Winter Skincare Routine: What to Change When It Gets Cold (and What to Keep)

Why Winter Dries Your Skin Out

Your skin is constantly losing a little water to the air around it — dermatologists call it transepidermal water loss. How fast that happens depends heavily on humidity. In cold weather the outdoor air simply cannot hold much moisture, and heating systems lower indoor humidity further, so skin loses water more quickly in winter than it does in summer.

Three other winter habits make it worse: long hot showers, which dissolve some of the natural oils that keep the barrier sealed; wind, which strips moisture from exposed skin; and moving back and forth between cold outdoor air and warm, dry rooms.

1. Swap to a Gentler Cleanser

The cleanser is the most common winter culprit. A foaming cleanser that felt fine in August can leave skin tight and squeaky in January, because it removes oils your skin is now struggling to replace.

• Switch to a cream, milk or gel-cream cleanser labelled for dry or sensitive skin.
• Use lukewarm water, not hot.
• If your skin is very dry, cleanse properly at night and just rinse with water in the morning.
• Pat dry rather than rubbing, and moisturize within a minute or two while skin is still slightly damp.

Not sure whether your cleanser is a harsh one? Paste its ingredient list into the free Rosee ingredient checker to see which ingredients are strong surfactants.

2. Use a Moisturizer That Seals, Not Just Hydrates

Moisturizers work in three ways, and winter is when the third one matters most. Humectants (like glycerin, hyaluronic acid and panthenol) pull water into the skin. Emollients (like squalane and plant oils) smooth and soften. Occlusives (like petrolatum, dimethicone and shea butter) form a layer that slows water escaping.

In dry winter air, a light humectant-only gel can feel good for an hour and then leave skin tighter, because there is not much moisture in the air to draw from. A cream that combines humectants with barrier lipids — ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids — and some occlusion usually holds up better.

3. Scale Back Exfoliation and Strong Actives

Retinoids, AHAs, BHAs and benzoyl peroxide all work, but they also increase dryness and irritation — and in winter your skin has less margin for it. You do not have to stop them. If they start to sting or cause flaking, reduce how often you use them rather than giving them up.

• Drop exfoliating acids from daily to two or three nights a week.
• Use retinoids every other night, or apply moisturizer first to buffer them.
• Avoid using several strong actives on the same night.
• Skip scrubs on skin that is already flaky — flakes are a sign to moisturize, not to scrub harder.

4. Keep Your Sunscreen (Yes, in Winter)

UVB is weaker in winter, but UVA — the part of sunlight most associated with skin aging and pigmentation — is present year-round and passes through clouds and window glass. Snow also reflects UV back up at your face: the World Health Organization notes that fresh snow can reflect up to 80% of UV radiation, which is why skiers burn on overcast days.

A broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on your face every morning is still the right default. In cold weather, a creamier sunscreen can double as an extra moisturizing layer.

5. Fix the Environment, Lips and Hands

• Run a humidifier in the bedroom if your heating dries the air noticeably.
• Keep showers short and warm rather than long and hot.
• Use a thick occlusive on lips, and on very dry patches at night — the idea behind slugging.
• Apply hand cream after every wash; hands take the most winter damage and get the least attention.

If Your Skin Is Oily or Acne-Prone

Oily skin can still be dehydrated in winter — shiny and tight at the same time. You do not need a heavy balm. A non-comedogenic gel-cream with humectants and ceramides usually gives enough barrier support without clogging, and you can keep acne treatments in your routine at a slightly lower frequency.

Living in Australia or the Southern Hemisphere?

Everything here applies from roughly June to August instead. Australia's high UV levels also mean daily sunscreen matters even more year-round — winter does not get you out of it.

When to See a Dermatologist

Normal winter dryness improves within a week or two of these changes. See a doctor or dermatologist if skin cracks or bleeds, if you develop itchy red patches that keep coming back, or if a known condition like eczema or rosacea flares badly. Those need proper treatment, not just a richer cream.