Alpine Glow: A Peak Performance Skincare Regimen to Keep a Slope Glow.
Skiing is a tonic for the soul, and a test for skin. You thought you were safe after the summer months, but no. The thin alpine air, icy winds and snow actually reflects as much as 80% of UV radiation which means your skin, hands and hair are taking double-duty exposure. Colder temperatures that strip moisture, plus intensified UV that accelerates photo-ageing and sunburn. Protecting and repairing comes down to a simple philosophy: barrier first, armour second, repair third. (Yes: SPF on snowy slopes is as non-negotiable as goggles.)
Winter Glow is achievable
Here is a luxe, travel-ready routine that will cover those cold needs….
Face: A Slope-Proof Layering Plan
Why it matters: cold + wind strip lipids, while reflected UV fries collagen. Think hydration-heavy, barrier-repair ingredients and high-performance SPF.
Serums
•Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum: powerful multi-weight hyaluronic boost to plump and buffer moisture loss after a day in the wind.
•Vintner’s Daughter Active Treatment Essence (niche, botanical-rich) restorative, antioxidant-forward essence to prep skin for richer creams.
Moisturisers
•Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, reparative, deeply nourishing day/night cream that supports skin regeneration (ideal for evening recovery after wind-burned skin).
•La Mer (choose a rich cream or The Regenerating Collection) iconic emollient luxury for immediate comfort and smoothing; great for very dry conditions.
SPF (apply every morning and reapply mid-day on the slopes)
•Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen / PLAY Everyday Lotion weightless, non-greasy options from Sephora (Unseen is brilliant as a primer under makeup; PLAY is robust for face & body). Perfect for reapplication rituals between runs.
•La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF50+ (stick or fluid) dermatological protection in compact formats for noses, cheeks and ears; the stick is a ski-bag essential.
Cleansers
•Omorovicza Cleansing Foam gentle, non-stripping morning cleanse that removes grime without sacrificing lipids.
•Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser a deeper clean option to remove sunscreen and makeup after a long day on the mountain.
When to use & how
•AM: gentle cleanse → hyaluronic/essence → rich cream → SPF (apply 20–30 minutes before heading out).
•Mid-day: reapply SPF (stick to exposed areas), lip balm with SPF, goggles/hat.
•PM: double-cleanse if you’ve been wearing heavy SPF → repair serum → rich cream. Repeat nightly for barrier repair.
Hands: The Overlooked Luxury Detail
Hands show winter damage first: constant glove friction, hand-washing and chill dry the skin and accelerate pigmentation.
Serums / Treatments
•Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment regenerative, rich hand treatment designed specifically to restore over-worked hands.
•La Mer The Hand Treatment lavish, intensely conditioning formula for instant comfort and tone evening. (Keep one in your après-ski bag.)
Moisturisers
•Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve thick, occlusive salve for immediate barrier repair (perfect overnight under cotton gloves).
•Omorovicza Youthful Hands antioxidant-rich cream to soothe, even tone and protect against environmental aggressors.
SPF
•La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF50+ stick (or small lotion) use on the backs of hands and any exposed skin before and during the day; sticks are mess-free for ski pockets.
•Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion SPF50 a fast-absorbing face & body lotion you can sweep over hands and the chest/neck area before hitting the slopes.
Cleansers (hand-care equivalents)
•Gentle, fragrance-free hand wash (pick a travel size from Kiehl’s or Aesop in the hotel bath). Follow every wash with a hand serum then a salve. (See Kiehl’s hand salve above.)
Pro tip: keep a small tube of hand treatment in your jacket pocket and use it between lifts cold constricts circulation and a quick layer of hand salve will prevent chapping.
Hair: Protect, Repair, Prevent Colour Fade
Sun, wind and dry air make hair thirsty and brittle. Treat like luxe fabric: shield first, repair second.
Serums / oils
•Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil or leave-in repair oils lightweight oils that add slip and shield against wind abrasion. (Oribe’s repair range is stocked at Selfridges.)
•Sachajuan Leave-in treatments / Ocean Silk treatments moisture + shine without weight; excellent for frizz control after damp, salt-air exposure.
Moisturisers / masks (leave-ins & intensive care)
•Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Mask or a reparative mask from Kérastase/Augustinus Bader range available at Harrods/Selfridges one deep mask after the slopes repairs cuticle micro-damage.
SPF / UV protection for hair
•Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil a water-resistant UV-defence mist for hair and scalp; invaluable on bright mountain days. (Aveda’s UV mist forms an invisible screen and conditions simultaneously.)
•Sachajuan / Oribe also offer heat and UV protectant styling mists available at Selfridges and Harrods.
Cleansers (shampoos)
•Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo — a luxurious repair shampoo to cleanse without stripping essential oils after sunscreen, salt or chlorine exposure.
•Sachajuan Shampoo good daily option to maintain moisture balance and detangle after wearing hats and helmets.
Routine tip: mist UV protector on dry hair before heading out, tie hair back to reduce wind breakage, and use a weekly deep mask (post-ski) to restore softness
Travel, rituals and packing checklist
•Essentials to pack: a water-resistant SPF (face + body), SPF stick for sensitive points (nose/ears), a reparative day cream, a heavy night cream, one hydrating serum, a rich hand treatment, oil/leave-in for hair, a deep mask and a gentle cleanser. (Products mentioned above are stocked across Sephora, Space NK, Selfridges and Harrods pick travel sizes where possible.)
•On-the-slope rule: reapply SPF every 90–120 minutes (or after sweating), protect eyes with true UV goggles, and prioritise barrier repair the evening after exposure. (Snow doubles your UV dose; altitude increases it.)