The Best Winter Skincare Tips for Dry Skin: Tips to Keep Your Skin Hydrated All Season Long

Written by: Ashleigh Torres

October 24, 2024

This post is all about winter skincare tips for dry skin.

Winter can be a challenging time for dry skin. The cold air outside, combined with the dry heat inside, can leave your skin feeling parched, flaky, and irritated. If you’re struggling with dry, winter skin—you’re not alone! With the right winter skincare routine, you can combat dryness and keep your skin soft, smooth, and glowing all season long. Here’s your ultimate guide to the a winter skincare routine for dry skin, featuring tips, tricks, and the best skincare products for winter dry skin.

Sleep with a Humidifier

One of the simplest ways to protect your skin from winter dryness is by using a humidifier while you sleep. As we crank up the indoor heat, the air in our homes becomes drier, which can pull moisture from your skin. A humidifier adds moisture back into the air, helping to keep your skin hydrated throughout the night. It’s an easy step that can make a big difference for dry skin during the colder months.

Hydrate with Products that Attract and Hold Water

When it comes to choosing the best skincare products for winter dry skin, look for ingredients that help your skin retain moisture. Some key players to add to your routine include:

• Hyaluronic acid: This powerful ingredient acts like a sponge, attracting water into the skin and keeping it there.
• Glycerin: Another humectant, glycerin draws moisture from the air and locks it into your skin.
• Ceramides: These fatty molecules help to reinforce your skin’s barrier, preventing water loss and keeping your skin hydrated longer.

Layering these hydrating ingredients in your routine—starting with a hydrating serum or essence, followed by a moisturizer—will ensure your skin gets the hydration it needs to stay plump and healthy.

PRO TIP: Apply your ceramides or humectants after cleansing when your skin is still damp.

Here are a few products I recommend for hydrating the skin:

Don’t Forget Your Minerals and Electrolytes

Your glow starts from within! While topical skincare products are essential, getting enough minerals and electrolytes is just as important. Electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, and sodium help your body maintain its hydration levels, which in turn keeps your skin moisturized.

You can increase your intake of minerals and electrolytes through whole foods like leafy greens, bananas, avocados, and nuts. If you need an extra boost, consider adding a hydrating electrolyte powder to your water throughout the day. Your body—and skin—will thank you!

Mineral powder I recommend:

The taste isn’t amazing, but it’s not horrible either. But I notice a huge difference in my skin when I drink this regularly.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

A good moisturizer is the foundation of any winter skincare routine for dry skin. Look for rich, emollient moisturizers that will lock in hydration and protect your skin’s barrier. During winter, swap out your lightweight lotion for a thicker cream or balm that’s designed to provide deep hydration. If your skin is extra dry, consider slugging (a skincare technique that involves applying a thick layer of an occlusive ointment to your skin to create a protective barrier). Be careful using products like petroleum jelly or Aquaphor though, especially if you’re acne prone.

Pro Tip: Don’t use any active ingredients on the nights you’re slugging.

Products I recommend:

Gentle Exfoliation for Smooth, Flake-Free Skin

Exfoliation is key to maintaining a smooth complexion, especially in winter when dry patches and flakiness can take over. Regular exfoliation helps to slough off dead skin cells and allows your hydrating products to penetrate deeper into the skin.

Manual exfoliation options like oilplaning (dermaplaning, but with oil) or using products with gentle beads can remove dry, dead skin cells and leave your complexion soft and radiant.

Just remember to be gentle—over-exfoliating can do more harm than good, especially for dry skin. Aim for exfoliating once or twice a week to keep your skin smooth without irritating it or stripping the skin’s barrier.

That’s a Wrap on the Best Winter Skincare Tips for Dry Skin!

Winter may be all about cozy sweaters, hot cocoa and snow flakes, but it doesn’t have to mean your skin turns into a flaky mess. With these easy-peasy tips—like sleeping with a humidifier, slathering on hydrating goodies, keeping hydrated from the inside out, and a little exfoliation—you’ll be rocking the hydrated, glowing skin in no time.

Follow these hacks, and your skin will be glowing and hydrated all season long. No more blaming winter for that desert-dry face!