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If you’re jetting off to the slopes this ski season, your skin faces some thorny issues. Enter the best Skincare for skiing – after all, what could be more gratifying than moisturisers that coddle, soothe and make a glacial sheen look like it’s in your DNA?
Extreme temperatures are obviously skin’s biggest nemesis when the white stuff settles. “High altitudes during ski season mean drier air and colder temperatures, all of which sap moisture from your skin,” says dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite. “Wind can also cause irritation and dryness.”
UV rays play a part, too, as snow reflects up to 80% of the sun’s light. “These rays are more likely to be directed at exposed skin,” Dr Granite notes. “UV exposure is even stronger at higher altitudes because the atmosphere is thinner, providing less protection.”
All of which is to say, doubling down with a vitamin C serum and an SPF50 sunscreen, and flooding skin with barrier-repairing ceramides, are your ultimate protection strategy.
Ahead, your step-by-step skincare guide for the perfect snow day.
The best skincare for skiing
Day
Step 1: Vitamin C serum
Skin can be on the sensitive side on the slopes, but “if your skin is able to tolerate antioxidants such as vitamin C, these can be great to help combat the effects of increased UV exposure,” says Dr Granite. La Roche-Posay’s Pure Vitamin C10 Serum specifically caters for fragile skin and contains hyaluronic acid for added moisture.
Step 2: hydrating serum
“I like adding extra hydration with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol, ceramides and beta glucan,” Dr Granite notes, name-checking Tatcha The Dewy Serum as a favourite for on the slopes.
Step 3: Emollient Moisturiser
Then lock in the hydration with an emollient moisturiser, rich in lipids. Simple’s new Repairing Rich Cream is balm-level rich, without being greasy, and feeds skin with everything it needs to produce its own ceramides, making the skin barrier more resilient against chilly temperatures.
Step 4: SPF
A freezing headwind when shooting down the slopes means we often don’t feel the burning effects of the sun. “We apply sunscreen early in the morning, but when out skiing all day it’s important to reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours,” says Dr Granite. A personal favourite of mine is a stick version such as Shiseido’s Clear Suncare Stick SPF50+ – as it’s pocket size, and its waxy formula offers additional protection against windburn.
Step 5: SPF lip balm
Don’t underestimate the power of an SPF lip balm on the slopes. Ultra Violette Sheen Screen Hydrating Lip Balm SPF50 not only deposits a pretty tint, but it will prevent chapped skin and limit the risk of sunburn.
Night
Step 1: A balm or oil cleanser
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A balm is more comforting when skin is skewing dry and sensitive. Remember too, that like attracts like, so SPF is removed more effectively with an oil-based cleanser. Try the Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse.
Step 2: Serum to restore moisture or calm sensitivity
Windburn is characterised by red, tender skin as a result of prolonged exposure to cold, harsh winds. Dr Barbara Sturm’s Calming Serum, which is laced with gentle botanicals, is beloved by beauty editors for its ability to dial down redness and rebalance sensitised skin – fast.
Step 3: Barrier-restoring moisturiser
Faced with so many aggressors, it’s hardly surprising that your barrier becomes compromised – and inflammation, in the form of a rough texture, redness and stinging, becomes the equivalent of your skin sending out a flare. “As your skin replenishes during sleep, a richer cream or balm might be needed to help restore moisture levels overnight,” says Dr Granite. Drunk Elephant’s Bora Barrier Repair Cream is its thickest, richest cream to date with barrier-replenishing ceramides and potent antioxidants.
She is also a fan of occlusives like petrolatum to help soothe the chafing effects of cold and wind. CeraVe’s Advanced Repair Ointment has just landed in the UK powered by hyaluronic acid to draw in moisture, while ceramides and petrolatum form a waterproof barrier on the skin’s surface to lock it in. “I also tend to avoid heavy fragrance or any potentially drying and irritating actives while skiing, such as retinol and AHAs,” Dr Granite adds.
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR’s Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
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