Essential items you should carry with you this winter

If you’re hitting the outdoors this winter you’ll want to be dressed for the occasion. Be prepared for heavy rain and potential snowfall (depending on where you’re going), which means carrying a waterproof jacket (preferably insulated), thermals, hats, gloves (especially touchscreen gloves so you can still snap those frosty selfies), and a scarf.  Layering up firstly in light thermals and building upon that with sweaters and coats will allow you to adjust your body temperature accordingly.

If you’re going hiking, your choice of boots will be very important. You’ll want to opt for shoes that support your ankles when going downhill and have a good grip on slippery or uneven terrain. If you haven’t had enough time to break in your boots beforehand, COMPEED® has got you covered. Pack some of our blister plasters and an Anti Blister Stick in your backpack so that as soon as you feel any chaffing or blisters forming, you can take preventative measures.

You’ll want to also bring a change of socks with you in case the ones you have on get damp or soaked through. If this does happen your feet and toes will get cold and stiff very quickly so definitely bring a few extra pairs.

Even if you do bring gloves with you (and we recommend you certainly do!), it doesn’t hurt to also carry some hand warmers as well. If your gloves have space, it’s a nice treat to tuck them in with your hand. But hand warmers are super versatile as you can really use them to warm up any cold part of your body.

Everybody seems to be coughing and sneezing all over the place this time of year. If you’re going abroad, be prepared for the worst. The recirculated air in aeroplanes and change of atmosphere in a different country can mess with your immune system.

Although in most countries there are pharmacies on every corner, it’s still a good idea to travel prepared just in case. So pack your lozenges, cough syrup, sinus relief and so forth.

If you’re staying at home but enjoy going for wintery walks, the harsh dry air can trigger bad coughing fits, so carrying a bottle of water with you or some cough lozenges will help to nip this in the bud without making too much of a public scene.

Winter skincare is essential. The cold weather can be so cruel to our face, lips, hands, and even our hair.

Lip balm should be your best friend. But be sure to avoid those with irritating ingredients like flavouring, eucalyptus and menthol. Instead, look out for products with ingredients like shea butter, mineral oil and ceramides. If your lips are especially dry or cracked, then your best bet is to go for a petroleum jelly, which will seal in the moisture on your lips for longer.

In the same way a lip balm works, you’ll want to use a moisturiser that retains the moisture in your skin. These can include facial moisturisers, hand creams and body lotions. Choose a cream that is thick like shea butter, which will deeply moisturise. It’s a good idea to apply your moisturisers at night before bed so that they can work their magic undisturbed while you sleep.

Even though it may be winter, your skin can still get sunburned – and nothing is worse than dry, cracked and sunburnt skin. So slather on a high SPF lotion and lip balm before you go outside.

Some people are prone to triggers of cold sore outbreaks caused by changes to the weather. The dry, cold winter air, which can cause your lips to get chapped, makes them more vulnerable to a cold sore outbreak.

Without any treatment, cold sores typically clear up on their own in about 10 days. But there are some ways to make that time pass by a little more comfortably.

Your pharmacist can recommend various creams to ease the pain and irritation, antiviral creams that accelerate the healing process, as well as cold sore patches (like the COMPEED® Cold Sore Discreet Healing patch) that protect the skin while it heals.

The patches start to work from the first sign of a cold sore and helps your body’s natural healing process. They contain hydrocolloid active gel technology, which creates the optimal germ-free healing environment to help prevent the scab forming and the cold sore from spreading. The patch is very discreet and remains in place for up to 12 hours. Head to our YouTube page to find out more about applying COMPEED® cold sore patches.

Just like skin, hair needs protection from the cold too. Wearing a hat outside will help to prevent the elements drying out your hair, which makes it more prone to breakage.

It might seem obvious not to leave the house with wet hair in winter as that’ll add to how cold you feel, but wet hair is also more vulnerable to damage, as it can freeze and break.

Use a deep conditioner\hair mask weekly or an oil treatment on the ends of your hair to restore moisture.

If you’re staying snug at home this holiday season, there are still some things that you can keep to hand to ensure maximum comfort.

The temperature in our homes might be colder than usual with a lot of people trying not to turn their heating on due to energy price increases. So when you make your morning coffee or tea, why not use a Thermos instead of a mug, which will keep your drink hotter for so much longer in the cold air.

Whether or not you’re turning your heating on this year, it’s cold enough outside that you don’t want that icy air creeping into your home – or your warm air inside escaping. Using a draught stopper/excluder will help to prevent this. This is either a metal strip that’s placed under a door or window frame or a plush weighted pillow. There are lots of different materials and colours available.

As the air can be extremely dry during winter, this can lead to irritated eyes and itchy skin. A humidifier will add back valuable moisture to the air. More importantly, they also help reduce the risk of infections as bacteria and viruses cannot travel as well in moist air.

Now that you’ve got the low-down on the essentials to carry with you this winter, you’ll hopefully have the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way, be that outside or in your home.