Winter Skin Care Routine Last January, I looked in the mirror and barely recognized my own skin. Dull. Flaky. Irritated. The glow I’d worked so hard to maintain had vanished with the fall leaves. Sound familiar?
“Everyone’s skin struggles during winter,” my dermatologist Dr. Maya told me during my desperate appointment. “But you don’t have to accept dullness as your winter reality.”
She was right. After completely overhauling my routine with her guidance (and consulting two other skincare experts for this article), I’ve discovered it’s absolutely possible to maintain radiant skin even when the weather is determined to destroy it. Here’s everything I learned about keeping your glow through the coldest days.
Why Winter Wrecks Your Skin (It’s Not Just the Cold)
The first thing Dr. Maya explained was why my usual routine suddenly wasn’t cutting it.
“Think of winter as a perfect storm of skin stressors,” she said. “Outside air holds almost no moisture. Indoor heating strips what little humidity remains. Your skin barrier—the protective layer that keeps good stuff in and bad stuff out—takes a serious beating.”
My friend Sarah, who moved from Florida to Chicago, described her first northern winter perfectly: “It felt like my face was constantly thirsty, no matter how much moisturizer I slathered on.”
My Winter Skin Transformation Plan (Winter Skin Care Routine)
Morning Routine That Actually Works (Winter Skin Care Routine)
1. I Ditched My Foaming Cleanser
This was hard for me—I LOVE that squeaky-clean feeling in the morning. But turns out, that tightness I felt afterward? Major red flag.
“That squeaky feeling means you’ve stripped your natural oils,” explained esthetician Jamie. “In summer, your skin bounces back. In winter, it stays compromised all day.”
I switched to CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, which feels like it’s hugging my face rather than scrubbing it. My roommate swears by La Roche-Posay Toleriane instead. Both leave skin clean but not stripped—exactly what you need.
2. Layer Like You’re Dressing for a Blizzard (Winter Skin Care Routine)
My summer routine was cleanse → moisturize → SPF. Done. When I tried that in winter, my skin felt tight by noon.
Now I layer strategically: hydrating toner while my skin is still damp from cleansing, followed by a hyaluronic acid serum, THEN moisturizer, THEN sunscreen. It sounds excessive but takes just 90 seconds more and keeps my skin comfortable all day.
Pro tip: Keep your hyaluronic acid serum in the bathroom and apply it to damp skin. My dermatologist explained that hyaluronic acid pulls moisture from somewhere—if your skin and air are dry, it can actually make dryness worse!
3. Your Summer Moisturizer Probably Isn’t Enough (Winter Skin Care Routine)
I learned this the hard way when my usual gel moisturizer left me flaky by lunchtime.
“Winter skin needs ingredients that both hydrate and seal,” explained Dr. Peterson. “Look for ceramides, shea butter, squalane, or niacinamide—ideally several of these together.”
I now use First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, which transformed my skin within days. My sister with oily-but-dehydrated skin loves Neutrogena Hydro Boost Extra-Dry (yes, even if you’re oily—winter changes everything).
4. Yes, You Still Need SPF (Maybe Even More)
The most shocking fact I learned: snow reflects up to 80% of UV rays, nearly doubling your exposure compared to summer. Plus, winter sun sits lower in the sky, making it more likely to hit your face directly while driving.
I keep La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk SPF 60 by my toothbrush so I never forget. The slight white cast it leaves actually helps counteract some of my winter redness!
Evening Wind-Down That Repairs Overnight
1. Double Cleansing Saved My Winter Skin
Before winter, removing makeup with a wipe followed by cleanser seemed fine. Now I understand it was setting me up for irritation.
My game-changing discovery was cleansing balms—Farmacy Green Clean literally melts away makeup without tugging or stripping. I follow with that same gentle cleanser, and my skin feels clean but comfortable.
My cousin who hates multiple steps uses Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm, which somehow cleanses and calms in one step.
2. Exfoliate Less (But Don’t Stop Completely)
When my skin got dry, I thought aggressive exfoliation would help. Big mistake! It just made everything worse.
“Scale back to once weekly in winter,” advised Dr. Peterson. “And switch to gentler acids like lactic or mandelic instead of glycolic.”
I now use The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% on Sunday nights only. My skin still gets that fresh glow without the irritation I was causing with 3x weekly treatments.
3. Winter Is for Healing, Not Attacking (Winter Skin Care Routine)
My biggest routine change? Focusing on repair rather than “fixing problems” in winter.
