Things about winter we’re looking forward to: mulled wine, roaring fires and cashmere sweaters. Things we’re not so keen on: dry and irritated skin, fine lines and age spots.

There’s no doubt winter can be tough on your skin—the combination of cold air outdoors and dry air indoors can strip it of moisture which, in turn, can lead to signs of early aging such as dryness, fine lines and age spots. Keeping your skin hydrated is vital during the cooler months to keep it nourished and supported.

Why Green Beauty for Winter Skincare?

The problem is, conventional skin products can often contain synthetic ingredients such as petroleum jelly and silicones that sit on top of the skin, rather than soaking in. This barrier means that the skin can’t draw moisture from the air or properly dispel toxins. Conventional products can also clog pores and cause redness, inflammation, eczema, and even acne.

Natural Ingredients to Look for in Winter Skincare

The trick is to look for natural, organic ingredients that moisturize, heal and calm skin effectively:

• Manuka Honey: Manuka honey has been used since ancient times to treat skin conditions. Thanks to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, manuka honey, which is native to New Zealand, draws moisture to the skin, while helping keep skin super fresh and blemish-free.
• Chamomile: Chamomile is another star of the anti-winter-dry-skin brigade, helping to calm redness and inflammation caused by dry skin. This herb is also beneficial in treating eczema and other irritable skin issues, as well as lightening and brightening the skin.
• Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is amazing for treating dry winter skin. Aloe is best known for helping to prevent irritation, heal cold sores, and treat eczema and psoriasis.
• Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is another key ingredient you should look for in winter skin products. Coconut oil is well known for healing dry skin, soothing irritation and eliminating breakouts.

Top Products from Antipodes for Winter Skincare

At Antipodes, we use a number of New Zealand-specific natural, healthy ingredients to combat winter’s effect on skin. Our super-moisturising duo of Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream and Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream are useful tools to have in your arsenal, helping your skin look its beautiful best at either end of the day.

Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream is a light yet intensive hydrating moisturiser that feels wonderfully fresh and alive on your face. Its two key ingredients, nutrient-rich avocado oil and world-famous antibacterial New Zealand manuka honey, will both give your skin a moisture-boost. Also included is revolutionary antioxidant extract compound Vinanza® Grape, which has been clinically shown to help improve elasticity and firmness in the skin.

And there’s no better way to nourish your skin than with the superior restorative qualities of 100% pure avocado oil. Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream delivers nature’s nurture by night for beautiful skin by day. Its rich formulation, which also contains nutrient-rich avocado oil, moisturising manuka honey and revolutionary antioxidant Vinanza® Grape, has been scientifically shown to stimulate synthesis of collagen production in human cells by up to 92%. This facial night cream also features calendula oil from marigold petals, highly regarded throughout history for its healing and repairing properties.

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Written by Elizabeth Barbalich, Antipodes’ Founder and Company Director