Advertising Feature: Five winter beauty swaps our skincare buyer always makes

We’re all good at switching up our wardrobe or beauty looks as winter arrives, but the area that deserves the most attention, (and is often forgotten about), is our skincare routines. The cold, wet and windy weather, plus the added bonus of cranked up central heating, can irritate and dry out our complexions - but with just a few simple changes your skincare routine will be ready to battle against the chill.

Madeleine explains, “We need to make sure we give our skin all of the vitamins and nourishment it needs to combat the cold weather”, and there are whole host of new products ready to help you do this. From rich creams which provide a protective barrier against the cold to moisture-boosting serums, we reveal the five skincare swaps which everyone can benefit from this winter.

The first step to keeping your skin happy over the winter months is to replace your lightweight moisturiser with something packed with revitalising and hydrating ingredients. Enter our pick of nourishing creams which Madeleine explains will “provide your skin with much needed moisture and a shield to protect it from the damaging effects of winter weather.”

Treat your skin as the weather turns with Sublimage La Crème by CHANEL. This next-generation formula is designed to restore your skin’s strength, vitality and perfection. Enriched with Éphémères of Planifolia, powerful fruit molecules, the cream will boost radiance, visibly reduce dark spots and leave your skin feeling comfortable, moisturised and protected throughout the day.

If your skin has lost its summer glow and is feeling tight and sensitive, Sisley’s Velvet Nourishing Cream is the perfect rescue remedy. Supercharge your moisture intake with the multi-action and intensely hydrating formula. It will not only work day and night to support skin repair, but the unique saffron flower ingredient will soothe your skin after a day battling the elements, as well as leaving it feeling comfortable and looking revived.

We all know that cleansing is the most important step in your skincare routine, but choosing a cleanser which doesn’t dry out your skin during the harsh winter can be tricky. Madeleine advises “switch from a foam cleanser and replace with a nourishing oil cleanser.” The benefits? “Oil cleansers will remove daily dirt without stripping away any of the skin’s good oils.”

Oil-based cleansers contain the same purifying ingredients as their foam counterparts, but the higher level of natural emollients ensure your skin is left feeling clean, hydrated and refreshed with daily use. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Cleansing Oil transforms into a cleansing milk when mixed with water, and melts away make-up without drying out your complexion. For an extra hit of hydration, the formula is made from an aromatic blend of botanical oils which will soothe and balance your skin.

Madeleine’s winter skincare mantra? “Happy skin is hydrated skin”, and what better way to up your hydration intake than with a multi-tasking serum. Madeleine explains, “in the winter months we need to consider the following five vital skin needs; hydration, nutrition, oxygenation, regeneration and protection. A multi-tasking formula does it all.” Choose a powerhouse of a serum like Clarins Double Serum which features 21 active plant extracts including cult beauty ingredient, turmeric, which is championed for its active anti-ageing properties. Plus, the super antioxidant ingredients will help your skin feel smoother and firmer, and look more radiant.

Banish dark circles and puffiness over the winter with a powerful eye serum which Madeleine says will, “work quickly to replenish your skin’s natural moisture barrier.” The perfect accompaniment to your everyday eye cream, Perricone MD’s Essential FX Eyelid Lift Serum can be used day and night to give your eyes an instant boost. This advanced eye serum is formulated with antioxidants which reduce the look of deep creases and repair fragile skin and a Vitamin F blend which restores suppleness and creates a healthy glow, even in the winter months.  

Finally, at this time of year it’s more important than ever to give your skin some extra love and support. Treat yourself to a pamper evening and swap your usual face mask for a radiance-boosting skin peel. Skin peels may sound scary, but they are simply made up of good acids like AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) or BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acids), which work to exfoliate and lift off the first layer of dull skin cells and surface grime, uncovering healthier and more radiant skin underneath.

Madeleine says, “A skin peel will help reveal new and firmer skin without causing dehydration” and recommends the Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel Skincare Set. This at-home treatment uses a unique formula of AHA extracts, Lactic Acid and plant enzymes to gently remove dead skin cells and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Pumpkin Fruit Enzyme and Rice Bran extract help even your skin tone by resurfacing the skin and accelerating cell turnover, while smoothing Australian Caviar Lime Extract will brighten your skin for a more radiant complexion. The set comes with ten tubes of the Rapid Reveal Peel which can be used throughout the winter to ensure you skin stays radiant and healthy all season long.