All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Picture this: you’re about to embark on a ski trip, and you can’t wait to breathe in that fresh mountain air, eat delicious fondue, and soak up the joys of apres-ski spa delights. When it’s time to pack your suitcase, I’m sure you’re fully prepped with salopettes and thermals, but have you spared a thought for your beauty kit? I thought not.
Skiing – or any prolonged exposure in alpine conditions – subjects your body to a mix of freezing temperatures, piercing sun and impenetrable winds that can cause serious damage to your skin, hair and more. With expert advice and helpful products, this is your indispensable beauty guide to skiing – it has everything you’ll need to protect yourself and make the most of your trip.
The best sun protection for skiing
SPF should never be an afterthought on a ski trip, but often it is. There’s a high risk of sunburn and skin damage when skiing outdoors because the atmosphere is thinner in higher altitudes and alpine regions, so more UV can reach our skin. Snow is highly reflective of UV, too: “This can really increase your chances of developing skin cancer during the winter,” says Dr Paul Banwell of The Banwell Clinic, founder and former Head of The Melanoma and Skin Cancer Unit in East Grinstead.
So what should you be doing? “Even if it’s a cloudy day on the slopes, you still need sunscreen. Apply it to everything that’s being exposed to the sun, including the underside of your chin, because UV rays reflect off the snow,” he adds. Pay attention to the nose, lips and scalp, too, as these are often very exposed to the sun without us realising it. “There has been an increase in skin cancer around the eyes. Most people don’t think to put sunscreen there, but the skin on the eyelid is very thin and easily damaged by sun exposure, even in winter. It’s really important to apply sunblock around the eyes and on the eyelids, as well as wearing proper ski goggles that offer more protection than normal sunglasses,” he cautions.
When it comes to reapplication, we’re not doing enough. One study showed that only around half of winter sports fans wore sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, and a mere fifth of those reapplied their sunscreen after two hours. “Apply sunscreen before you bundle up, as you will likely remove your goggles and helmet when you take a break in the sunshine at lunchtime,” he says. And those natural breaks in activity serve as the ideal reminders to reapply your SPF several times a day.
What SPF should you pick? Dr Anjali Mahto, dermatologist and founder of Self London clinic, says: “A broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 or above is essential to shield your skin from the UV above and the sun’s reflection on the snow.” She recommends Heliocare 360 Oil-Free Gel, which works brilliantly for oily and combination skin types. Those with a drier skin type might like La Prairie Cellular Swiss UV Protection Veil, which is packed with hydration and antioxidants but doesn’t feel heavy.
Those with sensitive skin should reach for La Roche-Posay UVMune 400 SPF. It offers high protection, is sweat resistant and is designed for sensitive skin with added soothing thermal water. If you’re looking to also protect from melasma or pigmentation, then try Garnier Vitamin C Daily UV, which combines SPF50+ with Vitamin C, known for its efficacy in boosting brightness. The glow version also imparts a pearly finish to the skin, which is helpful as our sebum production decreases and skin cell turnover slows in harsh climates, so you might want a little extra glow.
To make topping up your SPF a breeze, invest in a few different formulations that are easy and enjoyable to use. A spray SPF like Sensai Silky Bronze Cooling Protective Suncare Spray SPF 50 or Ultra Violette Preen Screen are both ideal to spritz on your skin each time you take a ski break. Make touch-ups easy with a SPF stick, like Shiseido Clear Suncare Stick SPF50, which helps to prevent UV damage and stops pollutants from adhering to the skin – it’s also great for scalps and tricky areas like the ears and eyelids, too. You’ll want to keep a little SPF lip balm with you as that area can burn easily. Mecca Cosmetica Lip De-Luscious SPF20 is a favourite of mine because it nourishes, lasts a long time on the lips and adds a beautiful pearlised shine as it protects. For a little colour, try Lanolips Tinted SPF 30 balm in rhubarb, which adds an extra hint of deep pink, and crucially, neither has that off-putting SPF aftertaste.
The best moisturisers for skiing
Our skin takes a real hit in aggressive climates, as aesthetic doctor and founder of the No Filter Clinic Dr Sindhu Siddiqi explains: “The skin barrier is the outermost layer of the skin, and it acts as a protective shield, preventing water loss and blocking harmful substances like bacteria and environmental irritants.” Cold temperatures, dry weather, central heating, wind and sun exposure can all disrupt the skin’s barrier, causing increased water loss and dysfunction. “This leads to dryness and inflammation, as your body struggles to fight irritants and bacteria without its natural armour,” she adds.
