Best skincare products to use in winter

What needs to change in winter?

Cold, dry air and indoor heating make it easier for skin to lose moisture. Your skin barrier, the outer layer that helps keep water in and irritants out, needs support rather than more scrubbing. Adjust products to the dryness you actually have: winter does not make every face need the thickest available ointment.23

Which cleanser should you buy?

Look for a gentle fragrance free facial cleanser and a moisturizing body wash or soap substitute. Harsh soap removes the fats that help keep skin moisturized, so cleanliness does not need sound effects. A squeaky clean feeling is not a reason to choose a harsher wash. For the body, concentrate cleansing on the underarms, groin and visibly dirty areas rather than soaping every dry patch. Avoid scrubbing, and use warm rather than hot water.456

Should you choose a gel, lotion, cream or ointment?

For normally balanced skin with mild seasonal dryness, a lotion can be enough. If your skin is consistently dry, start with a cream or ointment instead. Skin holds less moisture with age; a cream is a useful choice during perimenopause and from age 50 onward. For combination skin, moisturize dry areas separately instead of applying the same rich layer across an oily forehead, nose and chin. Oily areas do not necessarily need moisturizer.1

Which ingredients are worth looking for?

• Ceramides help hydrate skin and are useful ingredients in moisturizers for dryness.
• Glycerin and hyaluronic acid help maintain moisture. Hyaluronic acid hydrates rather than exfoliates.
• Petrolatum, mineral oil and dimethicone help reduce water escaping from the skin surface.
• Shea butter and jojoba oil are other moisturizing ingredients to look for.

Choose fragrance free products, especially if your skin is sensitive. Added fragrance can cause irritation or allergic reactions. Natural or organic wording does not mean a product is less likely to cause an allergy. Urea and lactic acid can help with rough, flaky skin, but use caution with sensitive skin: urea and acidic preparations often sting on scratched or cracked areas.1246

How should you use winter skincare?

1. 1Wash gently. Keep baths or showers warm and brief, around 5 to 10 minutes, rather than taking a long hot soak.
2. 2Pat skin dry gently, leaving it slightly damp. Apply your moisturizer immediately afterward; aim for within three minutes of showering.
3. 3For daytime sun protection, apply sunscreen over moisturizer to skin not covered by clothing, including the face, neck, ears and hands.
4. 4Reapply moisturizer through the day as needed. For dry skin, two to three applications daily are a useful starting point, rather than relying on the morning application alone.

Moisturizer traps water already in the skin, which is why damp skin is the best time to apply it. Slight dryness can need only a light moisturizer at night, while very dry skin can benefit from a richer product every couple of hours. Moisturizer benefits are greatest during the first six hours after application, so regular use matters more than treating one application as an all day solution.56

Which sunscreen works for winter?

Choose broad spectrum, water resistant SPF 30 or higher sunscreen. A moisturizing sunscreen cream can suit winter dryness better than a lotion or spray; alternatively, keep your moisturizer underneath sunscreen. Sun protection remains part of the routine throughout the year. Shade, gloves and sunglasses with UV protection provide additional protection when you are outside.7

What should you use on hands and body?

For hands, look for a moisturizer containing dimethicone and apply it frequently. At bedtime, petroleum jelly covered with cloth gloves can help prevent excessive dryness. Wear gloves outdoors and during wet tasks such as washing dishes. Before going outside, apply a thicker moisturizer to exposed skin and carry a small container for reapplication. A scarf, hat or goggles also helps shield exposed areas from wind and cold.2

For a dry body, choose a thick cream or ointment and apply it while skin is damp. Facial skin is thinner and more sensitive, and face moisturizers are often designed to be lighter and less likely to cause acne. More expensive skincare is not necessarily more effective, so the receipt is not a hydration test.7

Should you keep using retinol and exfoliating acids?

Reduce the frequency or strength of retinol, glycolic acid or salicylic acid if your winter routine becomes too drying. Do not exfoliate dry, peeling facial skin to try to remove the problem; moisturize instead. Acne products containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can also contribute to dryness. If a prescribed retinoid becomes too drying, discuss a seasonal adjustment with your prescriber rather than replacing it yourself.127

What should you expect, and when should you get help?

Regular moisturizing helps reduce dryness and itch and supports the skin barrier. A tendency to dry skin can persist, or improve when contributing factors are controlled, so think in terms of ongoing care rather than a single cure. A bedroom humidifier can help counter dry indoor air; keep home humidity between 30% and 50%.23

Rich, occlusive moisturizers can aggravate acne or inflamed hair follicles. Stop a moisturizer that causes a new dermatitis rash. Keep paraffin containing ointments on clothing or bedding away from cigarettes and open flames. See a clinician if dryness becomes painful, bleeding, persistently stinging or very irritating, or does not improve with care. Seek help for itching without a visible rash, itching that disrupts sleep, or open sores from scratching.1456