Does this sound familiar? Your skin looks great all summer and fall — but then winter hits, and suddenly your face feels dry, with chapped lips and irritated, flaky skin.
Your skin usually does a pretty good job at keeping moisture in and irritants out. But when winter rolls around, the cold, dry winter air starts to pull hydration from your skin faster than it can replenish it. Moisturizing is absolutely key during winter, as well as specific lifestyle changes that promote healthier skin. You need a winter skin care routine!
Even subtle temperature changes can take a toll on skin health. During the transition between seasons (especially from fall to winter), your skin can be dry one day and oily the next — adapting your routine with just a few moisturizing products helps your skin adjust so you can look your best all winter long.
Winter skincare is about doing better instead of doing more. Below, we’ll break down how the cold affects your skin, which products can help, what habits you should think about changing, and how to adapt your skincare routine.
Winter Skincare Concerns
No skin is immune to the effects of cold weather.
Men's skin tends to be thicker and oilier than women’s. But the colder months can still cause a wide range of skincare issues for everyone:
- Dullness
- Flaky skin
- Dryness and cracking
- Irritation and redness
Even if you have a hardier skin type that feels supple and moisturized the rest of the year, you might notice these issues and a compromised skin barrier when temperatures and humidity drop. However, the cold isn’t the final culprit: It’s going from one extreme to another. Heated houses, stores, offices, and even transport create a stark contrast with the cold weather outdoors.
You go from being very cold to very warm in a few seconds multiple times a day with indoor heat — and let’s not even mention the steaming hot showers. This constant exposure to fluctuating environments drains your skin faster than it can recover. Your skin and its moisture barrier can’t handle this winter dryness on its own; you've got step up your skin care routine. And we still have yet to add windburn, shaving, and lifestyle stressors into the mix.
Irritation and Redness
Whenever your skin barrier gets compromised, irritation and redness soon follow. Cold winds, along with sudden humidity and temperature changes, cause your skin to become inflamed and sensitive. The result is lingering redness and a burning sensation that makes even water feel uncomfortable.
It’s worth noting that if irritation or dry skin becomes a frequent problem, switching to fragrance-free and alcohol-free products with natural oils in your skin care routine may do the trick, depending on your skin type. Look for formulas with calming ingredients such as aloe vera and jojoba, which soothe inflammation and strengthen your moisture barrier.
Dry Skin and Cracking
Dry skin is often the first skincare routine issue to appear once winter rolls around. The first layer of your skin (which contains compounds that lock in moisture) takes the initial hit from frosty temperatures and dry air. The result? Your face can’t retain moisture with its natural oils as effectively as it usually does.
But it doesn’t stop there: This same dryness can cause more damage to that first layer of your skin. This makes it even harder to hold on to moisture - especially if you tend to have sensitive skin.
This vicious cycle can quickly lead to cracking, especially around your nose, hands, lips, or wherever your skin is a bit thinner. If left untreated, the cracks can start to sting and bleed, opening the door to bacteria and other pathogens.
When cracks appear, resist the urge to over-cleanse or aggressively exfoliate them away - that will only make your dry skin worse. Exfoliating does remove dead skin cells that dull your complexion, but you don't want to overdo it because that could damage your skin barrier. Focus on skin hydration and sealing the moisture in with natural oils. If you notice any issues out of the ordinary, check with a dermatologist right away so they can help you address your specific skin type and needs.
Winter Skincare Tips
The good news is that a few winter skincare tips can make a world of difference in your skincare routine results.
The easiest change you can make is being mindful of your shower habits. Hot water feels almost like a necessity in winter, we know — but it strips away your skin’s oils and leaves it feeling even drier. Try instead to use lukewarm water and limit your showers to once a day.
As always, also make sure you pat (and not rub) your skin dry once you’re done to avoid unnecessary friction, which is very hard on sensitive skin. While your skin is just a bit damp, it’s the perfect time to apply a moisturizer to lock in hydration. Our Men’s Body Care line of products are more than enough to prep your skincare routine even for the coldest days of the year.
Equally important in your skincare routine is maintaining proper moisture levels in your environment. A humidifier is the obvious choice: It restores humidity indoors, preventing your skin from drying out. However, if you don’t have one, turning your home’s heating system down a few degrees can also do the trick in addressing dry skin concerns.
