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Dry skin in winter? How to switch up your skincare this season
Written byEmily Coates
Reviewed byHeeral Patel
With the latest snowy weather, it’s tempting to turn up the heating and skip the SPF. But how should we be adapting our skincare routine when the temperature drops?
Our top picks
Soothing and plumping
Dr Organic
Dr Organic Snail Gel 50ml
€26.49
Nourish at night
Weleda
Weleda Skin Food Nourishing Night Cream 40ml
€17.95
Niacinamide and sea buckthorn
Balmonds
Balmonds Super 7 Serum 30ml
€26.00
Just like you protect yourself from the cold with layers of fluffy jumpers, scarves and gloves, it’s worth remembering that your skin needs added protection too.
Winter weather can cause our skin’s barrier to become dull, dry and prone to breakouts. Pair this with your summer glow fading to reveal age spots and redness, and it’s no wonder your skin can get you down at this time of year.
The good news? This growing demand for season-specific skincare makes it easier than ever to refresh your routine. Here’s some tips on how to avoid dry skin, soothe chapped hands, reduce redness and help control breakouts.
So, what’s person to do? Here are our winter skin tips
Winter = dry skin for the most of us. But what causes this? The main culprits are low humidity, central heating and cold winds, which can leave our skin struggling to retain moisture.1 This is why it may feel tight and uncomfortable.
This environment can also make skin look older and duller, as when skin’s dry it doesn’t reflect light, instead the shadow effect can make fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable.
However tempting it may be to turn up the heat in the shower on those chilly mornings, it won’t do your skin any favours. Heat can cause further damage to your already-delicate skin barrier, which may cause your skin to become even drier.2
Opt for gentler, pH-balanced products to help your skin’s barrier, like Weleda Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion and Skin Food Nourishing Day Cream.
Using harsh exfoliating products regularly can damage the skin’s barrier, but it is still beneficial to remove dead skin cells. So, if you are going to exfoliate, choose a gentle one like VitaSkin Vitamin C Gentle Daily Exfoliator up to three times a week, and always remember to moisturise afterwards.
A good moisturiser for winter plumps up skin and helps to brighten up your complexion. If red skin is your main concern, look for one containing niacinamide and soothing vitamin B5 (aka pantothenic acid).
So, forget about your lightweight summer lotion for the time being and upgrade to a richer, more nourishing face cream like UpCircle Face Moisturiser with Argan Powder.
Chapped lips are just another – annoying – indicator that our skin’s barrier is struggling.
One of the best things you can do to tackle dry skin on lips is to regularly apply a moisturising balm with an SPF like Dr Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Lip Balm.
Developing dry skin on your hands in winter is common, so make sure you always have a trusty, rich cream like Balmonds Intensive Hand Cream in your handbag, ready to tackle those cracked palms.
If you naturally have cool-toned skin with red and pink undertones, chances are this will only get more pronounced during winter.
This is mainly due to temperature changes, like coming in from the cold to a warm home, which causes blood vessels to expand and contract, sometime causing itchy-feeling skin. Why not choose a chunky blanket instead? You'll thank yourself when your energy bills arrive too.
Yes, however strange it may seem when there’s not a single speck of sun in the sky, a good sunscreen will still serve you well. Choose one with added moisture and apply to your face, neck, hands and any other exposed skin to avoid further skin discoloration.3 The latest Q+A range features moisturiser with added factor 50 too, such as the Peptide Daily Facial Sunscreen with SPF50.
Choose a gentle facial polish to help free those blocked pores, like Alba Botanic Acne Deep Pore Wash, which contains salicylic acid.
Consider swapping your current treatments for a gentle one as your skin is already battling the weather. Try using one with natural AHAs and salicylic acid during the winter months, like the Dr Organic Skin Clear Treatment Gel.
If these problems persist or worsen, please seek the advice of your GP who may be able to prescribe medical products if necessary.
Our fave products for your winter skincare routine
Keeping your skin hydrated is key. And the good news is, there are some great products on the market to enable you to adopt the right regime. Like these winter skin saviours below...
Aloe vera and plant ingredients have been blended with snail gel to produce a refreshing and moisturising face gel, leaving skin glowing and feeling soft. It can be soothing for skin, with an added plumping effect.
How do you use it? Apply a small amount of gel to the face and neck after cleansing. Use in conjunction with a moisturiser after the gel has been absorbed.
Kirsty - 5/5 stars “Better than moisturising cream. Very good, hydrates skin well.”
Kamil - 5/5 stars “Very good product. Highly recommended. Perfect for my dry skin.”
With the likes of soothing calendula, hydrating viola tricolor and cold-pressed sacha inchi oil, this nourishing night cream is made with ingredients synonymous with the iconic Weleda Skin Food range.
How do you use it? Smooth onto face, neck and décolleté each night as your last step after cleansing.
Julesronnie – 5/5 stars “A must have for dry mature skin. Sometimes I use it as a day cream when the weather is cold and windy.”
Roshy124 - 5/5 stars “Nice night cream again, same as the day cream, this will be amazing to use in cold winters.”
Balmonds Super7 is an extra-gentle lightweight facial serum designed to help balance and calm dry skin – making it the perfect winter pick-me-up for your skin. From niacinamide to sea buckthorn, the serum is formulated with seven exceptional hero ingredients to add to your skincare routine.
How do you use it? Apply to freshly cleansed skin and before using your favourite moisturiser to seal in moisture.
Dianne - 5/5 stars “So far I have tried three of Balmonds products and have found them all very effective at calming and nourishing my skin. Great company and skincare.”
The final say
The same products that kept your skin looking gorgeous will not automatically continue when the frosty nights set in.
Whether you’re looking to lock in that extra moisture or keep chapped lips at bay, revamping your skincare routine is a must for the colder months. So why not up your overnight hydration or add a hand cream to your handbag?
For other skin-formation, why not read up on foods and drinks your skin will love, as well as skincare support during the menopause.
But trust us on the sunscreen.
1. Engebretsen KA, Johansen JD, Kezic S, Linneberg A, Thyssen JP. The effect of environmental humidity and temperature on skin barrier function and dermatitis. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2015 Oct 8;30(2):223–49.
2. Hui J, Goleva E, Donald Y.M. Leung, Byung Eui Kim. The impact of temperature on the skin barrier and atopic dermatitis. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2023 Dec 1;131(6):713–9.
3. Gabros S, Zito PM. Sunscreens And Photoprotection [Internet]. Nih.gov. StatPearls Publishing; 2019. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537164/
Please note customer reviews are not medical advice, should not be relied upon, and are not endorsed by Holland & Barrett. For health issues or product suitability, consult a health professional.
The advice and product information in this article is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP or healthcare professional before trying any supplements, treatments or remedies. Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
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