Can I use Paula's Choice BHA with retinol when winter makes my skin dry?

Why does my usual routine feel too drying now?

Winter air holds less moisture, and your skin loses water more easily. Indoor heating also lowers humidity, so the room gets comfortable while your skincare routine gets more work. Retinol and salicylic acid can add to dryness, even if your usual routine was comfortable earlier in the year. Compatibility is not the same thing as tolerating daily use.2

How often should I use BHA and retinol?

For winter dryness without peeling or irritation, keep exfoliation to once or twice a week at most and scale back retinol if daily use is drying. Using BHA and retinol on separate evenings is a practical way to reduce layering while you assess tolerance. This is general winter skincare guidance, not Paula's Choice's label schedule. The brand starts BHA every other day, with increases based on skin response; you do not need to work toward its maximum frequency.12

How should I apply them?

1. 1Cleanse gently. Avoid scrubbing and harsh, scented cleansers while your skin is dry.
2. 2On a BHA evening, apply the liquid to clean skin with your hands or a cotton pad. Leave it on and avoid the eyelids and lash line.
3. 3On a separate retinol evening, follow your retinol's own amount and application directions. If you eventually use both together, Paula's Choice places BHA before treatments, then moisturiser.
4. 4Finish with moisturiser. On evenings without either active, keep the routine to gentle cleansing and moisturising.
5. 5In the morning, use moisturiser and broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher. Winter does not remove the need for sun protection.

What should I change besides the actives?

If a lotion is no longer enough, choose a cream for dry skin. Look for fragrance free formulas with ingredients such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid to attract water, and ceramides or petrolatum to help retain moisture. Choose moisturiser by its ingredients rather than its price; the price tag is not a moisture retaining ingredient. If you are prone to clogged pores, look for a product labelled noncomedogenic, meaning designed not to block pores.356

Moisturise morning and night, and again when your skin feels dry. After a shower, apply moisturiser to damp skin within three minutes. Keep showers lukewarm and short. A bedroom humidifier can help with dry indoor air.2567

When should I stop or get help?

If an exfoliating or retinoid product makes your skin too dry or irritated, stop it for a few days. Moisturisers soften dry skin and help restore its protective outer layer; there is no fixed recovery deadline for this combination. See a dermatologist if dryness persists, keeps returning, or becomes painful, cracked, bleeding or very irritating. Check with your doctor before using salicylic acid if you have a salicylate allergy. For prescription creams, follow your prescriber's directions about use and moisturiser order.13457