aesthetics expert Lesley Reynolds, who is known as the Queen of Harley Street, shares the plan she came up with to tackle winter skin with her celebrity clients
Cold weather, icy winds and low humidity mean our skin needs extra care when it’s cold outside. “Winter skin is a common problem we see at our clinic during this season,” says Lesley Reynolds from London’s Harley Street Skin Clinic.
“Every winter, when the temperature drops and the heating goes up, we get more clients with itchy skin, red flaky patches and dry faces. When model and TV presenter Nancy Sorrell, who is married to Jim Moir (also known as Vic Reeves), visited my Harley Street clinic recently, her usually glowing skin was feeling drier and more sensitive than usual. “Nancy had been busy filming in Finland with her husband and their two daughters and the harsh winds and freezing temperatures had clearly affected her skin.”
Writing for OK!, she recalled the conversation they had at the clinic. “She told me, ‘I’ve spent a lot of the last few weeks filming outside, and no matter how many creams and oils I put on my face, my skin is much drier than normal.’
And if you’ve ever tried to put makeup on sensitive skin, you know it can be uncomfortable.” And she’s not the only one. The icy winter months might be great for long walks and cosy nights in, but they can really mess up your skin.”
“Cold, dry air is usually to blame as it draws the moisture right out of the skin, but warm air from central heating can be drying, too. Redness can occur when the body tries to warm itself up, with capillaries dilating to allow more blood to flow to the skin surface. “The good news is that treating winter skin is entirely achievable, by focusing on skin hydration and repairing the skin barrier.
“Layering skincare is key at this time of year, and far better than using heavier formulas. Treat your skincare-like clothing, using a ‘wardrobe’ of light layers: cleanser, toner, serum, moisturiser, SPF and a hydrating face mask twice a week, and avoid ingredients like acids and retinol, which can irritate sensitive skin.”
“Nancy and I have developed a fabulous skincare trio, The Nancy Sorrell Collection 3 Step Miracle Skin Restoration, £150, which is perfect for ‘winter skin syndrome’. It contains peptides and hydrates your skin from the inside out, promoting radiance and firmness.”
“I also told Nancy to keep a pot of Vaseline or Homeoplasmine a thick cream that soothes skin irritations in her handbag to treat dry lips and a chapped nose when she’s out in cold weather. In addition, I treated Nancy with a combination of Smartxide, a complexion-boosting laser treatment, and I suggested she use a humidifier in her bedroom and living room to put moisture back into the air and help to soothe dried out, itchy skin.”
