How to take care of your skin during winter months to protect and prevent it from dryness and other damages
Winter skin care is quite different from summer skin care routine.
As temperatures drop, humidity decreases, and the harsh cold winds begin to blow, your skin becomes dry and fragile.
If you’ve ever wondered why this happens and what you can do to prevent it, this guide will walk you through essential steps to keep your skin hydrated, healthy, and glowing all winter long.
Why Does Winter Dry Out Your Skin?
In the winter, the cold air holds less moisture, leading to lower humidity levels. This lack of moisture in the environment causes your skin to lose hydration more quickly. Additionally, we tend to spend more time indoors during the colder months, where heating systems can suck even more moisture out of the air. The combination of dry outdoor air and indoor heating leaves skin feeling dry, rough, and more prone to irritation.
On top of that, the natural oils your skin produces to form a protective barrier against environmental stressors are stripped away faster in the cold, leaving your skin vulnerable. These changes can make your skin more prone to cracking, itching, and flaking.
But don’t worry—winter doesn’t have to be a season of discomfort for your skin. By following these key skin care tips, you can maintain a healthy glow and prevent the winter blues from showing on your face.
(Disclaimer: this page contains affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase, I will get a small commission at no cost to you.)
12 Tips for the Best Winter Skin Care
1. Switch to Soap-Free, Non-Foaming Cleansers
One of the most important adjustments to your skin care routine during the winter is using a gentle, soap-free cleanser. Soap can be too harsh for winter skin, stripping away natural oils that are essential for keeping your skin hydrated.
Foaming cleansers often contain sulfates, which can be overly drying during the winter months. Instead, opt for a non-foaming, pH-neutral cleanser. These cleansers are designed to maintain your skin’s natural barrier, keeping it moisturized while removing dirt and impurities.
Double-Cleansing Tip: Try the double-cleansing method, which involves first using an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and dirt, followed by a gentle, water-based cleanser. This method ensures your skin stays clean without being stripped of moisture.
Recommended Non-Foaming Cleansers:
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser: Contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid to nourish your skin as you cleanse.
Philosophy Purity Made Simple: A creamy cleanser that removes dirt without drying your skin.
Spectro Gel Cleanser for Dry Skin: Affordable, gentle, and perfect for maintaining moisture.
2. Use SPF All Year Long
Many people think sunscreen is only necessary in the summer, but UV damage can still happen in the winter, especially when the sun reflects off the snow. Even on cloudy days, harmful UVA and UVB rays can penetrate the skin, causing premature aging and increasing your risk of skin cancer.
Make sure to apply a broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30 every morning, even in the winter. Look for formulas that are moisturizing and don’t leave a white cast on your skin.
Recommended Sunscreens:
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Sunscreen: Hydrating formula that’s suitable for dry skin.
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46: Lightweight and perfect for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
3. Use Humidifier All Winter Long
Indoor heating systems create hot, dry air that can strip moisture from your skin and even your respiratory system. Using a humidifier helps restore moisture to the air, which will keep your skin hydrated and prevent it from becoming dry and flaky.
Place a humidifier in your bedroom or office to ensure the air you’re breathing is moist, especially when you’re sleeping. This small adjustment can make a big difference in your skin’s overall hydration levels.
Extra Tip: Aim for humidity levels between 30-50% in your home for optimal comfort.
4. Exfoliate – But Gently
Exfoliation is essential for maintaining smooth skin and enhancing the absorption of moisturizers, but physical scrubs can be too harsh during winter. Scrubs with rough particles, like ground-up shells or microbeads, can irritate and damage sensitive, dry skin, making it more vulnerable to the cold.
A gentler alternative is using peeling gels. Peeling gels work by binding to the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin, which can then be easily washed away without causing micro-tears. They offer a much softer exfoliation, perfect for winter when your skin is more delicate. Peeling gels also help unclog pores, leaving your skin looking fresh and radiant, without the irritation that can come with traditional scrubs.
I have the whole post on PEELING GELS so you can understand them better.
Recommended Peeling Gels:
TonyMoly Floria Brightening Peeling Gel: Infused with natural ingredients to exfoliate and soften the skin, leaving it smooth and glowing.
Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel: Gently removes dead skin cells and brightens the complexion without causing irritation.
5. Introduce Serums, Essences, or Ampoules
Serums, essences and ampoules are essential part of skin care. They are usually used right after cleansing and toner application. These products are made up of very small molecules which easily penetrate into deeper levels of your skin delivering enriched ingredients.
I have an amazing post about all differences and similarities between SERUMS, ESSENCES and AMPOULES.
Recommended Serums:
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5: A budget-friendly option that deeply hydrates and plumps skin.
Dr. Dennis Gross C+ Collagen Brighten and Firm Vitamin C Serum: Brightens and firms skin with potent Vitamin C.
6. Extra Moisturize Your Skin During Winter Months
Your lightweight summer moisturizer won’t hold up in the harsh winter air. Winter calls for heavier, richer creams that contain emollients like ceramides, shea butter, and fatty acids. These ingredients help lock in moisture and strengthen your skin’s barrier function, preventing water loss.
Look for moisturizers with occlusives like petrolatum or dimethicone that seal in moisture, preventing it from evaporating. Also, apply your moisturizer at least 30 minutes to an hour before heading outside to allow it time to absorb fully.
