  Up the usage of oils in your skincare routine

Using an oil as the final step in your skincare routine will lock in all of the moisture and improve the efficacy of the rest of your skincare products. It will also provide an extra boost of hydration that your skin will be in desperate need of in the winter

     3.  Don’t forget to apply your SPF

Just because the sun isn’t shining 24/7 doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t still be diligently applying your SPF—you can still suffer from sun damage when it’s cloudy.

So make sure to always use an SPF 30 or higher as part of your skincare routine, and look for one that has ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin which will hydrate your skin even more.

      4.  Use a heavy duty lip balm to protect your lips

Our final tip is to not forget about your lips! Our lips are often the first area to show signs of dryness as the skin is much more fragile.

Carry a lip balm around with you at all times to keep your lips topped up with hydration, wherever you are.