How to Help Your Skin Handle Winter

As the days grow colder and the air crisper, you may notice your skin feeling less than its best. Your cheeks may feel tight, your lips are cracking, or your complexion looks a little duller than usual. These unwelcome changes can be frustrating, especially when your regular skincare routine no longer seems to cut it. As with your wardrobe, your beauty regimen should be adapted to counteract the specific challenges of winter (think rapid loss of moisture due to low humidity, indoor heating, or high winds). Without adjustments, even the best routines can leave your skin vulnerable to dryness, irritation, and dullness. In this article, we’ll go over how the cold season impacts your skin, and provide expert-backed tips to help you winter-proof your routine.

How Cold Weather Impacts Your Skin

Increased Dryness

Cold air typically has lower humidity, which means less moisture for your skin. Add in the dehydrating effects of artificial heating and an increase in transepidermal water loss—the process by which water naturally evaporates from the outermost layer of your skin—and dryness is all but inevitable. Winter winds can exacerbate the problem, leaving particularly delicate areas like the lips and skin around the eyes prone to cracking and even bleeding in severe cases.

Reduced Oil Production

As temperatures drop, your skin’s sebaceous glands slow down oil production. While this might sound good to those with oily skin, it can weaken your skin’s natural moisture barrier. The result? Flaking, scaling, tightness, irritation, and increased vulnerability to external aggressors.

Reduced Blood Circulation

Cold weather causes blood vessels to constrict, reducing circulation to the skin. This decrease in blood flow limits the delivery of vital nutrients and oxygen to skin cells, which can slow down the skin’s natural repair processes. As a result, irritation or damage to the skin may take longer to heal, your complexion may appear duller or more pale.

Increased Sensitivity

The constant shift between freezing outdoor temperatures and heated indoor environments can make your skin more sensitive. Redness, inflammation, and irritation become more common, particularly for those with pre-existing skin conditions or sensitivities.

10 Ways to Keep Skin Comfortable in Winter

Below, Dr. BRANDT’s best expert tips for keeping your skin happy throughout the change of season, along with a few recommended products that can help.

1. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Cold weather may dry out your skin, but you can fight back by boosting hydration from the outside.Dare to Age Revitalizing Serum[1]  combines hydrating water and oil phases to deeply nourish and replenish your skin’s moisture levels.

2. Switch in a Gentle, Hydrating Cleanser

In winter, there’s less of a need for deep cleansers which strip your skin of its natural fatty acids. In the AM, simply splash your face with lukewarm water and apply a gentle, hydrating cleanser likeClean Biotic, which is formulated to bring balance to your skin barrier. In the evening, to help remove makeup, opt for an oil-based cleanser likeDr. B Lab Oil-to-Foam Cleanser. It provides a thorough cleanse while helping maintain your moisture barrier. 

3. Exfoliate Regularly, But Gently

Not only doesregular exfoliation[2]  remove dead skin cell buildup that can cause flakiness; it also allows your skincare products to penetrate more effectively. Choose gentle exfoliants to avoid irritation:Microdermabrasion Face is minimally-abrasive while still being thorough, whileMicrodermabrasion Lips is formulated especially for delicate lip skin.

4. Protect with SPF

Yes, you still need sunscreen in winter! UV rays can penetrate clouds (or reflect off snow, as any seasoned skier will tell you). Layer SPF over your moisturizer for an added shield against harmful rays.Liquid Sun Shield SPF 50 is mineral, lightweight, and whitecast-free.

5. Add a Humidifier to Your Space

Heating systems zap moisture from the air, which can leave your skin tight, dry, and cracking. If you suffer from dry skin, consider investing in a humidifier to help level up your skin’s hydration.

6. Layer Up Your Skincare

Layering lightweight serums under richer creams ensures maximum hydration. Start with an all-in-one super serum likeDrop of Strengthto build skin resilience, then follow with a deeply nourishing moisturizer likeDare to Age Firming Day Cream. (Bonus: this moisturizer acts as a collagen booster, giving skin an extra-plump, hydrated appearance.)

7. Avoid Hot Showers

While a steaming shower might feel heavenly on a chilly day, hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils. Opt for lukewarm water instead and apply moisturizer immediately after toweling off, while skin is still slightly damp.

8. Dress Up

Proper clothing is essential in winter, and not just for warmth. Protect your skin from harsh winds by bundling up: gloves shield your hands from cracking, while hats and scarves can provide an extra barrier for your scalp, face, and neck.

9. Boost Skin Nutrition

Support your skin from within byincorporating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids[3] , such as salmon and walnuts, to maintain hydration and elasticity. Vitamin C-packed fruits like oranges and kiwis can boost collagen production, while green tea and water promote detoxification and hydration.

In terms of skincare, overnight treatments can be a great way to nourish skin while you sleep. NewGlow Overnight Retinol Oil encapsulates an antioxidant-rich skin complex and skin-renewing retinoids in a luxe, nourishing face oil, whileHydro Biotic Overnight Recovery Mask is great for those with sensitive, irritation-prone skin.

10. Stay Hydrated from the Inside

Boring, but it works: remember to drink plenty of water. Proper hydration is one of the simplest ways to support not just skin health—but total health, too.