Winter Skin Reset: How to Switch Up Your Skincare Routine for Winter
From winter skincare essentials and barrier creams to lifestyle tweaks that boost moisture from within, here’s how to give your skin a winter reset.
When the temperature drops, our skin feels it first. One week you’re glowing from summer’s last rays, the next you’re fighting dry skin in winter; patches tightness, and the sudden need to slather on lip balm. That’s where a cold weather skincare reset comes in: a gentle overhaul designed to restore balance, lock in hydration, and protect your skin barrier during winter’s chilly months.
This isn’t about reinventing your routine, but more like recalibrating it. Think of it as a seasonal wardrobe switch, but for your skincare shelf.
Written By: Dawn Rajah - Published: 31.10.25
Start with a Gentle Cleanse
Cold weather often means dry air and central heating, a double act that strips moisture and stresses your skin barrier. If your cleanser leaves your face feeling squeaky-clean, it’s probably too harsh for winter skin.
Now’s the time to swap foaming gels and exfoliating acids for creamy, milky or oil-based cleansers that cleanse without stripping. Think of this step as the start of hydration rather than the end of a long day. Formulas rich in squalane, oat extract and glycerin help replenish what cold and dry skin take away, while a balm-to-milk texture can transform the ritual entirely. Massage it in with warm hands to dissolve makeup and SPF, then rinse to reveal skin that feels soft and balanced, not squeaky.
If you’re loyal to the double-cleanse, keep it gentle. Begin with micellar water or a balm to lift impurities, followed by a hydrating milk cleanser to rebalance. Skip anything foamy or fragranced, sensitive winter skin has enough to contend with.
Ultimately, the goal isn’t that fresh-out-of-soap feeling, but one of calm and comfort. Your cleanser should leave your face feeling nourished, not bare. It’s an essential step in your winter skin care routine.
Layer on Hydration
When temperatures drop, hydration becomes a non-negotiable. With the constant shift in temperatures, your skin is left vulnerable to irritation and dryness during winter, so this is the moment to strengthen your barrier and layer your hydration like armour.
After cleansing, smooth on a hydrating serum for winter while your skin is still slightly damp. This helps lock in water before it evaporates, creating the base layer your skin craves in the cold seasons. Look for hyaluronic acid to attract moisture, polyglutamic acid to hold it there, and niacinamide if you’re acne prone or looking to calm inflamed skin.
Next, seal everything in with the best moisturiser for winter: a barrier-supporting formula rich in ceramides, shea butter or peptides. These ingredients replenish the natural lipids that cold weather and central heating depletes. If your usual lotion suddenly feels too light, upgrade to a cream or balm texture that cushions the skin instead of sitting on top of it.
For an added boost, finish with a few drops of facial oil (rosehip, jojoba or marula) pressed gently into the skin. Think of it as the final layer of protection between your complexion and the cold. If you’re acne-prone or easily congested, skip the oil and opt for a thicker, non-comedogenic winter moisturizer for dry skin that delivers the same barrier support without the weight.
Don’t Forget the SPF
It might feel counterintuitive, but UV rays don’t hibernate, they just hide better. Even on overcast days, up to 80% of UVA rays can penetrate clouds and glass, meaning your skin is still exposed during short commutes, lunchtime walks or hours spent near a window. Add the reflective power of snow, and winter sun damage becomes a very real threat.
Skipping SPF is one of the most common (and easily avoidable) winter skincare mistakes. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher is your best defence, protecting against both premature ageing and barrier stress.
Look for hydrating or mineral formulas that double as skincare, enriched with antioxidants, niacinamide or hyaluronic acid to counter dryness and calm irritation. Apply generously every morning, and reapply if you’re outdoors. Think of SPF as an invisible winter coat, one that shields long after the clouds roll in.
Need a refresher on the basics? Read our full SPF 101 guide for everything you need to know.
Exfoliate, But Do It Mindfully
When your skin feels dry or tight, exfoliating can sound like the last thing it needs, but when done correctly, it’s the secret to reviving dry winter skin. Gentle exfoliation helps sweep away the dull, flaky layer that blocks moisture, allowing your serums and creams to sink in where they’re needed most.
