6 Tips on Managing Dry Winter Skin

FACT: Dead skin cells accumulate faster in winter, causing dull and flaky skin. Gentle exfoliation once a week improves texture and allows better product absorption. 

Cold air, dry indoor heat, low humidity levels, and harsh winter wind can all zap your skin of its moisture; may leave the skin on your face, hands, feet, and other areas exposed to the elements looking a lot less radiant.

Good news though, you can take steps to help keep your skin looking healthy, even when temperatures dip and there’s no escape from winter’s dry, cold air.

How to prevent dry winter skin? Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize! Add an overnight treatments. Invest in humidifier. Keep showers short and lukewarm. And finally, hydrate from the inside. 

By making little changes to your skin care regimen and habits, you may be able to keep your skin looking soft, smooth, and vibrant all winter long.

Moisturize Right After Washing

Washing your face, hands, or body strips your skin of its natural oils. Since these oils help lock in moisture, it’s important to replace them.

That’s why you should try to use a moisturizer after you wash your skin every time, especially in the winter.

As a helpful reminder, try stocking a bottle of moisturizer next to your sink and keep a travel-size moisturizer with you when you’re on the go.

Look for moisturizers with ceramides, hyaluronic acid (and other humectants), glycerin, or urea. And without fragrance, dyes, alcohol and denatured alcohol.

Apply Sunscreen Daily

Given the shorter winter days and less sunlight, it can be tempting to cut sunscreen from your morning routine.

But even in the winter, harmful UV light can still stress your skin’s moisture barrier, which is necessary for maintaining skin health and hydration.

Try adding a layer of broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 each morning on top of your moisturizer. You can also opt for a moisturizing sunscreen.

Use Overnight Treatments

Overnight treatments are an excellent way to revitalize and prevent dry skin. Emollients are great for moisturizing and are commonly added to moisturizers.

However, because they’re a heavier type of cream, it can take longer for your skin to absorb them.

By applying an emollient to your skin overnight, your skin will have the time it needs to absorb the treatment and for the emollient to replenish your skin with the moisture and oils it needs.

If you’re applying an ointment to your hands or feet, consider wearing gloves or socks to prevent spreading the emollient on your sheets or bed covers.

Invest In A Humidifier

Absolutely click buy on a humidifier. Winter air pulls moisture from the skin. On top of that, the cranked-up heat in our homes further dries out the air. Adding moisture back into the air using a humidifier can be very helpful in maintaining equilibrium and comfortable skin. Dermatologist recommend keeping a humidifier on in the bedroom at night to improve air humidity and alleviate dryness.

Keep Showers Short

A hot shower or bath at the end of a cold winter’s day may feel especially soothing. But, to keep your skin nourished, you may want to keep the water temperature closer to warm than scalding.

Hot water strips away your skin’s natural oils faster than lukewarm water (which is typically around 98.6°F [37°C]), and may damage your skin barrier.

Hydrate From The Inside

Make sure you’re staying properly hydrated throughout the day. Cold weather makes us feel less thirsty, but your skin still needs water. Consistent hydration supports elasticity and reduces dryness and flaking.

Not taking in enough fluid may affect the appearance of your skin and make it more susceptible to drying out, but scientific evidence to support this is lacking.

You may also want to focus on eating foods that are high in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.

¹Sources:

Healthline – Cold weather and your skin. (2023).

https://www.aad.org/news/cold-weather-and-your-skin

Dermatologists’ top tips for relieving dry skin. (2024).

https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin

Ludmann P. (2024).

https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin

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