Cold winter air may bring festive vibes, but it can also leave your skin feeling dry, red and inflamed. Making some easy swaps to your skin-care routine, however, can soothe your skin and leave you feeling glowy and moisturized all season long.
Winter air is typically cold and dry, which can affect your skin, Dr. Shasa Hu, associate professor in the department of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, tells TODAY.com. Plus, heating in your home or office will dry out the air even further, she says.
For folks with sensitive skin, those environmental changes can exacerbate some skin common conditions such as eczema and rosacea. Another condition, psoriasis, can also flare in the winter partly due to a lack of ambient sun exposure, Hu explains.
But even those without skin conditions may find their skin gets dry and rough more frequently as the seasons —and our habits — change. That's why pretty much everyone can benefit from making some simple tweaks to their skin care routine at this time of year, dermatologists say.
Go easy on the cleansing.
Everyone should wash their face at least once every day, Dr. Shari Lipner, associate professor of clinical dermatology at the Weill Cornell Medical Center, tells TODAY.com.
But, depending on your skin's condition and texture, you may not need to cleanse more frequently than that. For instance, if your skin tends to feel tight or dry right after washing it during the winter months, that's a sign that it's naturally on the dry side. And, therefore, you don't need to fully wash it again that day.
"Cleansing your skin is OK, but you don't want to be washing your face multiple times a day," Lipner says. For those who have dry skin, she recommends cleansing your face fully in the evening and just using a splash of water in the morning.
You may also benefit from swapping to more moisturizing cleansers, like cream or lotion cleansers, rather than foaming face washes, Hu says. "Lotion cleansers are typically less stripping of the natural (oil) on the skin," she adds.
Using oil-based cleansers, also called cleansing oils, may be another good option, Dr. Debra Wattenberg told The TODAY Show during a Dec. 18, 2023 segment. These products often feel more moisturizing than foaming cleansers, she said.
Try using a thicker moisturizer.
You should be using a moisturizer every day as part of your usual skin-care routine. And, during the winter months, you definitely don't want to be slacking.
"If you're not regular about moisturizing your skin, it may not matter much in the spring or summer," Lipner says. "But in the winter, your skin is going to feel it."
Depending on your skin type and any skin conditions you might be dealing with, you might want to swap your lighter moisturizer for a thicker or more occlusive product during the winter months, Hu says.
She also recommends experimenting with introducing thicker formulations of the other products in your rotation at this time of year, like swapping your vitamin C serum for a vitamin C-containing cream.
Some people may that they still get dry spots on their skin even after making those adjustments. In that case, Lipner recommends carrying around a travel-sized container of ointment (such as Vaseline or Aquaphor) so that you can reapply it throughout the day to your dry spots.
Additionally, for folks with dry skin, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends looking for moisturizers that contain these specific ingredients:
- Dimethicone
- Glycerin
- Hyaluronic acid
- Oils, such as jojoba oil and mineral oil
- Lanolin
- Petrolatum
- Shea butter
Keep using sunscreen every day.
During the winter, days are shorter and we generally don't spend as much time outdoors. So it's understandable that people may get a little "lazy" with their sunscreen application, Lipner says.
But you should resist that urge and stick to wearing sunscreen —at least 30 SPF — every single day as part of your usual skin-care routine.
You'll likely be exposed to fewer UV rays in the winter, Lipner says, "but we do get them." And it's especially important to remember to reapply your sunscreen every hours if you'll be outside at high altitudes or skiing, for instance.
Scale back on retinol and exfoliation.
Skin-care actives, like exfoliating ingredients and retinol, can help manage acne and give your skin a smoother, more even texture. But going overboard on these ingredients can leave your skin feeling dry and irritated —especially during the winter.
That's why Lipner recommends people only exfoliate once a week, every other week or even just once a month. If you're someone who rarely exfoliates, "For winter, I would recommend doing it even less," Lipner says, because these products are more likely to be irritating on dry or sensitive skin.
And when it comes to using retinoids, "if you're used to using them, see how your skin feels," Lipner says.
