your winter skincare survival guide
how to prevent dry skin and stay smooth
As winter marches on, you've probably been thinking about how to adjust your skincare routine to stay moisturized and protected from the colder, drier air. This season calls for more nourishing products and a more thorough routine, but your winter routine doesn't have to be intimidating, costly, or time-consuming.
Here are pro-tips and product recommendations to help you avoid dry, cracked, chapped skin and lips and stay smooth this winter — especially if you struggle with dry skin in winter.
If you've ever wondered what actually causes dry winter skin, you're not alone.
why skin gets drier in winter
Not long after temperatures drop, our skin starts to show it. When the air outside turns cold, it holds less moisture, and to make matters worse, cold weather also slows your skin’s natural oil production. Add indoor heating, long hot showers, and lower humidity, and your skin protective barrier starts to lose the water it needs to stay soft and smooth. The result? Dry, itchy, chapped skin that craves hydration — and often leaves people wondering why does my skin crack in winter?
But even the coldest temps can be combated with a great skincare routine and products that are created to add and reinforce moisture in your skin and lips.
your winter skincare ingredient cheat sheet
Colder weather calls for more deeply nourishing ingredients that not only hydrate but also help repair and protect your skin barrier. Here are some of our favorite skincare super ingredients and what makes them so super.
Shea butter creates the ultimate moisture lock. It’s rich, creamy, and packed with fatty acids and vitamins, forming a protective layer on the skin to seal in hydration and defend against cold-weather dryness.
Shea oil delivers lightweight moisture. It absorbs quickly and delivers the same nourishing properties as shea butter, but with a silky, breathable finish.
Vitamin E is the ultimate antioxidant protector. When cold, dry winter air batters and stresses the skin, vitamin E steps in to protect the skin from environmental damage while soothing and strengthening it.
Glycerin is a powerful humectant. It draws water from the air into your skin, keeping it plump and dewy, even in dry, heated environments — and it even helps your other moisturizing ingredients work more effectively.
Coconut oil is loaded with fatty acids that soften and protect; its natural antibacterial properties help calm sensitive or chapped areas. Use it as a body moisturizer, lip balm, or even as an overnight treatment for dry spots.
Avocado oil is packed with vitamins that condition and soften while helping prevent flaking.
Cocoa seed butter adds richness and smoothness to support chapped or cracked lips.
Especially when paired together, these ingredients create the perfect recipe for soft, resilient winter skin. Look for products that blend them or mix and match in your own routine to keep dryness at bay and your skin and lips glowing, moisturized, and protected all season long.
stay smooth with a simple but effective routine
Your winter routine doesn’t need to be fancy, but your skin does need a little extra TLC to stay protected against harsher outdoor and indoor conditions. Here are three simple but essential steps for your winter skincare routine — whether you’re learning how to prevent dry skin or want to understand how to prevent dry skin in winter specifically.
start with the best lotion for winter hydration
First, right out of the shower when skin is still damp, trap in as much moisture as possible with your favorite body lotion. Choose a rich, nourishing formula packed with ingredients like shea oil and glycerin that instantly hydrate and heavier butters like shea that lock in moisture. A good lotion will help restore your skin’s moisture barrier and set the stage for long-lasting hydration.
Shop hydrating winter essentials
seal in moisture with a body oil for dry skin
After body lotion, slather on a body oil. Body oils feel super luxurious and are often used to give skin more radiance, but they’re essential to your winter routine because they’re a quick, easy solution for sealing in moisture and creating an extra protective barrier against winter air.
Try: Cashmere Body Oil
prevent dry lips with nourishing hydration
Top off your routine by protecting the most sensitive skin on your body and the first place to show signs of winter dryness: your lips. Apply a hydrating lip balm rich in shea butter, coconut oil, and vitamin E to keep lips soft and flake-free all day. Reapply often, especially before bed, to wake up to smooth, nourished lips.
Keep lips soft all season long
stay moisturized on-the-go with winter-friendly minis
Want to stay moisturized and protected on the go? Travel-friendly sizes of your favorite body care aren’t just convenient for travel and throwing into your purse, pockets, and more; they also make great gifts for anyone on your list.