Once or twice a week is enough. The goal isn’t a squeaky-clean finish, but a smooth, refined texture that still feels comfortable. Skip harsh physical scrubs or potent acids; winter skin cre calls for lactic acid, PHAs, or fruit enzyme exfoliators, which work quietly to dissolve dead cells without disrupting your barrier.
Follow with a deeply hydrating winter moisturiser or mask to replenish what’s been lifted away. And if your skin starts to sting, tighten or flush, take it as your cue to step back, in colder months, restraint is just as important as renewal.
Target the Trouble Zones: Lips, Hands, and Beyond
Winter doesn’t discriminate; it goes for your lips, hands, and any skin that braves the air. These areas have fewer oil glands, making them more prone to dry and cracked hands in winter and chapped lips from cold weather.
For lips, choose balms rich in lanolin, shea butter or beeswax to create a protective seal. Apply throughout the day, and layer on thickly before bed for an overnight repair treatment.
Hands face constant washing and cold exposure, so keep a nourishing hand cream within reach: at your desk, in your car, and by your bed.
For the body, switch lightweight lotions for buttery body cream for winter dry skin and apply straight after showering to trap in moisture. A few drops of body oil in the bath transform hydration into ritual, and routine into indulgence.
Upgrade Your Evening Routine
Your skin does most of its repair work overnight, making your evening routine the perfect place for richer textures and restorative ingredients.
Reach for a sleeping mask or night cream for dry skin in winter packed with ceramides, peptides or hyaluronic acid to replenish hydration and strengthen the barrier overnight. If your complexion leans dull or uneven, introduce a mild retinol or bakuchiol serum a few nights a week, it gently speeds up cell turnover without the irritation that stronger activities can bring in winter.
Don’t overlook your pillowcase, either. Cotton can absorb your products and wick away moisture, while silk or satin helps skin retain hydration and prevents creasing. A soft, warm cleanse, followed by slow layering and a calming scent, turns your evening winter skincare routine into a ritual that soothes both skin and mind.
Rehydrate Your Environment
Sometimes, the best skin treatment in winter doesn’t come from a bottle. Indoor heating strips humidity from the air, which in turn pulls moisture from your skin. That’s why a humidifier is one of the smartest winter skincare products you can make. By releasing gentle moisture into your space, it helps reduce transepidermal water loss and keeps your barrier supple overnight.
If you don’t have a humidifier, a bowl of water near a radiator is a surprisingly effective substitute. Plants can also help reintroduce humidity and improve air quality.
Treat Yourself to a Weekly Skin “Top-Up”
A weekly mask is the skincare equivalent of a Sunday reset, but for your face. It’s your chance to give the skin a targeted boost, whether it’s hydration, balance or brightness you’re chasing.
For tight or dehydrated winter skin, reach for masks with hyaluronic acid, honey or aloe to replenish lost moisture. If you’re feeling congested, clay or green tea formulas help clarify without over-drying. Sheet masks, stored in the fridge, offer an instant cooling and de-puffing effect, perfect after a long week or a late night.
Consistency matters more than frequency. Once or twice a week is plenty. Follow up with a rich moisturiser or sleeping mask to lock in the benefits. It’s a small act of care that turns a basic winter skincare moment into something ritualistic.
Build a Routine That Feels Like Comfort
Ultimately, a cold weather skin care routine isn’t just about hydration or barrier repair; it’s about creating moments of comfort. Skincare can be functional, yes, but it can also be grounding: warming your cleanser between your palms, massaging in your serum slowly, or ending the day with the soft scent of your night cream.
Listening to your skin’s cues (whether it’s craving moisture, calm or minimalism) is the most luxurious thing you can do for it. On harsh winter days, a gentler touch can be more powerful than the most expensive active.
By treating skincare as ritual rather than routine, you create a pause in your day that nourishes both skin and spirit. The glow that follows isn’t just from hydration, it’s from slowing down, paying attention, and letting care itself be part of the treatment.