It’s time to press pause on your usual beauty routine. When the seasons change, your beauty routine needs to change too. These fantastic product swaps to make for winter will take care of you when those unforgiving and dry winds hit as well as make you look as fresh on bitter-cold days as you would on a summer morning. 

Face wash 

If you only make one change to your skincare routine this winter, switch out your foaming cleanser for creamy textures like a balm or oil to help your skin adjust to colder, drier weather. Also be sure to watch the water temperature when washing your face – it should be tepid and not too hot or overly cold. We love the Lulu & Marula Balancing Cleansing Balm, a luxurious facial cleanser with oil-to-milk technology that gently yet effectively melts away stubborn makeup and impurities. Made with bentonite clay, sweet orange, bergamot and neroli, it’s the ultimate ritual to start and end your day.

R340 from www.luluandmarula.co.za and www.superbalist.com or R376 from www.faithful-to-nature.co.za 

Face scrub 

The benefits of regular exfoliation are pretty much endless, but sloughing off dry patches with a traditional face scrub in winter can irritate your skin and cause flakes to come back or worsen. We’re taking a gentler approach by using the Gatineau Peeling Expert Microdermabrasion, an exfoliating cream infused with bamboo. The non-irritating enriched vitamin cream with sunflower extract doesn’t make skin red the way scrubs can, and it helps makeup go on better too. It’s a fast-track to flawless winter skin! 

R550 from select Woolworths, Truworths and Dis-Chem stores 

Lip balm 

We’re the first to admit that tinted lip balms have loads of perks, but unfortunately treating seriously dry, chapped lips isn’t one of them. In fact, scented lip balms could dry out your lips even more. For winter, switch to a basic lip balm infused with real natural ingredients to nourish lips, like the Burt’s Bees Coconut & Pear Lip Balm. With coconut oil and pear fruit extract as its key ingredients, it hydrates your lips with a refreshing, fruity tropical scent. It also contains shea butter which naturally moisturises and renews lips. 

R75 from Dis-Chem and www.takealot.com 

Moisturiser 

Your wool-blends and knits aren’t the only items that should be getting heavier with the colder months. Your moisturiser should also be thickening up to form a physical barrier that traps moisture in the skin and protects it against the elements. As a general rule creams hydrate better than lotions, which is why our top pick is the Diego dalla Palma Professional Icon Time Redensifying Cream. Thanks to its amino peptide ‘no-a.g.e.s peptides’ complex, it leaves skin more toned and elastic as well as minimises the appearance of wrinkles. 

R1,145 from select spas and salons nationwide – contact 021 701 2900 for details 

Eye cream 

As soon as the temperature drops, the lack of humidity can lead to redness and flaky patches on your face – yes, under-eyes included. So, like with your moisturiser, the same creamier-is-better rule applies to eye cream. The NUXE Nuxuriance Gold Radiance Eye Balm can make all the difference when your under-eyes are in desperate need of some TLC. With a biomimetic texture infused with golden micro-reflectors, it instantly illuminates, nourishes and smooths the eye contour area. And did we mention its special scent and eco-designed glass jar? 

R775 from select Woolworths, Truworths and Foschini stores 

Body wash 

Never underestimate the power of a superb body wash. Choosing the right one can help you defeat winter dryness – from head to toe – once and for all. In winter, using a moisturising body wash like the Africology Body Wash is obviously a good idea. Containing yucca to increase cell growth and soothe irritation plus the natural extract of soapwort that mildly foams and cleanses without stripping your skin, this natural body wash is a fantastic alternative to chemical-based options and leaves your skin moisturised and balanced. 

R370 from Africology spas or www.africologyspa.com 

Body moisturiser 

Since body moisturiser is the one beauty product that most of us are too lazy to use, you might as well find one that smells so good, you’ll actually look forward to applying it. The Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream has an uplifting green tea and citrus scent and is perfect for rehabbing dry patches. If you’re turned off by body lotion because you can’t stand the feeling of a thick cream on your body, fear not because this moisturiser with lactic acid and natural hydroxy acid extracts from sugar cane and apple will keep your skin hydrated without feeling sticky. 

R600 from Dermalogica concept stores or www.dermalogica.co.za