Recommended Moisturizers:
Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream: An excellent choice for extremely dry skin that repairs the natural lipid barrier. I love, love, love this cream. I am finishing my second tube and already re-ordered it. Note, that one tube lasted about 14 or more months, so it is a good investment (I use this cream at night only, in AM use lighter cream below).
I am from Rice Cream – Amazing lightweight moisturizing cream packed with rice bran. It is super hydrating. I use this cream in the morning.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream: Contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid for long-lasting hydration.
7. Use Cold Creams
Cold creams were very popular a while ago; many of our grandmothers, mothers and older aunts used those creams all the time.
“The name Cold Cream comes from the cold feeling the cream leaves on the skin on application”
Generally cold creams consist of four main ingredients: water, oil, emulsifier and a thickening agent.
Cold creams are excellent during the winter times due to their heavy composition, oil and emulsifier base.
They are great to apply before leaving the house into the cold weather.
Recommended Moisturizers:
Pond’s Extra Rich Dry Skin Cream – rich and creamy formula cream that is designed for protection and extra hydration. It significantly reduces dryness of the skin and suitable for sensitive skin type.
Weleda Everon cold cream – designed for dry and extra dry skin. This cream is an excellent protection during extremely cold weather.
Avene Thermale Cold Cream – this cream combines Avene thermal spring water, pure white beeswax and pharmaceutical grade paraffin oil. This cream has excellent moisturizing, nourishing properties while adding exceptional protection from harsh winter temperatures and dryness. Avene Cold Cream is suitable for the whole family.
8. Add Facial Oils to Your Routine
Facial oils provide an extra layer of protection for dry skin. Oils are occlusive, meaning they create a barrier on the skin that locks in moisture. They can be used on their own or added to your moisturizer for a hydration boost.
There are several types of facial oils available, each with unique benefits. Carrier oils, like jojoba and argan oil, are excellent choices for most skin types. They are rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, making them ideal for combating winter dryness and irritation.
Recommended Facial Oils:
Argan Oil: Known for its nourishing and anti-aging properties, it’s perfect for dry, mature skin.
Jojoba Oil: A versatile oil that mimics the skin’s natural sebum and is suitable for all skin types.
9. Use Retinol Containing Products
Winter is the ideal time to incorporate retinol into your skincare regimen. Retinol, a form of Vitamin A, promotes cell turnover, reduces fine lines, and unclogs pores. However, retinol can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, which is why it’s better suited for winter when UV exposure is lower.
Even though it’s winter, remember to always use sunscreen during the day when using retinol, as it can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun.
Recommended Retinol Products:
RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream: A powerful formula designed to target deep wrinkles.
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion: A gentle retinoid for beginners that reduces wrinkles and brightens skin.
10. Use Overnight Sleeping Masks
Sleeping masks, also called sleeping packs, are unique skin care products.
As the name suggests, they are applied to skin before the bedtime and kept on overnight. Sleeping masks are different from night creams as they are packed with active ingredients. Night creams are designed to be used on a daily basis, sleeping masks are rather used as a boost to your skin. Please, read my extensive post on sleeping masks vs night creams by following this link.
So, sleeping masks will deliver extra moisture, anti-oxidants and nutrients to your skin. You can use sleeping masks up to three times a week during winter times (during summer times use sleeping packs once or twice a week).
Recommended Retinol Products:
The Saturday Skin Yuzu Vitamin C Sleep Mask – a brightening overnight treatment that combines the power of Vitamin C, retinol, and niacinamide to revitalize dull skin while you sleep. This vegan, Korean skincare formula deeply hydrates, smooths, and promotes an even, radiant complexion by morning.
LANEIGE Bouncy and Firm Sleeping Mask – Revitalize, Smooth, Peony & Collagen Complex, Barrier-Boosting Hydration.
11. Hydrate yourself
Drink plenty water to promote internal body hydration. Also take some supplements including Omega-3 which improves skin’s natural barrier function by improving hydration and reducing inflammation.
12. Take good care of your lips during winter times
Do not lick your lips while outdoors, that will cause dryness and chapped lips.
Apply ointment based lip balm before leaving your house and always have extra lip balm in your pocket. Also apply lip balm before going to bed.
An excellent lip care product is organic raw honey. It smoothes lips and even heals cracked lips.
a) use raw honey as a mask: just apply it to lips and leave on for 15-20 minutes, than gently wash it off.
b) use it as a natural overnight treatment – apply to lips and leave overnight.
Hanalei Cruelty-Free Treatment for Chapped Lips, Extreme Dry Lip Moisturizer – currently this is my favourite lip balm. It is very nourishing and softening. It creates excellent protective barrier on the lips while moisturizing it at the same time.
You can also apply skin oils and butter on your lips. Shea butter is excellent for moisturizing and creating protective barrier on your lips.
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Winter time presents many challenges to our skin. Extreme cold temperatures combined with dry hot air that is used to heat up buildings and houses can cause our skin to become very dry and fragile. However, with the right care it is possible to keep our skin healthy and glowing. Winter can also give extra perks to our skin such as an opportunity to use Retinol and chemical acids and enjoy benefits that they bring to our skin. After all, winter can be fun and if we live in places where winter lasts almost half a year, we might just enjoy the best of it.
