The temps are dropping, there’s a chill in the air, and cozy sweater season is in full swing. With all the fun winter brings (like holidays, snow days, and nights by the fire), it also brings dry air and cold weather that can wreak havoc on our skin. If your normally well-behaved complexion has been showing signs of distress—like dullness, dryness, irritation, and more—it may be a sign that your winter skincare routine needs a refresh.
Skin loses a lot of moisture into the environment when the air is less humid, such as during the transition from summer to fall. This can cause your skin to feel drier than usual.Dry skin requires both humectants and emollients that draw in moisture and lock in moisture, respectively.
Swapping your usual lighter moisturizers for richer formulas, going easy on exfoliation, and using a calming cleanser are just a few ways to prep your skin to handle the season’s harsher weather.
1. Switch to a calming cleanser
Cleansing is probably the first and most important step in your skincare routine. So when you’re scrubbing up to get rid of makeup, dirt, and oils, reach for a formula that treats your skin gently and doesn’t strip away much-needed moisture. People often wash their skin too aggressively—which can strip skin’s natural moisture barrier and lead to drying. Formulas like cleansing balms and creams are a go-to in winter months to dissolve the day away and hydrate your skin.
2. Try a richer moisturizer
We love the fresh feel of light gel moisturizers during the summer, but winter calls for slightly richer formulas to properly lock in hydration. Look for an intensely hydrating moisturizer in the form of a rich cream or lotion especially if you have dry skin, which is even more prone to losing natural oils made with known hydrating heroes, like hyaluronic acid. A good humectant is hyaluronic acid, which draws water into the skin. Skin barrier-repair creams such as Vaseline contain emollients and can be applied afterward. These help decrease the loss of moisture into the environment over time.
3. Exfoliation is key
It may be tempting to skip exfoliators when your skin’s feeling sensitive from exposure to dry, cold air. But exfoliating ensures you're clearing away any dead skin cells that can flake off and cause dry skin. Plus, they help your moisturizer and skincare really soak in. The key is to use a more gentle formula than you would in the summer, and exfoliate less often. Switch to a gentle exfoliant during the winter season, and consider a product with bakuchiol, rather than a classic retinoid that may be too drying or irritating. We love using scrubs with exfoliating ingredients like glycolic acid which helps loosen and lift dead skin cells from your skin’s surface to reveal fresh ones beneath.
4. Protect your lips, too
The skin on your lips is pretty thin and loses moisture easily, which can result in dry, flaky, chapped lips. It’s always important to carry a good lip balm with you to rehydrate and protect on the go. Not only do lip balms provide an added physical layer between your lips and the cold, moisture-sucking air, but they also deliver essential nutrients to keep lips moisturized from the inside out. Bonus: You can swipe lip balms onto your cuticles and dry spots in a pinch.
5. Use a hydrating face mask
As great as a good blackhead or breakout-busting mask can be, some of these formulas can be too harsh and drying in the winter months. Opt for a hydrating cream or sheet mask instead. Look for masks with moisturizing emollients alongside more active hydrating ingredients, like vitamin E and ceramides.
6. Use SPF all year-round
We know you’ve heard it, but it’s worth repeating: your skin needs protection from the sun all year long. Just because it’s darker and cloudier out, doesn’t mean your skin can’t get sun damage. “SPFs are still very important because although the temperature drops, there’s still radiation year-round, and even small amounts of radiation can add up to the cumulative damage that leads to skin cancer, wrinkles, pigmentary problems, and aging of skin.” So, make sure to apply your favorite broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, and rest easy knowing your skin is safe and protected from those UVA and UVB rays.
7. Invest in a humidifier
Believe it or not, the heat in your home (although comfy and cozy) can contribute to your skin feeling dry. Heaters (like air conditioners) can pull moisture from the air. In addition, coming in from cold air into a heated room can cause your skin to feel tight and dry, and lose moisture. “You can minimize the potential for dry skin by using a humidifier to add moisturizer into the air during colder and drier months.”
