The cooler months of winter create optimal conditions for dry skin, but you probably knew that already. You probably also knew that a single daily moisturise aint gonna cut it. Just as we adjust our wardrobe choices, our winter skincare should change to suit too, with a slightly stricter hand when it comes to your skin care routine, with an emphasis on moisture both in and on. Here are our best skincare tips for dry winter skin

Winter has a way of bringing out our inner glutton. Our taste for richer food and drink swells to new heights and becomes a kind of self-soothing. Darker skies and an increasing penchant for the indoors could be to blame, though the fact remains that this will not serve us in the long run.

As a blanket rule, avoid carbohydrate rich foods as much as possible, drink at least two litres of water a day and consider adding a supplement with omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids to your daily intake which can help your dry winter skin retain moisture for longer.

The allure of a scolding hot shower on a mid-winter’s morning is too tempting to pass up, but please, for the love of god, fight the urge. Hot showers aren’t great for our skin at the best of times as hot water can dry out our skin and cause irritation. Keep your showers short and the water tepid to avoid this. If you can keep your face out of the flow, that’ll be even better. Shower time won’t be as pleasant, and you’re probably not going to want to stay in there too long, but hey you’ll be saving water #savetheplant.

While we’re circling the drain here, let’s talk soap. Most bar soaps are bonka hog with fragrance and synthetics that dry out our skin. Opt for a bar soap with glycerine, or better yet, pick up a body wash with ‘non-drying’ in its list of features and look for ingredients like vitamin E and aloe-vera. Dry winter skin be gone!

While our skin is prone to sensitivity, it’s best to hoik products that aggravate our dermis. Go for gentle, non-invasive treatments with actives designed to nourish and lock in moisture. Twice daily moisturising is a must and the addition of a serum like hyaluronic acid to your skincare routine for winter will help bolster the effects.

And don't forget about the lips. Our lips have no natural defence to the elements and as such are prone to drying out and cracking. Not so good. Make sure you have a stick of lip balm handy at all times even if you think you won’t need it. Look for lip balms made with beeswax which is naturally high in vitamin A to help cell production turnover for increased healing and protection.

You’ve probably heard this, but it bears repeating. Even on cloudy days, the sun’s rays can still penetrate through and harm our skin. Do not let dark clouds lull you into a false sense of security. Slap on an application of SPF 15 or above before you head out to avoid an unseasonably red complexion. For ease, look for an SPF moisturiser and kill two birds with one stone.

As a final defence for dry winter skin, treat yourself to a once or twice weekly moisture bomb in the form of a face mask. Despite the hype, face masks actually work wonders and can be a saving grace for dry, uncomfortable skin. Keep a pack or two handy at all times.

Cold weather has the potential to cause serious damage to our skin, drying us out and leaving worse for wear. This of course doesn’t have to be the case, provided you take some cautionary steps. Your skincare routine for winter should at a bare minimum consist of a twice daily moisturise, plenty of water, some hyaluronic acid and to top it off whack on a face mask twice a week. Get on top of your winter skincare.