Do you change up your beauty routine based on the seasons? I know I do – my skin and hair definitely changes when the weather gets colder. In fact, with all the indoor heating, I find I need more moisture. Forget heat protection, I need cold protection!
It’s probably why I’ve written about winter beauty previously (as well as winter face masks). But this year, I’ve been really concentrating on skincare and haircare. At my last hair appointment, Talia of Glasshouse Salon even suggested adding a leave-in conditioner into my routine. I’ve been hooked ever since!
So, if you’re feeling like your hair or skin could do with a little extra moisture, this guide is for you…
My Gentle & Hydrating Haircare Routine
I don’t really like having an overcomplicated hair routine – I have thick hair, which makes every extra step that little bit more laborious. So I tend to stick to the following steps:
1. Shampoo. My best hair days start with a wash. Madara’s new gloss shampoo* has been a great new addition to my bathroom, taking over where my Philip Kingsley shampoo left off. It’s gentle and still great for cleansing my hair and scalp.
2. Conditioner. At one point in my life, I didn’t use conditioner. Those were dark days… I swear by the stuff now. And REN’s pro-vitamin conditioner* really has been looking after my hair well. I use this through the mid-lengths to the ends of my hair, and I use it liberally, to ensure all my hair gets that glossy look.
3. Leave-in conditioner. New in for winter is my leave-in conditioner*, gifted by Philip Kingsley earlier this year. I’m now finding it a vital extra step in my haircare routine, and this daily defence spray does the job well. That said, I may even step it up a notch and try an even more moisturising leave-in conditioner in the near future.
4. Brush. Brushing my hair actually tends to do more harm than good, so I’m careful to be really gentle when brushing. I love my new bamboo paddle brush gifted by Net Zero Co, which reduces static and promotes even distribution of oils throughout my hair. It works best when my hair is wet, and I’ll then minimally brush on other days.
5. Dry. Despite having way too much hair on my head, I will only dry it on the low-to-medium setting. It takes longer, but it makes sure my hair stays hydrated and doesn’t frazzle to a crisp.
6. Curl. Now onto styling – I’ll run my straighteners through inch-wide portions of my hair in a curling motion to create ringlets, and at this point, the tighter the better.
7. Salt spray. Once I’ve got ringlets in, I’ll use my favourite salt spray* to give the hair some hold. John Master’s spray is pretty strong, so make sure to use only a few spritzes!
8. Blast with cold air. The final step, as prescribed by my hairdresser – undo the ringlets with cold air from the hairdryer! This loosens the curls and leaves bouncy, healthy-looking waves.
(+ On days when I don’t wash my hair, I’ll add a few extra curls, or sling it up using my favourite recycled scrunchie gifted by Fabrico).
My Moisture-Boosting Skincare Routines
When it comes to skincare, I’m pretty much the opposite of minimalist – I love looking after my skin! I have two routines, one for day and one for night, as follows:
Daytime Skincare Routine
In the morning, I’ll start by washing my face with Alteya’s gentle brightening cleanser* (gifted). This is the most hydrating cream cleanser I’ve ever used, and it’s kept me spot-free for the past few weeks too!
Next I’ll apply Alteya’s organic face cream* (also gifted) across my cheeks, forehead, and then smoothed everywhere else. I’ll then top up on moisture with Herbivore’s Emerald oil*.
Finally, I’ll apply Bybi Beauty’s Babe Balm* to my lips. On most days, this will be everything, but if I’m leaving the house I’ll go on to apply makeup.
Nighttime Skincare Routine
For my nighttime skin routine, I’ll start by removing makeup if I’m wearing any. I like to use Bybi Beauty’s Swipe Clean* applied to cotton rounds* (gifted), which are washable and so much softer than disposable cotton pads!
It’s then onto cleansing with Alteya’s gentle brightening cleanser* and hot water. On my drier skin days, I’ll also use an exfoliant like Upcircle’s face scrub* made with coffee grinds, or an acid exfoliant like Herbivore’s Prism serum*.
Finally, it’s onto moisturising. This will be with Alteya’s organic face cream*, or when I really want to pamper myself, Herbivore’s Moonfruit face mask* (gifted) and Bybi Beauty’s Babe Balm* on my lips.
There’s nothing better than waking up with soft, hydrated skin (and curls that have been set the day before!)
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Disclaimer: This post contains gifted products (denoted 'gifted') and affiliate links (denoted '*')