In short, your at-home routine probably won’t cut it on the slopes. “Prioritise skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to hydrate, strengthen the skin barrier and prevent water loss – especially if you have very dry skin or suffer from eczema or psoriasis,” Dr Siddiqui says. Other ingredients such as “niacinamide, propolis and probiotics help the healing mechanisms of the skin,” and you may want to go easy on the exfoliator too; you’re better off increasing your hydration levels instead.
You can start by quaffing water, of course. But, like putting on your base layers before your ski jacket, your first step is a hydrating, calming serum like VicoSkin Screen Star, which is instantly soothing for chapped skin, plus it boosts hydration and helps the skin adapt to extreme environments. Follow this with a heavier moisturiser that can cope with the climate, like Dr Sam Bunting Flawless Moisturiser Intense, which is ideal for sensitive and redness-prone skin and contains hydrating ingredients, plus antioxidants designed to fight UV. For a protective boost as you moisturise, SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced targets glycation or excess sugars in the skin, which causes dullness and affects cellular function – if you’re planning on hitting the chocolate fondue hard (guilty), you might want to invest in it. If you’re worried about sun spots, then Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Brilliance Soft Cream uses protective vitamin C to help with pigmentation, plus it sinks in fast and leaves your skin feeling like a freshly picked peach – it makes a beautiful base for make-up too, should you be wearing any.
- Places to Stay33 amazing Airbnbs with pools you’ll never want to leave
- Style & CultureThe best places to go for New Years
When it comes to your night-time routine, it’s worth picking heavier formulations than you might typically. “Since the air is often dry in mountainous regions, incorporating a slightly richer hydrating night cream to replenish your skin while you sleep can be helpful,’ says Dr Mahto. If you’re worried about your luggage limit, then a multi-purpose cream that helps repair the skin’s barrier and works for both day and night is Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream. Likewise, Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturising Cream is particularly good for eczema-prone skin due to the reparative ceramides and can be worn any time of the day. You could also layer these on top of a facial oil that sinks in easily and has a cocktail of skin-repairing lipids, like Augustinus Bader The Face Oil. If you’re a regular retinol user, it could be worth having a week off; that may be too aggressive for the climate and could cause irritation.
It’s easily neglected, both home and away, but the skin on your body also needs extra care in these temperatures, so you could layer a base oil like Gisou, which uses honey and botanical oils to lock in moisture post-shower, followed by a heavier cream like The Body Shop Shea Body Butter. If your skin is prone to dryness, which may be exacerbated by the climate, then a tub of Cerave Moisturising Cream Pot is an excellent choice.
The best cleansers for skiing
With all this extra skincare and SPF, it’s tempting to think you need a really intensive cleanser, but you don’t. “In these extreme climates, it’s best to use a gentle cleanser, ideally cream-based, and avoid hot water, which can dry the skin further,” Dr Siddiqi recommends. One of the best I’ve tried is Reome Three Suns Balm Cleanser, a light cream balm that cleanses beautifully and harnesses a smart lipid complex to lock in moisture as it does so. If you’re looking for a cleanser with serious waterproof mascara removing prowess, then Clinique Take Off The Day is an undisputed classic.
Although it’s wise to scale back on acids and retinoids, “mild acids such as PHA and lactic acid are still helpful in removing dead skin and improving absorption of moisturisers and barrier repair creams,” Dr Siddiqi says. A gentle peeling mask like Dr David Jack’s Blue Peel is ideal for cooler climes as it gently exfoliates and infuses the skin with as much moisture as possible by way of ceramides, vitamins and lipids. A soothing mask like Chanel Camellia Repair Mask is also brilliant for an extra boost of hydration and calms that tight skin feeling you get in cold weather. If you’re a fan of sheet masks, then maximise the hyaluronic acid power by picking Beauty Pie – these are every bit as moisture-quenching as they sound.
It’s easy to forget our lips, hands and feet when doing our beauty routines, let alone on the slopes. But Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask and Aerin Lip Conditioner both help soothe parched lips overnight. If your feet are really dry, then a foot cream with urea like Flexitol 25% Urea Heel Balm can help soften and exfoliate that hard skin. A soothing salve like C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve is a handy wonder balm that works for anywhere that you need a little moisture on the go.
- Places to Stay33 amazing Airbnbs with pools you’ll never want to leave
- Style & CultureThe best places to go for New Years
If your woes are more ache-related than dry skin, then soothing, magnesium-enriched baths are your best friend. Magnesium helps to relieve muscle soreness, so you could pack ESPA Fitness Bath Salts, which also have skin-soothing oatmeal and arnica to help reduce inflammation, or apply Better You Magnesium Gel directly to where you really need the tension-relieving the most.
