Here’s my simple winter skin care routine to protect your skin barrier, prevent dry skin, and keep your skin hydrated during the winter months.
Winter Skin Care Routine
My skin leans dry on the warmest summer days. So just imagine what it does in the winter! And not just my face – my whole body gets dehydrated. Even with water bottles on every floor of my house, I still always feel dehydrated. As soon as the winter months arrive, I start to notice changes in my skin almost immediately: tightness, dullness, and sometimes that dreaded dry flaky skin that no amount of makeup can hide.
Just like when we rotate our wardrobes and recipe ingredients change with the seasons, our skincare routine should shift, too. Between cold outdoor air, indoor heating, and less humidity overall, winter can be incredibly harsh on the skin barrier.
Switching up your winter skin care routine is one of the best ways to protect your skin from these seasonal stressors. I’ve learned over the years that being proactive with the layers of products and choosing ones that are designed for dry skin can really make a huge difference.
What Does Winter Do To Your Skin?
Dehydration
Cold air holds less moisture, and indoor heating pulls humidity out of the air even more. This double hit leads to dehydrated skin that feels tight and uncomfortable. When skin lacks water, it can exaggerate fine lines and make your complexion look dull. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid are especially important in winter because they attract and hold moisture in the skin. Also make sure you’re hydrating from the inside out with water, tea, or really anything liquid!
Compromised Skin Barrier
Your skin barrier is your first line of defense, and winter can weaken it quickly. Harsh winds, temperature changes, and over-cleansing (especially with super hot water, speaking from experience) can all strip away natural oils. Once the skin barrier is compromised, skin becomes more sensitive, reactive, and prone to irritation.
Dry Flaky Skin
One of the most common winter complaints is dry flaky skin, especially around the nose, chin, and cheeks. This happens when the skin isn’t producing or retaining enough oil. Adding richer, oil based products and based moisturizers can help seal in hydration and smooth texture.
Increased Sensitivity
Skin often becomes more sensitive in winter, even for people who don’t usually struggle with sensitivity. Products that worked perfectly in summer may suddenly feel stingy. This is why winter is a great time to lean into soothing, nourishing ingredients that repair rather than strip.
How To Take Care Of Your Skin In Winter
Be Gentle With Cleansing
Over-cleansing or using harsh foaming cleansers can strip the skin barrier even further. Look for creamy, hydrating cleansers that clean without leaving your skin tight. Cleansing once a day at night is often enough for many people during the winter months. I usually wash my face at night with a cleanser to take off makeup and grime but use mostly water in the mornings.
Two good options:
Focus on Hydration First
Hydration is the foundation of winter skin care. Layering hydrating products—like essences or serums with hyaluronic acid—helps replenish water loss before sealing it in with moisturizer. Think of hydration as the first step and moisture as the lock that keeps it there. I have been toner-step obsessed since I first found the Countertime Essence, and now I use Oliveda’s Tonics as my hydration step. I put it on immediately after washing my face or it starts to feel tight that quickly!
Choose Richer Moisturizers
Light gels may not cut it when temperatures drop. Winter is the season for oil based moisturizers that contain nourishing oils, butters, or squalane. These formulas help strengthen the skin barrier and prevent water loss by locking it in.
Don’t Skip Gentle Exfoliation
While it might seem counterintuitive, gentle exfoliation is still important in winter to remove buildup from dry flaky skin. Ingredients like glycolic acid can be helpful when used sparingly, improving texture and allowing hydrating products to penetrate better. Less is more—once or twice a week is plenty. I use the AHA + HT serum once a week at night in the winter.
Amp Up Your Morning Skincare Routine
Even in winter, daily protection matters. Cold wind and sun exposure can still damage the skin barrier. A nourishing daytime routine that layers hydration and protection is key. Here’s my full morning skincare routine.
Choose Waterless Skincare
Most conventional skincare uses water as the first ingredient, often making up 50–70% of the formula. While water technically hydrates skin temporarily, it evaporates more quickly. My favorite skincare company, Oliveda, replaces that water with a concentrated olive leaf elixir containing bioactive compounds like hydroxytyrosol instead of water.
Without water diluting the formula:
- Every drop is packed with active oils and antioxidants that nourish the skin more densely.
- Products often feel richer and more emollient, which helps support long-lasting hydration, especially helpful in dry or cold conditions like winter.
