The lowdown on how to protect your skin this winter

Even if you consider yourself a man who has a good grasp on grooming, winter is notoriously a problematic time for looking after one’s visage. It would be easy to assume that because of the abundance of products available on the male market, it’s simple to find something that will help you face the winter months with a great complexion; but in fact it’s quite the contrary. With everything from moisturisers to masks on the shelves, it’s hard knowing quite where to start. Which is where we come in…

We got in touch with Alexander Johnston, general manager at John Bell & Croyden, and all-round grooming wiz, to find out what exactly we should all be doing to boost our skincare regimes this winter.

"Constant changes in temperature can play havoc with your skins natural balance as you move from central heating to the cold of the streets, causing dehydration, dullness and irritation to occur," Johnston says. "This time of the year is also a good opportunity to un-do any damage your skin may have encountered during the summer, when you may not have been as dedicated to your SPF as the weather required."

"When your skin is dehydrated, the last thing you want to be doing is scrubbing at it day and night. Your skin’s protective barrier may well be under duress from the cold winds and frosty days, so switch to a cleanser with a richer texture that soothes and hydrates as it cleans your face.

Elemis’ Pro Collagen Green Fig Cleansing Balm has a balm-like texture that melts onto the skin, removing all traces of dirt and impurities with stripping or irritating your skin.

Skin Design London’s Face Bath is another balm-to-oil option that is enriched with antioxidants and lipids to cleanse and very gently exfoliate the skin whilst providing hydration and nourishment. You can also use it as a mask for when you skin is particularly dry or chapped."

Elemis Pro-Collagen Green Fig Cleansing Balm, £49. elemis.com

Skin Design Face Bath Cleanser, £95. skindesignlondon.com

"A good hydrating serum will help to improve your skins natural barrier recover from exposure to the cold. If you shave regularly, adding a serum to your routine will also help to reduce any irritation or razor rash that you may be more prone to in the winter months.

Look for a serum that has ingredients like hyaluronic acid (HA), niacinamide (B3) or polyglutamic acid (yPGA), as these will provide a higher level of hydration that is held in the skin cells for a longer period, whilst also helping your skin renew and recover. Medik8’s Hydra B5 is one of the best.

A fairly recent addition to the market is NAD+ in serum form. This is one of the most powerful hydrators, antioxidants and promoters of cellular renewal available right now – a powerhouse in terms of skin wellness and resilience.

Swiss skin care brand Intuisse have developed a patent-pending high absorption Active NAD+ formulation that allows deep penetration into the skin – there is nothing else quite like it out there."

Intuisse Active NAD+ Face Serum, £210. intuisse.com

Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense, £59. medik8.com

Skin can become as dull as the weather when you only have 8 hours of sunlight each day, so adding a vitamin C serum to your morning routine can help to keep your skin brighter and more radiant. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant, which helps to even your skin’s tone and keep away blemishes.

For efficacy and value for money, you can’t go wrong with La Roche Posay.

La Roche Posay Vitamin C12 Serum for Ageing Skin, £45. laroche-posay.co.uk

It may seem like you are repeating a step, but a moisturising cream will seal-in the protection of your serum and offer further protection from the cold and the dry heat of central heating.

Newcomer brand Complice offer a beautifully light, yet incredibly potent cream that keeps your skin protected for 24 hours.

Complice 24H Moisturiser - Complice Protection, £69. johnbellcroyden.com

"With the summer behind us, any damage that your skin may have experienced will start to show as your tan fades and lazy days around the pool become a distant memory. Sun damage can show as discolouration of the skin, dark spots and even flaky patches.

Products containing retinol or alpha hydroxy acids can help to exfoliate the skin, encourage cell renew and activate collagen production – all the things you need to get your skin back into shape.

Retinol can cause irritation is introduced to your routine too quickly, so start slowly by applying maybe once or twice a week before you go to bed.

Royal Fern’s Retinol Solution contains encapsulated retinol that is less likely to cause irritation, and is masterfully blended with glycolic acid and botanical extracts to slowly release throughout the night to rejuvenate and invigorate your skin.

If retinol is not your thing, French brand Orveda’s overnight reviving mask could be the one for you. This is skin care on another level that uses bio-technology combined with 9 active ingredients to gently exfoliate, hydrate and renew the skin. A thin layer is applied each night to lock-in moisture and allow your skin to fully recover whilst you sleep."

Orveda Overnight Reviving Mask, £285. orveda.com

Royal Fern Retinol Solution, £160. royalfern.com

"UVA and UVB rays are not detectable by the human eye – and yet they are all around us, whatever the weather. Applying an SPF every morning is essential to maintaining your skins microbiome and protecting yourself from premature ageing. Future you will thank you, trust me.

Try Frezyderm’s Velvet Face SPF 50. Not only does this product offer incredible sun protection, but the second skin technology actually reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles and mattifies the complexion. It is so light weight that you do not know it is there – and no white cast."

FREZYDERM Sun Screen Velvet Face SPF-50+, £24. johnbellcroyden.co.uk

Want to look your best all year round? Check out the best grooming releases of the week

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