While some people can continue to use them at the same frequency during the winter, other folks may find that their skin reacts differently when the seasons change. If you find your skin gets more sensitive, dry or irritated at this time of year, you may need to cut back on retinol or cut it out of your routine temporarily.
Those who find that retinoids irritate their skin in the winter but need to keep using them can take another tip from Lipner: "You can dilute (your retinol or retinoid) with a drop of moisturizer, and that makes a big difference," she says.
Similarly, Wattenberg suggests "sandwiching" your retinol product between two thin layers of moisturizer. This approach can make using retinol a little gentler on sensitive skin.
According to the AAD, people with dry skin should either take caution with or completely avoid skin-care products with these ingredients:
- Alcohol (except for hand sanitizer).
- Alpha-hydroxy-acids, such as glycolic acid.
- Fragrance, including those in deodorant soaps.
- Retinoids, such as retinol.
Combat dry indoor air with a humidifier.
Because a heater can dry out already dry winter air, Hu suggests using a humidifier in your bedroom or at your desk to keep your skin a little happier.
"A humidifier can make a big difference in your skin if the air is very dry," Lipner agrees.
Limit time in the shower.
Long, hot showers can actually dry your skin out, the experts say. So try to keep the water lukewarm and your time in the water short.
And, when you get out of the shower, put your moisturizer and body lotion on while your skin is still damp (but not dripping wet), Lipner says. That will help seal that hydration into your skin.
"It's something we recommend to people with dry skin all year long, but in the winter, it's even more important," Hu agrees.
Try to limit your shower or bath time to just 5 to 10 minutes, the AAD recommends.
Keep an eye out for hidden irritants.
People with sensitive skin likely already know to be on the lookout for common irritants — including fragrance — in any product that may touch their skin. And that becomes even more important during the winter, Hu says.
If you're prone to skin reactions and not already using fragrance-free laundry detergent, dryer sheets and body care products, now is the time to switch, she says.
Don't ignore your nails.
People typically don't notice that their nails are in need of care until the weather gets warm enough for sandals, but many of those issues (including fungal infections) may start building up in the winter, Lipner explains.
If you notice your nails getting brittle, yellowing or lifting, those are signs that you should check in with a dermatologist now rather than waiting until the spring or summer.
Dress for the weather.
If you have dry skin during the wintertime, dressing warmly — in particular, wearing gloves —can help protect your skin and keep you comfortable.
People with dry skin should wear gloves whenever they go outside in cold winter weather, the AAD recommends. They should also wear gloves whenever they perform tasks that require them to get their hands wet, such as washing the dishes, or when their hands may come into contact with cleaning products or other harsh chemicals.
Avoid festive fires.
It’s the season to gather around the fireplace or stay bundled up near the heater, but the AAD cautions that spending time near heat sources like these can further dry out your skin.
Don’t forget the lip balm.
Along with your nails, your lips also may need some extra attention during the winter. That’s why the AAD recommends using a gentle lip balm that doesn’t tingle or sting your dry lips.
A tingly reaction like that might feel nice temporarily, but it could also mean that your lip balm contains an ingredient like camphor or menthol. Unfortunately, these ingredients can exacerbate dehydration and cause sensitivity down the line.
Look for ingredients that hydrate, moisture and protect your lips, experts told TODAY.com previously, such as glycerin, shea butter, beeswax, olive oil, castor oil and coconut oil.
Be patient with irritated skin.
People with really severely dry and cracked skin may have a broken skin barrier, which can take weeks or months to properly heal, Hu explains.
"It takes at least three to four weeks for that skin barrier to fully repair, so start early," she says. And if you're not seeing results after a few days, don't give up.
Finally, if you're someone with a skin condition like eczema, psoriasis or rosacea, or you're just not getting what you want out of your skin care, don't hesitate to contact your dermatologist. "If you have any of these conditions, it's a great time to check in to make sure the winter is not causing havoc on your skin," Lipner says, adding that telemedicine is a great option for this.