Instead of my usual acne treatments and anti-aging serums, I prioritize:
- Peptide serums (The Ordinary Buffet is affordable and effective)
- Barrier repair treatments (Dr. Jart Ceramidin saved my life this December)
- Overnight hydrating masks 2-3 times weekly
When I visited my parents for Christmas, my mom actually asked if I’d gotten Botox—nope, just proper winter hydration!
4. The Night Treatment That Changed Everything
My dermatologist’s non-negotiable winter recommendation: seal everything in with an occlusive layer at night.
“Think of it as a blanket for your skin,” she explained. “It prevents all those expensive serums from evaporating while you sleep.”
I was worried it would feel gross or cause breakouts, but a thin layer of CeraVe Healing Ointment on my cheeks, lips, and under-eyes has been revolutionary. I wake up with plump, calm skin instead of that tight morning feeling.
Beyond Products: Winter Glow Hacks That Actually Work (Winter Skin Care Routine)
1. The $30 Purchase That Saved My Skin
“If you only make one change this winter, get a humidifier,” urged every expert I interviewed.
I bought a small one for my bedroom, and the difference was noticeable after ONE NIGHT. My skin drank in products better, my lips weren’t cracked every morning, and my complexion looked immediately more vibrant.
My coworker Hannah places a bowl of water near her radiator as a budget-friendly alternative. Not quite as effective but definitely better than nothing!
2. The Weekly Reset My Skin Craves (Winter Skin Care Routine)
Sunday nights are now sacred self-care time. I apply a hydrating mask while catching up on shows, and this simple ritual helps reset my skin for the week ahead.
When I’m feeling extra: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask under my occlusive layer When I’m lazy: A sheet mask while lying in bed When my skin is angry: Pure honey spread thinly for 15 minutes (my grandma’s trick that genuinely works)
3. Don’t Forget These Often-Neglected Areas
My hands were painfully cracked before I established this routine: keep hand cream EVERYWHERE—bedside, desk, car, purse, kitchen. Apply after every single hand wash.
For lips, regular balm doesn’t cut it in winter. I switched to Aquaphor Lip Repair and keep it everywhere too. My boyfriend teases me about having “lip stuff” in every coat pocket, but he’s also the first to ask for it when his lips get chapped!
4. What I Put In My Body Matters As Much As What I Put On It
My skin noticeably improves during weeks when I:
- Start my day with a fatty breakfast (avocado toast or yogurt with nuts)
- Drink warm lemon water throughout the day
- Eat salmon at least twice
- Take fish oil supplements (cleared with my doctor first)
When I mentioned this to Dr. Peterson, she explained: “Skin cell membranes need those fatty acids to maintain their integrity. Diet can absolutely impact your barrier function.”
5. The Hardest Winter Skin Advice to Follow (Winter Skin Care Routine)
I love hot showers. LOVE. But they were destroying my skin’s protective barrier.
It took me weeks to adjust, but I’ve found a compromise: slightly warm (not hot) showers kept under 10 minutes, with extra focus on moisturizing immediately after—literally within 3 minutes of patting dry.
This alone eliminated the itchy, tight feeling I used to get all winter long.
Quick Fixes for Common Winter Skin Emergencies
When My Face Looks Like Rudolph:
My redness-fighting emergency kit:
- Dr. Jart Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment
- A green-tinted primer under makeup
- Avoiding any products with alcohol, fragrance or witch hazel
When My Hands Are Painfully Cracked:
My overnight hand treatment: apply ridiculous amounts of thick hand cream (O’Keeffe’s Working Hands), then wear cotton gloves to bed. Looks ridiculous, works miracles.
When Flaky Patches Ruin My Makeup:
- Pat (don’t rub) a tiny drop of facial oil on the area 10 minutes before makeup
- Use a hydrating primer just on those spots
- Switch to a dewy foundation instead of matte formulas
Real Talk: What This Winter Glow-Up Really Takes
I won’t sugarcoat it—maintaining radiant winter skin requires more effort than your summer routine. But the results are so worth it.
Start by implementing just 2-3 changes that seem most relevant to your winter skin struggles. For me, the game-changers were:
- Adding that occlusive layer at night
- Getting a humidifier
- Switching to a richer moisturizer
What started as my biggest skincare challenge has become my favorite season to focus on nourishment and repair. Now when spring arrives, my skin is actually better than it was before winter hit.
What’s your biggest winter skin challenge? Have you found solutions that work? I’d love to compare notes in the comments below!
And if you’re looking for year-round radiance tips, don’t miss our guide to Get That Hailey Bieber Glow: 10 Expert Skin Brightening Tips That Actually Work!