by Metropol | July 8, 2026 8:33 am
Canterbury’s crisp winter mornings can leave the skin feeling dry, but with ‘skinmalism’ making a comeback, it’s time to concentrate on the skin barrier this frosty season.
According to appearance medicine nurse Katie McIndoe from Transform Clinic in Merivale, effective winter skincare begins with understanding the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin.
“Winter skin isn’t always dry skin,” explains Katie. “Dehydrated skin is lacking water, whereas dry skin is characterised by reduced oil production.”
She says that dehydrated skin benefits from ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, which helps lock moisture into the skin. In contrast, dry skin often requires additional lipid-rich ingredients to replenish oils and strengthen barrier function.
Supportive ingredients help repair, hydrate, and maintain your skin barrier. Once your skin has formed a healthy skin barrier, active ingredients can be introduced to target specific skin concerns such as pigmentation, redness, or fine lines. Katie recommends keeping skincare routines simple and focusing on ingredients supported by scientific evidence, rather than relying on excessive or complex product regimens.
Katie’s advice for this winter? Her top 3 tips are:
1. Work out what your skin is lacking. Switch to a gentler cleanser that won’t strip natural oils, opt for a richer moisturiser.
2. Drink plenty of water, and increase your intake of omega-3 fats.
3. Stick with a simple skincare routine to strengthen and support the skin barrier, preventing seasonal moisture loss.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/winter-skin-reset/
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