How do you protect your skin in the winter?

Caroline_ie

Hi all -

How do you protect your skin during the winter? I do a lot of cycling all year round. On a weekend like the one we just had i would have been out sweating under the crisp cold and sunshine all day x2. My skin felt almost sunburt. Was I sunburnt? Coldburnt?

Any tips?

Many thanks

Jemmy

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Hi all -

How do you protect your skin during the winter? I do a lot of cycling all year round. On a weekend like the one we just had i would have been out sweating under the crisp cold and sunshine all day x2. My skin felt almost sunburt. Was I sunburnt? Coldburnt?

Any tips?

Many thanks

Ok this may sound crazy to some ppl but wear suncream! I work outdoors in the wind and weather also, it is possible to get windburn, get a moisturiser with a sun factor in it or just apply a little before you head out.

Gknit

That sounds unpleasant. They say you should wear a moisturiser with SPF in it, all year round. I actually use a light sunscreen instead of moisturiser every day. I'm never out in the elements for that long but have pale skin and a paranoid nature. I'd say using sunscreen might help your windburn. It wouldn't do any harm anyway.

rainbow kirby

Moisturiser with SPF15, or if I'm doing a long run during the winter I'll use P20 on anything exposed (and just hope that it won't be sweated off after 12 miles like it is during the summer!).

metrovelvet

If you are going to be facing cold hard wind then vaseline or arden 8 hour cream is a good barrier.

Thought Bubble

Jemmy wrote: »

Ok this may sound crazy to some ppl but wear suncream! I work outdoors in the wind and weather also, it is possible to get windburn, get a moisturiser with a sun factor in it or just apply a little before you head out.

Jinxed! This was going to be my reply too. It mightn't feel like it, coz it seems to rain 350 days of the year in this feckin' country, but it is still possible to burn even on dull and crappy days (can't remember if it's UVA or UVB rays, but they still creep through, even when it's raining). And particularly for someone like you, who's going to be out and about in the elements a lot.

I would actually recommend using a proper sunscreen on your face, neck and 'decolletage' while your cycling. Apply it about 10/15mins before you leave the house to let it sink in. Your skin will thank you for it later! And if you do get burnt, try using something like aloe vera gel afterwards. it really sooths burnt skin, and will stop your skin getting peelie.

HTH!

Bubbles.

Madame Razz

Clinique Cityblock spf40 for your face/decolleté etc, and some regular suncream for your other exposed parts!!!

I hear your pain OP, spend a fair bit of time on the water in winter and have had the same problem; had to wise up with the SPF as as you say it really isn't comfortable or good for the skin!

dublingal80

sometimes in the winter with the cold weather, heat on, and what not, my skin gets so so bad. really really patchy red and really dry spots, so dry that it can get quite painful. I have tried everything from the 8 hour cream, creme de la mer, sun cream and nothing would work

But i finally found something. cheap as chips and excellent. its 1% hydrocortisol cream. can get it in any pharmacy and a small tube of it costs less than 4 euros and you only use it for 7 days or less. in 1 day there is a noticeably HUGE difference

Macha

dublingal80 wrote: »

But i finally found something. cheap as chips and excellent. its 1% hydrocortisol cream. can get it in any pharmacy and a small tube of it costs less than 4 euros and you only use it for 7 days or less. in 1 day there is a noticeably HUGE difference

Be careful using hydro cortisol cream on an area like your face regularly because it is known to thin the skin over time.

Medievalist

After years of working outside, the only moisturiser thats stops me from getting windburn/ sunburn/ coldburn in the middle of winter is Clinique Superdefense. It has SPF 25 in it, and it really protects my skin and doesn't have that horrible greasy feeling you get from some suncream/ thick moisturisers. Unfortunately, I can't always afford it. But I do notice a big difference when I'm using it. I always wear an SPF all year round, regardless of budget. Clinique is the only one that stops me from coming home with a big red face on me

sunnyside

dublingal80 wrote: »

But i finally found something. cheap as chips and excellent. its 1% hydrocortisol cream. can get it in any pharmacy and a small tube of it costs less than 4 euros and you only use it for 7 days or less. in 1 day there is a noticeably HUGE difference

Interesting. Do you have to ask for it at the pharmacy prescription counter or is it on the shelf? What would it be near?

Caroline_ie

I have been using E45 on my face for the past year because i am allergic to a lot of creams, especially those with perfume or funny colours and E45 was the only one that kept my face mosturized w/ no redness or burning sensation. I started using a more pricey cream on my face now for the past few weeks my mother has been using for a few years. i am 30 and I don't use any other eye contour or anything else on my face ( just a bit of foundations ) - i am not sure you guys can tell me if it's good enough for the winter or even in general, maybe i will add a few drops of sun screen in it as well when i head out.
Not sure about hydro cortisol cream on my face though.

Using a steroid cream on your face when you don't have to is madness!!

Glitterangel76

I use Burt's Bee facial creams as they don't irrate my psorasis, had a really bad attack last winter when I started cycling to work so I found these and I swear by them...even used them in a very cold Illinois over Christmas.

Burt's Bee Repair Serum, Carrot Nutritive Day Creme and Evening Primrose Overnight Cream..

http://www.myburtsbees.co.uk/burts_bees_collection/facial_care

When it was very cold, or my face felt like it would crack from being so dry I used the night cream as a day cream...its quite greasy so you need very little..in fact the above 3 items lasted over 3months...

You can get them in health food stores..a little expensive, but as they last a lot longer than normal..I think its worth it..

Ginny

I just use my moisturiser an extra time during the day if I think my skin is a bit dry, Always use L'oreal Happyderm Sensitive

_ZeeK_

i fly south for the winter months.

tho, some people prefer to hibernate.

metaoblivia

My daily moisturizer has SPF in it, although truthfully I don't spend a lot of time outdoors in the winter. It's still good to have protection from the sun though.
Now my skin is on the dry side, so I can get away with putting a dab of vitamin E oil on my face at night without causing breakouts, and I find that that keeps my skin nice and hydrated. I've also heard vaseline can be very helpful too for dry skin.

SeekUp

I agree with everyone on the SPF -- I use it year round for my daily moisturizer. I also use a night cream . . . I've heard that your body and skin does most of its repairs and rejuvenation while you're sleeping, so it's important to keep your skin moisturized at night as well.

BumbleB

dublingal80 wrote: »

s
But i finally found something. cheap as chips and excellent. its 1% hydrocortisol cream. can get it in any pharmacy and a small tube of it costs less than 4 euros and you only use it for 7 days or less. in 1 day there is a noticeably HUGE difference

Hydrocortisone thins the skin ,I wouldn't personally use it .

Dudess

It's not just sunlight though - cold air in and of itself can be harsh. I've just slapped on some Astral cream (cheapy, really old product that auld ones love - and endorsed by Joanna Lumley) on top of my Roc Hydra+ (I find it amazing) and it feels brilliant. It has an oily finish which some people might not like, but it does feel like a good "barrier" to the elements.