At the beginning of winter, temperatures drop, and strong winds and low humidity create the perfect season for skin health issues. The comfortable warmth of indoor heating strips the air of moisture, accelerating trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and weakening the skin barrier, leading to dryness, irritation, flaking, and sensitivity. A robust and thoughtful winter skincare routine isn't just about applying more moisturizer; it's a strategic overhaul designed to strengthen the skin's natural defenses and maximize hydration.
Why does skin change in winter?
In summer, heat and humidity increase oil production. Therefore, lightweight, oil-free products work well. But in winter, cold air and indoor heating can cause problems. These conditions deplete your skin's moisture and weaken its natural barrier, which helps protect against dryness and irritation. When the barrier is weakened, your skin becomes more susceptible to issues like redness, sensitivity, and roughness. Increased dryness and inflammation can also lead to fine lines and breakouts.
Winter Skincare: An Essential Barrier-First Approach
The key to successful winter skincare is prioritizing the health of the skin barrier. This barrier, made up of skin cells and lipids (fats like ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids), acts as your skin's first line of defense, keeping irritants out and essential moisture in.
Cleansing Correction: Being Gentle Is the New Goal
The biggest change in anyone's winter skincare routine starts with cleansing. Harsh, high-foaming cleansers often rely on sulfates, which strip away precious protective lipids needed during cold weather.
Use creams or oils instead of foaming cleansers: Use creamy, hydrating milk cleansers, cleansing balms, or non-stripping oil cleansers instead of gel or foaming washes. These effectively remove dirt, makeup, and pollution without compromising the lipid barrier.
- Temperature control: Hot water is very damaging to the barrier. A hot shower is great but always use lukewarm water on your face and body to remove natural oils and prevent dryness or redness.
- Pat-dry rule: Instead of vigorously rubbing your face with a towel, gently pat your skin dry. Applying products to slightly damp skin significantly increases the absorption of subsequent hydrating ingredients.
Hydration layer: Humectants are your friend.
In areas with low humidity, using a thick moisturizer alone isn't enough. You need to draw moisture into your skin from the surrounding environment (or from the product itself) and then seal it in.
Hyaluronic acid and glycerin: These humectants act like sponges, binding water to your skin. Serums containing these ingredients should be applied to a damp face. Serums as a base: Before applying any occlusive or heavy creams, use a high-quality hydrating serum as a base layer. A perfect example of a product that helps keep skin plump and dewy is one formulated with deep hydration in mind, like Lilymin's Hydrating Complex. This extra step ensures that moisture penetrates deeper than surface-level application.
Winter Skincare for Oily Skin
A common misconception is that oily skin shouldn't be deeply hydrated to avoid a shiny appearance. However, dehydrated oily skin in winter causes it to produce more oil to compensate for water loss, often leading to tightening of the upper layer of skin, flaking, and clogged pores.
Must-Typical Changes for Oily Skin:
Lightweight Moisture Seal: Avoid thick, buttery creams designed for dry skin. The best winter skincare routine for oily skin relies on non-comedogenic, gel-based, or water-cream formulas. Look for ingredients like niacinamide (to regulate oil) and squalane (a light, non-greasy oil) that hydrate without feeling heavy.
- Strategic Exfoliation: Oily skin also needs exfoliation, but less frequently. Limit salicylic acid (BHA) use to 1-2 times a week to prevent the buildup of dead skin cells, which can cause dullness. Excessive exfoliation will irritate the skin and lead to more breakouts.
- Oil-free sun protection: Use a broad-spectrum, oil-free SPF 30+ every day. Winter sun, especially when reflected off snow, can be extremely damaging.
Winter Skincare Routine for Dry and Combination Skin
Winter is a particularly difficult season for dry skin. Combination skin also suffers, with already dry areas (cheeks) becoming flaky and oily areas (T-zone) experiencing sensitivity.
Key Changes for Dry and Combination Skin:
Layering is the secret:
- Layer 1 (Humectant): Start with a hydrating toner or essence.
- Layer 2 (Moisture): Apply a serum rich in hyaluronic acid or vitamin B5.
- Layer 3 (Seal): Use a rich, barrier-repairing cream. This cream should contain emollients (such as shea butter or cocoa butter, which soften the skin) and occlusives (such as petrolatum or mineral oil, which create a physical seal).
Targeted care for combination skin: Apply a hydrating serum all over the skin. Then, apply a lightweight moisturizer to the oily T-zone and a richer cream only to the dry cheeks and sides of the face.
Facial oils as a booster: If your skin is consistently dry, add a few drops of a non-comedogenic facial oil (such as argan, marula, or rosehip) to your moisturizer, or apply it as the last step of your evening routine. This essential ingredient helps protect the skin's lipid barrier from damaging external conditions. For maximum benefits, consider products that have the same dedication to nourishing skin as the Lilymin range, focusing on barrier strength.
Lifestyle and Environmental Factors
Effective winter skincare goes beyond your bathroom routine. Your environment and internal habits play a huge role in maintaining skin health.
- Internal Hydration and Diet
- While topicals are important, internal hydration is most crucial.
- Drink Water: Even if you don't feel thirsty, be sure to hydrate. Dehydration quickly manifests as dull, sunken skin.
Eat Your Fat: Increase your intake of healthy fats rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (found in flax seeds, walnuts, fatty fish, and avocados). These essential fats help the body produce lipids needed to strengthen the skin barrier.
Control your home environment.
Use a humidifier: Indoor heating is a major contributor to dry skin. Use a humidifier in your bedroom and maintain indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50%. This simple change helps prevent moisture from evaporating from your skin overnight. Protect vulnerable areas: Always wear a soft scarf or face covering when going out in strong winds or cold to physically protect your skin from frostbite and windburn, which can cause serious barrier damage.
The Result: Regular care for a radiant winter glow
Mastering winter skincare means making thoughtful changes to protect yourself from the harsh effects of the weather. By adopting gentle cleansing habits, layering hydrating humectants appropriately, and sealing everything in with the right emollients whether you need a winter-specific skincare routine for oily skin or a barrier-repairing solution for dry skin you can ensure your skin stays soft, supple, and healthy. Remember to be patient and consistent; your skin will adapt to these preventative measures, giving you a radiant glow that will defy the cold.
Why does my skin break out more in the cold, even though it's dry?
Your skin is likely dehydrated, not just dry. When the cold air strips away water, your oily skin overproduces sebum (oil) to compensate. This mix of dead skin and excess oil easily clogs pores, leading to breakouts. The key to better skincare for winters is lightweight, water-based hydration.
Should I stop exfoliating during the winter months?
No, but you must exfoliate less. The winter barrier is more fragile. Limit all harsh physical scrubs and chemical exfoliants (AHAs/BHAs) to just once a week. Over-exfoliating damages the barrier, leading to redness and making your winter skincare less effective.
What is the single best ingredient I should add to my winter routine?
Ceramides are the natural lipids (fats) that form the glue holding your skin barrier together. Cold weather depletes these lipids. Adding a ceramide-rich product directly helps to repair and strengthen your barrier, immediately reducing dryness and locking in moisture for effective skincare for winters.
How quickly should I apply moisturizer after washing my face?
Apply your serum and moisturizer within 60 seconds of washing, while your skin is still damp. This is crucial for winter skincare because applying humectants (like Hyaluronic Acid) to damp skin traps the surface water, ensuring deep hydration instead of letting the product pull moisture out of your deeper skin layers.
