6 Min Read
Winter can be a beautiful season. Crisp air, cosy evenings, and festive vibes, but for many, it also brings unwelcome changes in the skin. The cold atmosphere, low humidity, wind, and indoor heating often strip away the natural moisture from our skin. You might experience tightness, dryness, flaking, or even more serious problems like cracked lips or eczema flare-ups.
Understanding proper skincare during winters is essential to prevent tightness, flaking, or eczema flare-ups. In this blog, we will discuss why skin behaves differently in winter and how to adjust your routine. We’ll also help you with some practical, safe winter skincare tips to keep your skin feeling comfortable, healthy, and glowing through the winter months.
Synopsis
Why Skin Changes in Winter?
There are many reasons why we experience changes in our skin. That’s why we need winter skincare for dry skin:
-
Low Humidity, Cold Air, and Heat: Cold air cannot hold that much moisture, and indoor heat will dry the air even faster. The air's lack of moisture, as well as the cold air outside, will lead to your skin losing moisture fast through the outer layers, making winter skin hydration a top priority.
-
Damaged Skin Barrier: When the barrier (the outer layer of the skin) is disrupted, it cannot retain water or keep irritants out. As a result, you will experience stinging, redness, and itchiness.
-
Frequent Heating and Showers: While having indoor heating or taking hot baths and showers may feel soothing, they strip the skin of its natural oils, causing further damage to your winter skin hydration levels.
-
Less Protection from the Sun: Even without bright sunshine, UV rays, especially UVB or UVA rays, affect skin. Even when it is cold and windy outside, it can exacerbate any damage that the skin has sustained, which is why skincare during winters must include SPF.
When you are aware of these challenges, you can adapt your skincare practices to help address problems before they become symptoms.
Skincare During Winters: Keep Your Skin Healthy & Hydrated
During the cooler months, your skin requires a bit more love and care, and by using the right methods, your beauty can shine even under harsh conditions. Protecting your skin barrier and keeping your skin soft and hydrated during the colder months only requires a gentle, daily routine. The simple steps are the best winter skincare routine.
-
Use a gentle creamy cleanser that doesn’t strip your natural oils, and remember to wash your face only with lukewarm, not hot, water.
-
Exfoliating your face is suggested only once or twice a week as part of your winter skincare tips, as this can easily irritate or strip your skin of its natural oils, even on healthy facial skin, such as dead skin cells.
-
Hydrating serums can be used on the days you are not exfoliating to add an additional layer of hydration to your skin's barrier, especially hydrating serums containing hyaluronic acid or ceramides.
-
Finish the routine with a rich cream or ointment, often thicker than lotions, designed to moisturise and protect the skin by locking in hydration to the outer layer of the skin.
-
Be sure to take care of your lips and hands, which often get neglected in winter. Look for lip balms or thick creams to help manage the skin in especially dry areas.
Lastly, but most importantly, use your sunscreen every day, no matter what time of year it is; UV rays are still damaging on cloudy winter days or weeks. With proper skincare during winters, your skin will feel and appear comfortable and shiny throughout the coldest months.
Steps for a Winter Skincare Routine
Here’s a simple step-by-step routine for winter skin hydration:
-
First, use a gentle, hydrating cleanser on your skin, and use lukewarm water.
-
Do not exfoliate more than once or twice a week.
-
Use hydrating serums on days other than exfoliation, such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or vitamin C, which is the gold standard for winter skincare for dry skin.
-
Use a rich lotion or ointment to seal in hydration at the end of the routine.
-
Protect lips, hands, and feet with balms or ointments.
-
Never skip sunscreen, even in cloudy winter weather.
Additional Tips & Lifestyle Adaptations
Here are some other winter skincare tips for you to try this season:
|
Tips for Winter Skin Hydration |
|
|
Humidify Your Home |
Especially if indoor heating makes the air dry, using a humidifier can add moisture to the environment, helping with your skin hydration in winter. |
|
Adjust Your Showers |
Keep showers brief (5-10 minutes), use lukewarm rather than hot water, and apply moisturiser immediately after patting skin dry (while still slightly damp). |
|
Stay Hydrated & nourish yourself well. |
Drink water, and try to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods (like flaxseed and walnuts) are especially beneficial as they support the pigmented lipid barrier of skin. |
|
Minimise Irritants |
Avoid harsh soaps, scented laundry detergents, or fabric softeners. Select soft fabrics to wear, and don't scratch your skin. |
|
Dress Wisely |
Look for breathable fabrics next to the skin and layer outerwear. Protect your face, lips, and hands with scarves, gloves, and hats as your outer layer. |
Be mindful about using skincare products (create patch testing for new products). Avoid strong exfoliants or retinol; don't use excessively unless recommended by your dermatologist.
Dealing with Skin Problems
Even with a good winter skincare routine, you may face occasional issues. Here’s what to do:
-
Very dry, flaky skin, or peeling: Use thicker moisturisers/ointments; reduce exfoliation; perhaps use an occlusive layer (e.g., ointment or balm over cream) at night.
-
Cracked lips: Avoid licking your lips (which dries them more); apply balm frequently; overnight use of thicker balm or mask.
-
Eczema or sensitive flare-ups: Use a gentle cleanser and a bland moisturiser; avoid triggers; cold compresses can soothe. If symptoms persist or become painful, consult a dermatology hospital in Bhubaneswar.
-
Breakouts or oiliness: Even oily skin can feel dehydrated in winter. Use lightweight moisturisers, avoid overly drying cleansers, and keep skin clean, but don’t overdo washes or strip the skin.
Conclusion
Skincare during winters doesn’t have to mean discomfort for your skin. With thoughtful adjustments, gentle cleansing, richer moisturisers, protective clothing, and lifestyle changes, you can maintain healthy, glowing skin even in the coldest months. The key is consistency, listening to your skin’s needs, and following the right winter skincare tips.
If you're ever unsure which products or routines suit your skin type, or if skin problems persist despite your best efforts, it’s always wise to reach out to a dermatologist. The expert dermatology team at Manipal Hospital, Bhubaneswar will help you get rid of skin dryness so that your skin can glow in winter.
FAQ's
Yes, even oily skin can become dry in cold, dry air. Choosing a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturiser or gel-cream can help prevent tightness without causing breakouts.
Generally, once or twice a week is enough. Over-exfoliating (doing it more often or using harsh acids/scrubs) can damage the skin barrier and irritate it during winter.
Absolutely. UV rays can penetrate clouds and even reflect off snow or surfaces. Using broad-spectrum sunscreen daily helps protect against sun damage, pigmentation, and premature ageing.
Go for ultra-gentle, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic products. Keep routines minimal. Use moisturisers with barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides or colloidal oatmeal. Consult a dermatologist if flare-ups are severe.
Yes, these areas often suffer most. Use thick balms for lips, wear gloves for hands, and apply thick creams or balms overnight for feet and dry patches. Don’t forget to protect these areas when going outside in cold or windy weather.
Share this article on:
9.png)
