Winter invites us to slow down—cozy sweaters, warm meals, and moments with the people we love. But while you’re settling in, your skin may be feeling the chilly air, indoor heating, and low humidity. These shifts can sap moisture fast, leaving your skin feeling dry, tight, or more reactive than usual.
The good news? With a few thoughtful adjustments, your winter skincare routine can work double-duty: hydrating daily while supporting gentle photoaging repair. Winter is the ideal season for helping your skin reset with hydrating heroes, proactive antioxidants, and restorative nighttime ingredients.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
How can winter weather affect my skin?
Seasonal changes naturally affect how your skin looks and feels. But winter stands out thanks to cooler temperatures and reduced humidity. These conditions can weaken your skin barrier, making it easier for moisture to escape.
When skin gets dehydrated, it signals distress by kicking off processes that can cause inflammation. The result? Stressed-out skin can become even more reactive towards harsh weather—and sensitivity and dryness may follow. Lower humidity may also impact lipid balance (those natural fats that help keep moisture sealed in).
And while summer is often blamed for photoaging, winter comes with its own challenges. UVA rays remain constant year-round, and combined with dryness, they can make fine lines stand out.
That’s why pairing deep daily hydration with targeted repair during the colder months makes for one effective skincare strategy.
Your step-by-step winter skincare routine
Step 1: Use a nourishing cleanser
Cleansing sets the tone for everything that comes next. And for the winter’s chill, gentle, hydrating cleansers are ideal.
Morning: Start with a light, refreshing cleanse to remove overnight buildup without stripping the skin. A formula like Essential Purifier offers a soft foam that keeps skin feeling clean yet comfortable.
Night: In the evening, turn to an oil cleanser that dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and impurities while respecting the skin’s natural balance. Essential Cleansing emulsifies from oil to milk helping to sweep the day away, without disrupting comfort.
Step 2: Apply a targeted eye cream
Because the skin around the eyes is thin and delicate, dry winter air can emphasize the look of creases or fatigue.
Morning: Choose energizing hydration with Hyaluronic Eyes. Its hyaluronic acid blend helps attract and retain water, softening the look of early fine lines.
Night: For evening repair, reach for Vital Eyes. Its gentle melatonin-based technology supports the skin’s natural antioxidant defenses, helping reduce the appearance of signs of photoaging while you rest.
Hydrating? Revitalizing? Brightening? Find your perfect eye contour cream.
Step 3: Reach for a winter-friendly serum
Hydration is the foundation of every winter skincare routine. But it’s also one of the best times to incorporate gentle, targeted repair.
Morning: A hyaluronic acid serum helps replenish moisture, plump the appearance of skin, and prepare it for the day. Peptides add a smoothing effect for a fresh, comfortable start.
Night: As temperatures drop, your skin benefits from formulas that help support resilience and encourage repair. Melatonik®—a serum-in-oil with melatonin, bakuchiol, and vitamin C—is an ideal winter partner.
These ingredients help improve the appearance of fine lines, uneven tone, and other visible signs of photoaging with a gentle touch suited to colder months.
Step 4: Turn to a targeted moisturizer
Now it’s time to seal in the moisture with a comforting cream. In your 20s and 30s, a lightweight hyaluronic-acid-based moisturizer should do the trick, while more mature skin may benefit from richer, rejuvenating creams. For the latter, consider formulas featuring carnosine to help smooth and firm.
Find out which moisturizer is best for you.
Step 5: Don’t forget the sunscreen
Even in winter, UV radiation remains one of the leading contributors to premature skin aging. UVA rays are constant throughout the year and can pass through both clouds and windows.
Choose a daily broad spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF to help protect skin from both UVB and UVA rays. Opt for a hydrating sunscreen with a lightweight feel that’s designed for comfortable, everyday wear.
Extra step: Add in gentle exfoliation
Exfoliation helps remove dead skin and supports a smooth, comfortable feeling—particularly helpful when dryness sets in. In winter, opt for chemical exfoliants featuring AHAs.
Glycolic acid is a popular AHA with water-attracting properties, making it effective yet gentle. Choose a formula designed for regular, gentle exfoliation and remember to pair it with daily sunscreen.
Hydrate, restore, reset
Winter invites you to care for your skin in a more intentional way—nourishing it with hydration, supporting daily comfort, and taking advantage of long evenings to gently target signs of photoaging. With small adjustments, your routine becomes a moment of warmth and renewal, helping your skin stay healthy, happy, and beautiful.
And remember: you don’t need a complete overhaul to feel a difference. Even one or two changes can bring softer, more comfortable skin all season long. It’s the time of year when the little things truly go a long way.
References:
¹Data on file. ISDIN Corp. 2024. Morristown, NJ
2Draelos ZD, Gunt H, Zeichner J, Levy S. Clinical Evaluation of a Nature-Based Bakuchiol Anti-Aging Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020 Dec 1;19(12):1181-1183. doi: 10.36849/JDD.2020.5522. PMID: 33346506.
3Engebretsen, K., Johansen, J., Kezic, S., Linneberg, A. and Thyssen, J. (2016), The effect of environmental humidity and temperature on skin barrier function and dermatitis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 30: 223-249. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.13301
4Meyer K, Pappas A, Dunn K, et al. Evaluation of Seasonal Changes in Facial Skin With and Without Acne. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology: JDD. 2015 Jun;14(6):593-601. PMID: 26091385.
Behind the blog:
Article written and reviewed by:
Amy is a content strategist who turned a part-time obsession with skincare into a full-time passion. Her experience as a creative storyteller includes a range of lifestyle and technology topics across Washington D.C. and Barcelona. What's in her travel bag? Eye contour cream and sunscreen, always.