Once back home, Jasmina Vico, Skin Health and Laser Expert and founder of Vico Skin, recommends booking in to see your aesthetician to help with healing your skin’s barrier and pigmentation issues: “It’s important to wait at least two weeks after skiing – particularly if you have a tan – to treat any pigmentation. This can be done with IPL and lasers, and Exosome therapy can also help restore the skin barrier, rejuvenate, strengthen and repair the skin,” she adds.
The best haircare for skiing
As temperatures fall, the air gets drier, leaving your hair parched and brittle. It’s worth hitting the conditioning masks pretty hard in the weeks before your trip to help strengthen the hair in preparation. “On the slopes, the easiest way to protect your hair is to layer nourishing products to boost moisture and cover your hair with a hat or scarf,” says hairstylist Sam McKnight MBE.
Your hair can suffer in the warmth, too. “When you’re outside in cold weather and then in heated environments, this temperature change can cause damage to your hair,” explains Adam Reed, hair stylist and editorial ambassador at L’Oreal Professionnel. Rehydrating the hair and then maintaining this level of hydration is crucial. A serum or oil like Arkive The Good Habit Hybrid oil applied to the hair before you dry it helps seal in moisture, while a light hair moisturiser like Sam McKnight Happy Endings Nourishing Balm is ideal for keeping on you during the day when it starts to feel dry and it comes in a mini size which is perfect for the slopes. Reed also has a genius hack to multitask with masks when you ski. “Because your hair isn’t necessarily on show, use this time to really nurture your hair, with a nourishing hair mask and then wear a cotton turban underneath your ski helmet or hat so that that can really get to work.” Kerastase Premiere Anti Breakage Repair Filler Mask is ultra-rich, delivers a conditioning boost, and helps reduce breakage.
When it comes to slope-worthy hairstyles, McKnight advises wearing your hair in a protective style rather than down: “It helps keep your hair out of the UV rays and your face, so braid it or slick it back and shape it into a sleek twist,” he adds. Whatever style you pick, using hair protection like the brilliant L’Oreal Professionnel Metal Detox Leave In Cream is essential. It helps protect against UV damage, provides 72 hours of hydration and helps mitigate the effects of brushing and heat styling. It’s also worth knowing that your ski gear might be having an impact on your hair too: “If you’re wearing hats and protective headgear this can create tension on the hair and lead to tangling and breakage, “says Louis Byrne, hair stylist and editorial artist for L’Oreal Professionnel. So when you’re tying it up, always use hair-friendly ties like Slip Pure Silk Skinny Scrunchies to ensure the hair doesn’t pull too tightly or snag.
How to look after your diet while skiing
Of course, staying hydrated with at least two litres of water a day is beneficial to your health whether you’re snowbound or not – but skiing is sweaty work, even though you might not notice it, so you might need to increase your water intake accordingly. You could also add an electrolyte supplement like Humantra to help replenish the minerals you’ve lost through sweating so much.
- Places to Stay33 amazing Airbnbs with pools you’ll never want to leave
- Style & CultureThe best places to go for New Years
The skiing diet often revolves around cheese, bread, and perhaps some chocolate for balance, but Sonia Wahlroos, AKA the Nordic Nutritionist says that we need to consider our food intake more seriously when we’re ski-bound. What does that look like? “Foods such as red meat, chicken, fish, lentils, beans and leafy greens are essential for iron and energy. Vitamin C can help with iron absorption, so consider pairing these foods with vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables like oranges, strawberries, bell peppers and broccoli,” she says. It’s easy to feel sluggish after big meals when skiing; to avoid this, she recommends having smaller meals, but more often.
If you’re prone to muscle cramps after a day on the slopes, then you might want to up your intake of “potassium-rich foods like bananas, oranges, potatoes (with the skin), and yoghurt and take it easy with your alcohol and caffeine, especially in the first few days of acclimatisation to reduce the risk of dehydration.” While the last part might feel a little tricky to bear, the hack that Wahlroos advises is to match each alcoholic drink with a large glass of water.
Perhaps one of the most important and least-known ski-wellness tips you need to know is upping your vitamin D when you’re on the slopes. “Vitamin D3 is the best supplement – whether in spray, dropper or tablet form – and is the one I recommend my patients take daily. It can also help create calcium and protect against fractures and osteoporosis.” Certainly one for the accident-prone, then.