When it comes to winter skincare products, opt for thicker creams and ointments with natural oils if you usually use thinner lotions. They can be a bit more heavy-feeling, but the more nourishing ingredients and thicker texture give your sensitive skin the extra boost of moisture it needs in colder weather.
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of lifestyle habits in treating dry skin. Stress, smoking, inadequate dieting, and insufficient sleep can significantly change how your sensitive skin looks and feels in harsher weather. Keeping a healthy lifestyle is the first step to healthy skin, along with — of course — proper hydration. Sun protection, even during the winter, is also helpful.
Lip Care
There’s an elephant in the room we haven’t addressed yet: lips. Because they lack oil glands, your lips can’t produce their own moisture. This makes protection even more important to shield them from wind and cold air.
Applying a balm before going outdoors or to bed is enough for most people. However, if your lips still get irritated and chapped or cracked, look for formulas enriched with nourishing ingredients. Our No-Shine Lip Balm is completely invisible and provides deep moisture and protection for your lips at any time of day.
Winter Skincare Routine
A skincare routine for winter doesn’t have to be a colossal to-do list. It’s more about adjusting what already works for your skin type and adapting to a season that’s a bit harsher than usual.
The first thing to mention is exfoliation: Make sure you reduce the frequency, particularly if you have sensitive skin to begin with. A skin that’s facing harsher conditions can’t handle chemical or physical exfoliation that might work at other times of year. Try either using a gentler product or reducing the frequency until you find a comfortable point for your skin type.
1. Cleanser
For your morning routine, start with a gentle cleanser that won’t strip away natural oils. Gentle is the keyword here: you don’t want to be unnecessarily aggressive with a skin that’s already in a tough spot.
2. Moisturizer
But the most important part of winter skincare is the skincare products that follow the gentle cleanser, like moisturizer. As we already mentioned, your skin dehydrates the most during the colder months. A product like our Daily Essential Face Moisturizer hydrates without clogging and nourishes dry skin by using ingredients such as aloe vera and jojoba oil.
Consistency is key when it comes to getting through the colder months without issues. Don’t skip moisturizing both morning and night to build up your skin’s defenses. For many men, this simple step already prevents most of the recurring cycle of dehydration and irritation during winter.
Before bed, cleanse again to remove any impurities that your skin may have picked up during the day. Go for a richer, denser formula to nourish your skin.
Our 6-in-1 Gel Face Moisturizer is a multi-functional product that hydrates the skin, improves wrinkles, reduces eye bags, and calms irritation. Made with hyaluronic acid, peptides, jojoba, and vitamins, it’s a perfect choice for deep repair and hydration during sleep and can be paired with other anti-aging skincare products, such as eye cream.
3. Sun Protection
Repeat the moisturizing before going out in the cold — especially if your skin is sensitive. After each morning application of moisturizer, make sure you follow it up with SPF - like a broad-spectrum sunscreen. UV rays still penetrate clouds, and snow can reflect a fair amount of them, so sunscreen skincare products remain a must in any winter skincare routine.
Don’t forget about windburn, either. Most people don’t notice the cold, dry winds affecting their skin until it’s too late. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so don’t skimp on sunscreen even if it seems cloudy outside.
Remember that complexity isn’t necessary: cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting are the three key steps of winter skincare. Sticking to this simple routine goes further than an elaborate, always-changing product lineup ever could.
Keeping Your Skin Healthy Despite the Cold
Winter is a tough time for your skin. Yet, by understanding what’s happening beneath the surface and making a few simple adjustments to your winter skin care routine, you can prevent the dryness and irritation that usually come with the season.
The key lies in a reliable winter skincare routine with a gentle cleanser, plentiful moisturizing with hyaluronic acid and similar ingredients, and abundant sunscreen. Don't get aggressive with exfoliating away dead skin cells. Balance is just as crucial — don’t cover your face in endless products, but instead choose natural formulas that work together - such as a hyaluronic acid moisturizer and a soothing eye cream with natural oils and other hydrating ingredients.
However, what happens outside the routine itself is equally important. Stay hydrated, keep good lifestyle habits, be mindful of water temperature when showering, and tone down the heating in your environment. These small tweaks can change how your skin looks and feels from within, as it absolutely mirrors your daily habits and stress levels. Winter dryness can be successfully addressed with a skin care routine that includes hand cream with hydrating ingredients too.
Stay consistent, stay hydrated, and your skin will have nothing to fear during the colder months.
