During the colder months, we spend more time indoors with the central heating running full blast. While it keeps us warm, heated indoor environments can take a serious toll on your skin and without you even knowing. From dryness and flakiness to redness and premature ageing, central heating can wreak havoc and if you spot the early signs, there are a few solutions you can try to tackle it.

The good news? Simple adjustments to your skincare routine, including the use of SPF, even indoors, can help protect your skin and restore its natural barrier.

What Central Heating Does to Your Skin

The Science Behind Dry Indoor Air

Central heating lowers indoor humidity, which means the air around you is much drier. This lack of moisture can strip your skin of its natural hydration, leaving it feeling tight, flaky, and uncomfortable. Dehydration in your skin is the last thing we want!

Common Skin Issues Caused by Central Heating

1. Dryness and Flakiness: The most immediate effect, leaving skin rough and patchy.
2. Redness and Irritation: Sensitive skin can become inflamed and itchy.
3. Premature Ageing: Prolonged dryness can accelerate fine lines, wrinkles, and dullness.

How Central Heating Makes Your Skin More Vulnerable

Heated indoor environments not only dry out your skin but also weaken your skin barrier. A compromised barrier leaves you more susceptible to environmental aggressors, such as UV rays. Even brief exposure to sunlight through windows can damage unprotected skin.

The Surprising Role of SPF Indoors

SPF Isn’t Just for Sunny Days

Many people assume SPF is only necessary outdoors and on sunny days. However, UVA and UVB rays can penetrate windows, meaning your skin can still suffer sun damage indoors. UVB are shorter waves which contribute towards sunburn damage, whereas UVA rays are longer and can penetrate deeper into the skin’s service and are attributed towards signs of ageing and more serious skin concerns. Which is why SPF indoors is still so important!

Some studies even suggest prolonged exposure to artificial lighting, like fluorescent and LED lights, may contribute to skin stress over time.

How SPF Helps Maintain Skin Barrier

Using SPF daily protects your weakened skin barrier from UV damage and prevents premature ageing, irritation, and hyperpigmentation. It’s especially important during winter when dryness makes skin more sensitive.

Additional Skincare Tips for Heated Environments

• Hydration is Key: Use moisturisers and serums with hyaluronic acid or ceramides to help restore moisture and boost the skin barrier.
• Masks Help: As well as weekly treat for your skin, use nourishing cream masks to help improve hydration levels in your skin
• Gentle Cleansing: Avoid harsh soaps, acids and long, hot showers that strip oils.

Your Winter Skincare Routine

For your morning skincare routine, start with a gentle cream cleanse to help lift away any residue and refresh your skin. Next opt for one of our facial SPFs, with a variety of textures, SPF factors and added benefits to choose from. You apply our SPF onto clean skin because of our unique lamellar technology that binds to the skin for long-lasting protection. If you apply products before our SPF, this will create a barrier that’ll prevent the sun protection from working as effectively. You can then follow with a hydrating serum and moisturiser to really add a boost of moisture to dry winter skin!

Then your evening routine should include a double cleanse to really help remove makeup, oils and daily residue from your skin. You can try an overnight mask at this stage or go straight to a barrier-repair moisturiser to help plump and restore your skin.

Central heating may make your home warm and cosy, but it can leave your skin dry, irritated, and vulnerable. Protect your skin barrier with hydration and daily SPF, even when you’re just indoors, and adopt a winter skincare routine designed for low-humidity environments. With a few simple adjustments, you can enjoy warmth without sacrificing healthy, glowing skin.