Achieve Soft, Hydrated Skin with These Winter Skincare Tips

How to Winter-Proof Your Skin

A Complete Guide to Transforming Your Skincare Routine for Cold Weather

As we say goodbye to summer and begin the transition into cooler, crisper days, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how the changing seasons can impact your skin. While the idea of cozy sweaters and mugs of hot chocolate may sound appealing, the winter months bring with them a slew of challenges for your skin. From dry patches and flakiness to irritation and dullness, the cold can be quite a formidable foe when it comes to maintaining a healthy, radiant complexion.

So, instead of waiting until the first snowfall to react, let’s talk about how to winter-proof your skin—and do it the right way. Whether you have dry, oily, combination, or sensitive skin, this guide will help you adapt your skincare routine and glide through winter with skin that’s hydrated, glowing, and resilient.

Why Winter Wreaks Havoc on Your Skin

First, let’s understand why skin suffers so much in the winter months. Cold air, low humidity, harsh wind, and indoor heating all work together to strip moisture from your skin. For people with dry or sensitive skin, this can lead to tightness, flaking, and even cracking. Oily or acne-prone individuals aren’t safe either—while your skin might feel less greasy in winter, the dryness can sometimes cause your skin to overcompensate by producing more oil, leading to breakouts.

The result? A compromised skin barrier that’s less effective at protecting you from environmental stressors. But don’t worry—we’ve got a game plan.

Step 1: Exfoliate… but Gently

One of the most overlooked yet essential steps in any winter skincare regimen is exfoliation. Yes, I talk about it a lot—but for good reason! Regular exfoliation removes the buildup of dead skin cells, which can leave your face looking dull and make it harder for moisturizers and serums to absorb properly.

Why It’s Extra Important in Winter

In cold weather, your skin’s natural cell turnover process tends to slow down. This means dead cells linger on the surface for longer, leading to flaky patches, clogged pores, and an uneven texture. Without exfoliation, even the most expensive moisturizer won’t penetrate effectively.

What to Use

Go for a gentle exfoliant with hydrating and soothing ingredients. Harsh physical scrubs with jagged beads can cause microtears, especially on dry or sensitive skin. Instead, choose a chemical exfoliant like lactic acid or mandelic acid, which can slough away dead skin without irritation. Or, if you prefer a scrub, look for one like Procoal’s Exfoliating Face Scrub, which uses detoxifying charcoal and gentle pumice.

Just remember—exfoliate 1–2 times a week, max. Overdoing it can damage your skin barrier, making dryness and sensitivity worse.

Step 2: Hydration, Hydration, Hydration

It cannot be said enough: hydration is key during winter. While drinking enough water is always important for overall health, it’s not always enough to keep your skin plump and moisturized—especially during the colder months when the environment is actively drawing moisture from your skin.

Inside-Out Hydration

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, but ironically, it’s often the last to receive hydration from what you consume. Think of your body as a queue at a water fountain. Your brain, heart, and vital organs get first dibs. Your skin? It’s usually at the back of the line. That’s why topical hydration becomes even more crucial during winter.

What to Look for in Hydrating Products

Humectants: These draw water into the skin. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera.

Emollients: These soften and smooth the skin. Examples include squalane, shea butter, and ceramides.

Occlusives: These create a barrier to lock in moisture. Think petrolatum, beeswax, or lanolin.

A great winter skincare routine includes a serum packed with humectants, followed by a thicker cream or balm that seals everything in. And don’t forget your eyes—the skin around them is thinner and more prone to dryness. A nourishing eye cream with peptides and hyaluronic acid will do wonders.

Step 3: Don’t Ditch the SPF

Just because the sun’s not blazing doesn’t mean you should skip sunscreen. In fact, SPF is still non-negotiable in winter.

The Winter Sun is Still Powerful

UVA rays (the aging rays) are present year-round and can penetrate through clouds and windows. They’re responsible for breaking down collagen and causing fine lines and hyperpigmentation. If you’re skiing or spending time in snowy areas, sun exposure is even more intense due to reflection from the snow.

Choose the Right Formula

In winter, opt for a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher that also contains hydrating ingredients. You can find moisturizers with SPF built in, but layering a dedicated sunscreen over your moisturizer gives you better protection.

Step 4: Don’t Forget Your Lips

Lips often bear the brunt of harsh winter conditions. They have no oil glands and can’t produce moisture on their own, making them extremely vulnerable to cracking, chapping, and discomfort.

Keep Them Soft and Smooth

Exfoliate: Use a gentle sugar scrub once or twice a week to remove dead skin.

Hydrate: Follow up with a rich lip balm that includes ingredients like shea butter, beeswax, and vitamin E.

Avoid licking your lips! Saliva evaporates quickly and leaves them drier than before.

Step 5: Treat Yourself to Weekly Masks

When your skin is feeling particularly parched or lackluster, a weekly face mask can be a game-changer.

Choose a Mask That Matches Your Needs

Sheet masks soaked in hyaluronic acid or marine collagen can instantly quench dry skin.

Cream masks with antioxidants and emollients will calm irritated or red skin.

Sleeping masks are great for locking in moisture overnight.

One go-to option is a Marine Moisture mask, which delivers a hit of hydration while soothing and restoring your skin’s barrier. Perfect for a Sunday night ritual or post-snowstorm recovery.

Step 6: Adapt Your Makeup Routine

Even with all the right skincare, your skin might still lack that healthy, dewy glow during winter. That’s where makeup comes in—to enhance what you’ve got and add that radiant, just-got-back-from-a-spa look.

Winter Makeup Tips

Swap mattifying products for dewy or satin-finish foundations and tinted moisturizers.

Use liquid highlighters and cream blushes to create a natural flush and lit-from-within glow.

Finish with a hydrating setting spray to keep everything in place without drying your skin.

Remember, makeup should enhance your skin, not mask it. If your base is well-hydrated, your makeup will sit better and last longer.

Bonus Tips for Ultimate Skin Protection

Use a humidifier: Indoor heating zaps moisture from the air. A humidifier helps maintain skin hydration.

Avoid hot showers: Tempting as they are, hot water strips skin of natural oils. Opt for lukewarm water and keep showers short.

Switch to a richer cleanser: Gel or foaming cleansers might be too harsh in winter. Use cream or oil-based cleansers that won’t strip your skin.

Final Thoughts: Prepare Now, Glow Later

Winter might be a tough time for your skin, but with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be. Think of your skincare routine as a form of self-care—one that not only helps you look better but also feel better through the darker, colder months.

So, before the temperature drops too low and your cheeks start to feel like sandpaper, take a little time to winter-proof your skincare routine. Your future self—and your glowing skin—will thank you.

And now that you’re prepped, enjoy that long August bank holiday weekend guilt-free. At least you know, come winter, your skin will be more than ready to face the chill. ❄️✨

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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