As winter approaches, many find that their skin begins to feel the change. The crisp air and dry indoor heat can leave it looking dull and feeling tight. With the season’s harsh conditions, it’s easy for skin to lose moisture and vitality. But all is not lost—by choosing the right products, anyone can protect their skin and keep it looking its best throughout the colder months. A proper winter skincare routine can help maintain hydration, reduce irritation, and restore that healthy glow. This guide will share some of the best products to ensure that skin stays smooth, nourished, and radiant during the winter season.
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The Essential Winter Skincare Routine
Your winter skincare routine should include cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing, and protecting. Here’s how to create the perfect routine using some of the best skincare products available.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning a small commission may be earned if a purchase is made. This comes at no extra cost to the reader. All product recommendations are made carefully, based on the best options for winter skincare.
1. Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
Start your routine with a gentle cleanser that won’t strip your skin of its natural oils. The key here is to find a product that cleans without drying, allowing your skin to retain its moisture.
Best Products:
- CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
- CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser is formulated with essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which help restore and maintain the skin’s natural moisture barrier. It’s perfect for dry or sensitive skin types.
- Buy CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleanser Gel
- This gel-based cleanser is infused with hyaluronic acid to boost your skin’s moisture levels, gently cleaning while preventing your skin from feeling tight or dry.
- Buy Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleanser
2. Exfoliate with Care
Exfoliating is essential to remove dead skin cells that can cause dullness and clog pores. However, during winter, your skin can be more sensitive, so it’s important to use a mild exfoliant that won’t cause irritation.
Best Products:
- Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
- This exfoliant contains salicylic acid, which gently exfoliates the skin and clears pores without causing dryness or irritation. It helps reduce rough patches, leaving the skin smooth and refreshed.
- Buy Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting Exfoliant
- The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
- This toner gently exfoliates the skin, removes dead cells, and brightens the complexion. It’s perfect for maintaining smooth, even skin during the winter.
- Buy The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toning Solution
3. Moisturize with Deep Hydration
Winter skincare is all about keeping your skin hydrated. Look for a rich moisturizer that can lock in moisture, prevent dryness, and restore softness to your skin.
Best Products:
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
- This lightweight gel moisturizer is packed with hyaluronic acid, a powerful ingredient that draws moisture to the skin. It’s perfect for hydrating dry skin without making it feel greasy.
- Buy Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
- Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream
- Eucerin’s Advanced Repair Cream contains ceramides and natural moisturizing factors to lock in moisture and repair very dry skin. It’s ideal for severely dry skin that needs intense hydration.
- Buy Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream
4. Add a Hydrating Serum for Extra Moisture
Serums are great for giving your skin an extra boost of hydration. They are lightweight and highly concentrated, meaning they can penetrate deeper into the skin and provide intense moisture.
Best Products:
- The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
- This serum is packed with hyaluronic acid, which helps bind moisture to the skin, and vitamin B5, which helps with skin hydration. It’s an excellent choice for plumping dry, winter skin.
- Buy The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
- Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Vichy’s Minéral 89 Serum contains 89% volcanic water and hyaluronic acid, providing deep hydration and boosting the skin’s natural defenses. It’s perfect for adding moisture and protection during the winter months.
- Buy Vichy Minéral 89 Serum
5. Use a Rich Night Cream
Night creams are essential during winter because they provide intense hydration while you sleep. Choose a nourishing night cream that replenishes your skin’s moisture levels, leaving it soft and radiant by morning.
Best Products:
- Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream
- Olay’s Regenerist Night Cream is designed to provide overnight hydration, improving skin elasticity and reducing fine lines. It’s perfect for replenishing moisture and helping your skin recover from the harsh winter conditions.
- Buy Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream
- CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
- This night cream features peptides and ceramides to help repair and restore the skin’s natural barrier, while also providing intense hydration. It’s ideal for those with dry or sensitive skin.
- Buy CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
6. Protect Your Lips with a Nourishing Lip Balm
Chapped lips are a common problem during the winter months. To keep your lips soft and hydrated, use a nourishing lip balm that locks in moisture and prevents dryness.
Best Products:
- Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
- Made with natural ingredients like beeswax, vitamin E, and peppermint oil, this lip balm moisturizes and soothes dry lips while offering a refreshing scent.
- Buy Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
- Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25
- This lip balm provides deep hydration and protection with ingredients like shea butter and avocado oil. Plus, it has SPF 25, making it perfect for protecting your lips from harsh winter winds.
- Buy Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm
7. Hand Cream for Soft, Hydrated Hands
Winter tends to dry out the skin on your hands, which can lead to cracks and irritation. A rich hand cream is essential to keep your hands hydrated and soft throughout the day.
Best Products:
- L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
- This luxurious hand cream contains 20% shea butter and is designed to soothe and repair dry skin, leaving your hands feeling soft and nourished.
- Buy L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
- Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
- Neutrogena’s formula is concentrated and designed to provide relief for even the driest hands. It’s fast-absorbing and non-greasy, making it an excellent winter hand cream.
- Buy Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
Bonus Tip: Use a Humidifier
Along with your skincare routine, consider using a humidifier in your home. Humidifiers add moisture to the air, which helps prevent your skin from drying out in the winter. This is especially helpful if you live in a place where indoor heating is used frequently.
Best Product:
- Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Humidifier
- This ultrasonic humidifier can run for up to 25 hours, helping to keep the air in your home moist and your skin hydrated.
- Buy Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Humidifier
Conclusion
Winter doesn’t have to be a time when skin suffers. With the right products, anyone can keep their skin hydrated, soft, and glowing despite the cold. Whether it’s a deeply moisturizing cream, a gentle cleanser, or a nourishing serum, finding the right combination makes all the difference. A few simple additions to a skincare routine can help protect the skin and keep it looking fresh through the harshest months.