- Products deliver oils and bioactive plant extracts that help prevent water loss by forming a moisture barrier on skin.
- Many formulas also include humectants like hyaluronic acid (even in waterless serums) that bind moisture to the skin and keep it there.
My Winter Skincare Routine
Here’s my winter skincare routine that focuses on head-to-toe hydration, nourishment, and skin barrier support.
Step 1: Cleanse with Water (AM) or Arbequina Cleansing Oil (PM)
Start with a gentle, hydrating cleanser that won’t strip your skin. I love fragrance free formulas that support the skin barrier instead of disrupting it. Oliveda’s oil cleansers are a great option for winter because they’re naturally oil based, incredibly nourishing, and leave skin feeling soft rather than squeaky clean. As mentioned above, I tend to wash my face with water in the morning and use the oil cleanser at night.
Step 2: Hydrate with Corrective Facial Tonic
This is my skin chugging water after a hot sauna session. This tonic balances your skin’s pH, reduces redness, and preps for the next steps. Instead of spritzing it directly on your face, spray into your hands and pat onto your skin.
Step 3: Hydrating Serums (yes, plural)
After cleansing, apply a hydrating serum while your skin is still slightly damp. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which pulls moisture into the skin. I love Oliveda’s Hyaluronic serum in the winter and use it in the morning for all-day plumping. At night, I use the anti-aging serum mixed with another layer of hydration from the Kahai-oil-based elixir.
Step 4: Moisturizers: best of the best
Moisturizer is the protector of the routine, summer or winter. Rich, nourishing based moisturizers help repair and protect the skin barrier. I love both of the above creams, which are the most hydrating from each brand, but the Regeneration Intense Cream is my all-time favorite. It has a thick, almost sticky texture that melts into skin as soon as you start rubbing it in from the warmth of your hands.
Step 5: Facial Oil
Adding a facial oil is one of my favorite winter skin care tricks. Oils help seal everything in and add an extra layer of protection against cold, dry air. Plus they almost always smell SO GOOD! I put one on at nighttime (they are a little too oily for me during the day) but I also love to use one in the sauna with my gua sha tool!
My favorites in order:
- Neroli Face Oil Serum – smells INSANELY good!
- Jasmine Face Oil Serum – also smells incredible!!
- Brightening Oil – hydration with a vitamin C bonus
Step 6: Eye Cream
The delicate eye area often shows winter dryness first. A small amount goes a long way, and consistent use can help prevent fine lines from looking more pronounced during the winter months.
Step 7: Weekly Mask or Balm
- Gentle exfoliant: Counter Overnight Resurfacing Peel
- Gentle exfoliant: Oliveda’s AHA + HT Serum
- Calming: Neroli Face Oil Serum
- Exfoliating mask: Honey Enzyme Mask
This is where targeted products come in. If you deal with texture or dullness, a gentle exfoliant with glycolic acid once or twice a week can help. If sensitivity is your main concern, skip exfoliation and focus on calming treatments instead.
Once or twice a week, I love using a deeply hydrating overnight balm. This is especially helpful if you’ve spent a lot of time outdoors like skiing or hiking. Two favorites: corrective cleansing balm and lotus glow cleansing balm.
Lips
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have semi-chapped lips in the winter! I have an unhealthy obsession with the Counter Jellies that only come out once a year (I stock up!) and I use them year round. But here are a few of my other favorites:
- Colleen Rothschild Lip Moisturizer (the most similar to the jellies I’ve found)
- Sugar Lip Scrub – it’s delicious!!
- F75 Lip Balm – this is great for putting on at bedtime.
Body
Some of my favorite body lotions and balms:
- Regeneration Body Balm – a balm for the body that is great for heels and elbows.
- Dime The Glaze – if you like a body oil, this one is lovely and unscented.
- Lavender Vanilla Body Oil – if you like scent, this one is delish!
- Cell Active Body Serum – tightens and tones while it hydrates!
- Sugarbuff Body Polish – this isn’t just a scrub – it leaves a layer of oil on your skin in the BEST WAY.
- Superquench Body Butter – if you like a thick body butter, this one is the best!
If you’re looking to build out your seasonal lineup even more, be sure to check out my post on winter skincare must haves. Skin care is about consistency, listening to your skin, and adapting as the seasons change—and winter is the perfect time to slow down and give your skin a little extra love.
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