How to Adjust Your Skincare for Winter: A Cold-Weather Routine That Keeps Skin Hydrated and Glowing
British winters are hard on skin, swinging from central heating to icy wind in the space of an hour. Here's how the team at Wellface adjusts a routine for the colder months, from easing back on tretinoin and vitamin C to layering in richer hydration, so your skin stays comfortable, protected and glowing all season.
Transcript
Changes to your skincare as we enter the winter season. So yes, in the UK, we go from this gorgeous sunshine and then one hour later, it's freezing cold. We need to make sure our skin is ready and adaptable to it so that we don't break out, we don't break the skincare barrier, and we don't end up with irritation and acne because of it.
So number one, what are we gonna do with TRET? If you're on a high dose, bring it down a level. If you're on 0.1%, you might wanna come down to 0.05.
If you're on 0.05, you might wanna come down to 0.025. Come in, let us know, we'll make a bespoke plan for you. The second one, which is a really easy one, is your vitamin C serum.
So this one, again, come down a level. I use this once every six months. So I'll go from 15% in the winter and I'll come back up in the summer to 20%.
If you're on 15% now, you might wanna come down to a 10% over the winter and bring it back up again at 15%. Those go down, what comes up is your hydration. So I love this one.
It's your Elastiderm. It's a lovely serum that goes just underneath your cream moisturizer. And again, it gives you that added protection, barrier, hydration for the skin to stay ready against the winter wind and season.
If you love a really nice thick night cream, then I absolutely love this one. It's really thick, lovely to just engulf the skin and make it feel absolutely beautiful before the next morning. And the last one, this is my personal favorite.
I use this all year, which is the Revitans from Suzanne Obagi. I love it. Is it just for winter?
No, I use it all year out. I use it all year out. I use it all year out.
I use it all year out. I use it all year out. I use it all year out.
I use it all year out.
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isit works within the skin, softens that crepey texture, and can lift the dull grey or bluish tone that makes tired eyes worse than they are.
### Why it works well under the eyes
The under-eye skin needs a treatment that improves its quality without adding heaviness or risking puffiness, and that is exactly what polynucleotides are designed to do. Instead of filling a hollow, they gradually rebuild and strengthen the skin itself, so it becomes a little thicker, smoother and more resilient. As the skin quality improves, the greyness tends to lift and the area looks fresher and more awake. Dr Yasmin uses it mainly for the under-eye region, and where appropriate she can treat a little higher too.
### What to expect from a course
Polynucleotides work in a series. Most people need two sessions, sometimes three, spaced about two weeks apart, because the effect is cumulative and builds with each treatment as the skin's repair response is stimulated repeatedly. The injections themselves are small and quick. You might see a little swelling or a few tiny bumps immediately afterwards, and occasionally some minor bruising given how delicate the area is, but this generally settles within a day or two. Results continue to develop over the following weeks as new collagen forms, and many patients choose a maintenance session further down the line to keep the improvement.
## Profhilo or polynucleotides: which is right for you?
The simplest way to think about it is by area and by need. If your concern is your whole face looking dry, flat and in need of a glow, Profhilo is usually the better starting point because it treats the face broadly and delivers that all-over hydration and subtle lift. It is Dr Yasmin's favourite for exactly this reason.
If, on the other hand, you are largely happy with your face but the under-eye area is letting you down, thin, crepey, with that tell-tale grey tone, polynucleotides are the more targeted choice. They are formulated to rebuild quality in precisely this kind of delicate skin.
Plenty of patients end up combining the two, using Profhilo to refresh the face overall and polynucleotides to focus on the eyes. The two treatments complement one another rather than competing. During a consultation your practitioner will look at your skin, ask what bothers you most, and put together a schedule that makes sense for your concerns and your calendar. As Dr Yasmin puts it, there is always something we can do, and the best plan is the one built around you.
## Getting the most from your treatment
Injectable treatments do a great deal, but they work best alongside sensible everyday care, especially in winter. Keeping the skin barrier strong helps your results last and stops the dehydration creeping back.
A few habits make a real difference. Swap harsh, stripping cleansers for something gentle, and follow with a moisturiser that contains humectants like hyaluronic acid to draw water in and richer ingredients to seal it there. Keep wearing a broad-spectrum SPF every day, because UV still reaches your skin in winter and remains the biggest driver of ageing and dullness. Try to avoid very hot, long showers, stay hydrated from the inside, and consider a humidifier if your home is warm and dry. A medical-grade skincare routine tailored to your skin, which the team can advise on, gives these treatments the best possible foundation to work from.
## Common questions about winter skin treatments
### Are Profhilo and polynucleotides painful?
Both are very manageable. Profhilo uses only a small number of injection points and the product itself is smooth, so most people describe it as a quick pinch rather than anything uncomfortable. Polynucleotide injections around the eye are tiny, and while the area is delicate, treatment is brief. A numbing cream can be applied beforehand if you would prefer, and your practitioner will always talk you through it.
### How soon will I see results?
With Profhilo you often notice a hydrated, dewy quality within the first week or two, while the firming, collagen-boosting effects build over the weeks after your second session. Polynucleotides work more gradually because they rely on stimulating your own repair processes, so the improvement in skin quality and tone develops steadily over the course and continues after your final session.
### Is there any downtime?
Very little with either treatment. You may have some small bumps, redness or minor swelling at the injection sites straight afterwards, and occasionally a little bruising with the under-eye work. Most of this settles within hours to a couple of days, and the vast majority of people carry on with their day as normal. It is sensible to avoid heavy exercise, saunas and makeup over fresh injection points for the rest of the day.
### How long do the results last?
This varies from person to person, but the effects of a full course of either treatment typically last several months. Many patients maintain their results with a top-up session roughly every six months for Profhilo, and a maintenance treatment for polynucleotides as advised. Your practitioner will recommend a realistic schedule at your consultation.
### Can I have these treatments if I already have filler or anti-wrinkle injections?
In most cases, yes. Both Profhilo and polynucleotides are about skin quality and hydration rather than volume or muscle movement, so they generally work well alongside other treatments as part of a broader plan. Your doctor will review everything you have had done and time your appointments sensibly.
## Come and see us for a glow that lasts through winter
Dry, crepey winter skin is common, but you do not have to put up with it until spring. Some people notice it as all-over dullness that Profhilo can quench, while for others it is tired, thinning under-eyes that polynucleotides are made for. Either way, there is a considered, doctor-led option to bring back your glow in time for the season ahead.
Wellface is a doctor-led aesthetics clinic with branches in Cobham, Esher and Wimbledon, and Dr Yasmin Tayeb and the team would be glad to take a proper look at your skin and talk you through what would suit you best. Book a consultation at whichever branch is most convenient, and let us build a plan to get you glowing and comfortable again this winter.
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