As soon as the heating goes on and the coats come out, a lot of us notice the same thing: skin that feels tight, itchy or just a bit rough. Cold weather is hard on skin, and that includes your most intimate skin. The good news is a few small swaps to how you cleanse can make a real difference to how comfortable you feel all winter.
Why colder weather dries out your skin
Cold air holds less moisture than warm air, and central heating dries the air indoors even further. Add long, hot showers (tempting when it's freezing out) and harsh soaps, and your skin loses the natural oils that help keep moisture locked in.
Your skin barrier is a protective layer that keeps hydration in and irritants out. When it's low on those natural lipids, water escapes more easily, and that's when you start to feel tightness, flaking or itchiness. Skin that's already on the drier side, including skin going through hormonal changes like perimenopause and menopause, tends to feel it most.
Cleanse without stripping
Winter is the time to be gentler with how you clean. A few easy wins:
- Turn the shower temperature down a notch - warm, not hot
- Skip soap and harsh foaming washes that strip skin's natural oils
- Pat (don't rub) skin dry and moisturise while it's still a little damp
- Between showers, refresh with something that hydrates rather than dries - not a single-use wipe
Why our Fresh Cotton range is made for winter
Our Hydrating Fresh Cotton range was created for dry skin. Each formula is blended with Omega 3 & 6, fatty acids that work together to protect against dryness and deeply hydrate, alongside our THERMA-BIOME+™ complex of thermal water, prebiotics and vitamins to strengthen, nourish and protect your skin barrier. So you get clean and comfortable, not clean and tight.
It's pH-balanced and microbiome-friendly, so it's gentle enough for everywhere - yes, including your vulva - with a soft, cosy scent of fresh cotton and freshly washed linen.
The Hydrating Fresh Cotton range
Shop Fresh CottonHydrate while you refresh, on the go
Winter days still come with sweaty commutes, overheated offices, gym sessions and periods. Our Hydrating Everywhere Spray-To-Wipe™ is a pocket-sized, no-rinse cleanse you can use anywhere: spritz onto skin or a piece of tissue to wipe away sweat and odour-causing bacteria. Unlike many single-use wipes, which can leave skin feeling dry, it cleanses with Omega 3 & 6 so skin is left hydrated, not stripped.
Our new Forever Fresh 200 Wipes Bundle gives you two 30ml bottles (that's 200 wipes) for less than buying them separately. Keep one in your bag and one at your desk, in the car or in your gym kit, so you're never caught short this winter.
Forever Fresh 200 Wipes Bundle - Hydrating Fresh Cotton
Shop nowWhen you'll be glad you packed it
- Overheated offices and packed trains - a quick refresh without a trip home
- Winter workouts - freshen up post-gym when you don't have time to shower
- Your period - feel clean and comfortable, wherever you are
- Hot flushes and night sweats - keep a bottle by the bed to freshen up
- Winter getaways and long journeys - land feeling fresh, not crumpled
Kind to skin in every season
Everything we make is developed with dermatologists and gynaecologists, made with only natural and necessary ingredients, and pH and microbiome-balanced. So whatever the weather's doing, staying fresh never has to come at the expense of comfortable, hydrated skin.
If dryness, itching or irritation doesn't settle, or you notice any changes in your intimate skin, it's always worth checking in with your GP or doctor.
