The perfect level of moisture on your skin is just a fraction above dry. But, winter weather can make getting to that perfect moisture level especially challenging.

With December being so mild last year, it can be easy to forget how to handle a cold snap and your skin, especially if it gets cold quite quickly.

Here are some tips to look after your skin during a cold snap:

One shower a day is enough! If you’re in the gym or sweating a lot you can shower more often – but the key thing is to keep the time spent in the shower to a minimum – staying in the shower too long is dehydrating for your skin. Keep your showers under 10 minutes and use water that’s just warm enough. But, never hot.

Avoid harsh, drying soaps for sensitive skin – soap can trigger a flare-up of eczema, worse still if it’s strongly fragranced/scented or full or preservatives – avoid perfumes, antibacterial components or deodorant ingredients.

Skin pH is a measure of acidity and alkalinity, healthy skin is naturally acidic, with a pH of about 5.5.  This acidity plays an important role in skin barrier function, soaps raise the skin’s pH and disrupt this delicate balance.

Facecloths do make you feel clean but they do so by literally stripping the skin by mechanical force and weakening the skin barrier. Instead, use your hands to wash your body.

Washing with soap or harsh shower gels can really dry out and weaken your skin – especially if you’re doing it several times a day.

Where possible concentrate on cleaning the key areas such as your armpits, groin, your feet, and collar areas – anywhere that tends to sweat basically.  This way you’ll be clean but avoid drying out or irritating your skin.

After showing gently pat (rather than rub) your skin dry, this leaves some moisture on the skin. Be sure to dry skin folds, under arms, groin and in between your toes thoroughly though!  Apply a moisturiser, after drying, to seal remaining water into the skin.

It’s always good to keep your skin moisturised, but especially so in winter because to the extremes of cold and heat, going outdoors and back indoors, take a heavy toll on our skin.  Buy products that are bland, un-fragranced and preservative free.