Autumn is a bittersweet time of year for South Africans. While some of us can’t bear the thought of summer coming to an end, others welcome the cooler weather and cosy nights in front of the fire.
As the days get shorter and the temperature decreases, now is a good time to start preparing our skin, hair and bodies for winter. Putting in the effort now means you’ll be less likely to suffer from dryness and dehydration when the colder weather sets in.
Here’s how to get through the season transition and prep for a healthy – and hydrated! – winter.
Hydration is key
When winter hits, most of us struggle with dehydration. We generally drink less water during winter, and the extra cups of warm tea and coffee mean our caffeine intake increases. This means less hydration for our vital organs, skin, and hair. Try to drink as much water as possible, and opt for caffeine-free herbal teas to keep you warm and hydrated.
Unfortunately, your skin and hair also take a dip during winter. When temperatures decrease, so does the humidity (the moisture content in the air). Dry air acts like a sponge, actively drawing moisture from the top layer of our skin, leading to trans epidermal water loss (dehydration).
The best way to protect your skin from this change is to ensure its moisture levels are adequate going into winter, and then continue to hydrate it as much as possible every day throughout the colder months.
Ingredients to look out for include hyaluronic acid (it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, so it’s great for locking moisture into your skin), ceramides (natural lipids that act as the “mortar” between skin cells, forming a protective barrier), and shea butter (a highly-moisturising, nutrient-rich fat extracted from nuts).
SKNLogic Hydrating Serum is a great first step in your facial skincare regimen. It contains hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E, argan oil and olive oil to draw (and retain) moisture in the skin, soften and support the skin’s plumpness and elasticity. Follow with a deeply nourishing moisturiser such as SKNLogic Moist Supreme, a moisture-replenishing day and night cream designed to hydrate and moisturise while offering gentle skin tightening to minimise the signs of ageing.
It’s not just facial skin that requires extra TLC during winter – your body, particularly drier areas like legs, knees, and elbows, require extra moisture to keep them soft and smooth. Swap out harsh soaps or shower gels for creamier body washes that don’t strip the skin’s moisture. We recommend The Bodylab Science Glycolic Complex Shower Cream, which contains glycolic acid to exfoliate the skin and has a creamy formulation that leaves it softer, brighter, and more even-toned.
Replace your lighter body lotions or gels with thicker butters, creams, or oils to ensure enough moisture penetrates the skin. The new Bodylab Science Tissue Oil Complex Body Oil is filled with nourishing oils and plant extracts, designed to lock in moisture and leave skin feeling silky and looking radiant.
Sadly, dehydration is not limited to our skin. Dry air also pulls moisture from the hair shaft, a process known as moisture diffusion. Limit moisture loss by washing your hair with lukewarm (not hot!) water, patting it dry (don’t rub it vigorously with a towel), and sleeping with a silk bonnet or on a silk pillowcase.
In terms of products, look out for hair care that contains moisturising ingredients such as argan oil, shea butter, coconut oil, glycerine and Provitamin B5. Curly and textured hair is particularly prone to dryness because the oil produced by our scalp has difficulty travelling down curly strands.
When it comes to curly and coily hair types, avoid harsh shampoos that strip the hair and scalp of oil. Cleanse with a gentle product like Naturally Africa Conditioning Shampoo, which has a sulphate-free formula rich in nourishing sunflower oil, jojoba esters and vegetable proteins. For a hydrated scalp and softer curls, apply Naturally Africa Hair & Scalp Oil, a non-greasy, lightweight formula of castor oil, tea tree oil and vitamin E that moisturises the scalp, increases shine and helps to prevent breakage.
For straight hair that’s dry or gets split ends, try the Two Oceans Argan range, which utilises nourishing argan oil to strengthen hair and protect it from dryness and damage. For a basic routine, wash your hair with the Argan Oil Intensive Care Shampoo, and follow with the Conditioner. This duo gently hydrates and softens hair with 90% naturally derived ingredients and a vegan formula. For an added moisture boost, apply the Argan Oil Intense Conditioning Mask once or twice a week and allow it to work its magic for around ten minutes. Rich in vitamins, argan oil and antioxidants, it improves the texture and appearance of dry or damaged hair.
Don’t forget sun protection
If you’re not already applying SPF all year round, now is the time to change that. The sun’s UVA rays (the ones responsible for damaging our skin cells at a DNA level and ageing us) damage our skin all year, even during winter. If your skin falls within the Fitzpatrick 4-6 category, you will love DermaFix’s new Tinted SPF Dark, a facial sunscreen with a beautifully balanced shade created for tanned and deeper skin tones. A mineral formula, it utilises zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to protect the skin, while offering light coverage.
Prepare your home
It might not seem obvious, but preparing your home for winter goes a long way in preserving your physical and mental health. In winter, prolonged rain and very little sun can cause areas of the home to become damp or musty. You might also notice more soap scum in the bathroom. The key is to find hardworking, effective products that are safe to inhale and don’t pose dangers to children or pets.
Earthsap Bathroom Cleaner is a fantastic all-purpose product that disinfects and cleans all bathroom surfaces, including tiles, bathtubs, showers and sinks, without the inclusion of harsh chemicals. Instead, it contains coconut extract, microbes and tea tree essential oil to keep your bathroom sparkling. For more stubborn dirt, try Earthsap Cream Scrub, which effectively removes mould and mildew without leaving behind a harmful residue.
A great way to lift your spirits on a dark, gloomy day is to incorporate aromatherapy into your home. From fragrant candles to diffusers and burners, it’s easy to obtain the benefits of aromatherapy while enjoying a beautifully fragrant home.
The SOiL Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser disperses essential oils into the air via a fine mist, fragrancing the room and helping you reap the benefits of your chosen oils. For winter, we recommend warm or refreshing essential oils, such as SOiL
Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil, Ginger Essential Oil, or Eucalyptus Essential Oil.
You could also use one of SOiL’s blended oils, such as Immunity, which is a great option for winter when we’re more vulnerable to the sniffles.
Candles are a wonderful option for creating ambience while fragrancing your home, especially around the dinner table. Stay away from brands that produce paraffin wax candles, which may release harmful toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene when burned. Instead, opt for a candle made – and fragranced – with quality natural ingredients. Soylites Classic Soy Candles are safe to use and beautifully scented, with a burning time of around 50 hours. For winter, we recommend the Decadence Tumbler Candle (with vanilla and ylang ylang) and the Wisdom Tumbler Candle (with oud and patchouli). These warm fragrance notes are ideal for the colder weather.
With a little bit of prep, the transition from autumn to winter can be seamless. Here’s to a healthy (and hydrated!) Winter 2026.
