After a seemingly endless summer, it’s finally cooling down here in Bahrain. With the changing seasons, your skin care routine also needs to change. Here are a few transitional tips to keep your skin glowing throughout the winter:

• Protect against pollution
  Contrary to popular belief, pollution actually gets worse in the winter. Overcast weather traps the pollution inside our immediate atmosphere beneath the clouds. This means that pollution that would normally escape in warmer months sticks around in our air and on our skin. Nasty polluters like fumes, dirt, smoke and dust come together to form something called free radicals. Free radicals are a main culprit behind accelerated aging, skin irritation, eczema and more. Protect your skin by thoroughly, but gently, cleansing your face in the mornings and at night. Use a moisturiser that specifically protects against pollution and environmental aggressors.

• Don’t forget sunscreen
  Just because it’s no longer fifty degrees doesn’t mean that you can shelve your SPF! The sun’s rays do damage to our skin year round. Try combining your sun protection with a moisturizer by using an all in one product. Josh Rosebrook has a wonderful, light moisturizer with SPF 30 built in. What’s not to love about that?
• Exfoliation
  Gentle exfoliation is key. Moisture can’t properly sink into your skin if you don’t slough off the dead skin cells on a regular basis. Use a gentle exfoliator on your face, hands and body once a week with a natural skin scrub in the shower. Once out of the shower, apply a hydrating oil to your skin and let it absorb into your freshly opened pores.
• Masking
  Make use of masks. Winter can leave your skin feeling dry, rough and dull. Add hydrating masks to your skincare regimen to get in depth moisture in the deeper layers of your skin. This enriches your skin from the inner layers outwards, and is a great accompaniment to regular moisturizing. Many masks can be left on over night to really plump and hydrate.
• Get to know your skin
  Take note of your skin’s transitions. You may well find that your skin type and needs change depending on the seasons. Those with oily skin may find it settles a bit more in the winter, but those with normal skin could find it a bit dry. Adapt your skincare routine to what you need at the present moment, rather than relying on year round solutions.
• Moisturise mindfully
  The changing weather can easily make your skin dry out. Make moisturising a priority, using natural oils and serums rather than chemical laden creams. Natural oils insulate your skin from the drying effects of the elements, without feeling greasy or heavy on your face.
• Travel sets
  Factor travel plans into your skincare routine. Heading off for winter break? Make hydration a priority before getting on the plane. Take a sheet mask or travel versions with you on the plane to get your moisture fix, then continue to hydrate skin with moisturising oils and serums when you get there.
• Hydrate from the inside out
  As the weather gets colder, we turn to warmer drinks like tea and hot cocoa. The lack of heat and humidity means we naturally transition away from drinking lots of water - so getting your h20 fix is a habit you need to instill now. Try drinking hot water with lemon to hydrate while keeping warm.
• Be aware of your atmosphere
  Lots of us in Bahrain break out the space heaters when it gets a bit chilly here. But, these dry the air in our houses right out. When our skin is so used to the natural humidity of Bahrain, this can lead to dry, flaky and irritated skin. Make sure to balance out your space heater’s dehumidifying effects by turning it off for a few hours and opening the windows. This will balance out the air’s moisture in your home and help your skin keep an even keel.

How do you take care of your skin’s seasonal transitions? Let us know your tips in the comments!