Our skin changes every few months so ideally, we should be updating our skincare routines at least once every season. The Post spoke to aesthetic nurse and skin care blogger Amisha Pant on the steps we should take to modify our skincare routine for the winter months. Pant, who has worked at Daily Derma and Healthy Choice Clinic regularly updates her Instagram and Tiktok accounts (@skincare__withme) with useful skincare tips and reviews on skincare products.

The basics

As the whole world has been fascinated with skincare for the past couple of years, everyone should be familiar with the basic steps of a skincare routine—facewash, moisturiser and sunscreen. However, people often just pick products from any cosmetic brands sold at their nearby cosmetic shop without giving it much thought.

While cosmetic brands score very well in how beautifully they package their products, the effectiveness of these products is questionable. Anyone serious about their skincare should only use products from pharmaceutical brands.

Use cleanser only at night

You can get away with using a cleanser once every day. In fact, this might even be better for your skin than using it twice.

Pant states that you should skip using a cleanser in the morning. “Our face doesn’t get dirty at night. On the contrary, our skin produces useful oils in the morning that help with keeping your skin healthy,” she explains adding that if you do not feel awake until you wash your face in the morning, then do so with plain water. It will not wash away the oils, but it will certainly wake you up.

Switch to an oil cleanser or balm

Micellar water can get the most stubborn makeup off your face in a few swipes, but for the sake of healthy skin, you should probably swear off it for winter as it makes your skin very dry. Instead, you should switch to a good oil-based cleanser or balm. It can be just as effective in removing makeup without drying out your skin.

Some makeup enthusiasts are also in the habit of double cleansing their skin—first with micellar water and then, with a cleanser. This should be avoided at all costs in winter as it will make your skin severely dry.

Refresh your skin with a toner spray

Dryness is the main concern for our skin during winter. One easy way to keep it hydrated throughout the day would be to carry around toner in a spray bottle and spray it on your face once every few hours. If you do not use a toner, you could also a hydrating mist and spray that on your face throughout the day. This can be done on top of makeup too.

Be careful while selecting a toner for the winter though. Avoid anything that contains alcohol as it has drying properties.

Add a serum to your routine

A serum can do wonders for your skin. Hyaluronic acid serum is good for everyday use. It keeps your skin hydrated, maintains its elasticity and prevents fine lines and wrinkles. An underrated serum Pant encourages everyone to try out is propolis serum. It is super hydrating while also being anti-inflammatory. So, it will help you retain the moisture of your skin while also preventing acne breakouts. If you do not want to add another step to your skincare routine with a serum, you could simply use products that contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid and propolis.

More tips from Pant:

• Keep a humidifier at your work/school desk—especially if you are using an A/C or a heater. It will keep your skin hydrated throughout your working/studying hours. The winter air is notorious for drying out our skin, so this will definitely help.

• Use a sheet mask the night before a big event, and you will wake up with smooth, glowy skin. You should use a sheet mask every two weeks during the winter too.

• Move from lighter to denser textures while applying skin care. So, things like toners and serums should be applied first and moisturizer and sunscreens last.