There’s nothing quite like cranking up the central heating when the temperature drops outside. But while staying toasty is non-negotiable in winter, my skin doesn’t always agree. Every year, without fail, my normally balanced complexion has a seasonal meltdown – cue redness, irritation and patches of perioral dermatitis around my mouth. And, of course, the odd blemish for good measure.

As someone who tests skincare for a living, I initially thought my product choices, diet, hydration levels or even hormones were to blame. But after years of trial and error, I’ve realised the culprit is far more straightforward: central heating.

“The use of central heating in the winter causes the air to become less humid and dry, which causes the skin’s moisture to evaporate swiftly from the surface,” explains Rhysa Phommachanh, dermatologist at Landys Chemist. “This causes the skin’s top layer to lose its natural oils and moisture, resulting in dryness and dehydration.”

If your skin feels tight, flaky, or uncharacteristically sensitive in the colder months, it’s likely your heating could play a role. Think of it like sitting next to a hairdryer on full blast – great for warmth, not so great for keeping your skin hydrated.

Luckily, years of battling winter skin woes (and a very well-stocked beauty cupboard) have helped me create a failsafe skincare routine that keeps central heating-induced dryness at bay. Here’s what works for me…

“I’m a beauty editor, and here’s my failsafe skincare routine for beating central-heating induced dryness”