Cold temperatires, harsh winds, and indoor heating can dry out and irritate your skin. A strong winter skincare routine helps protect your skin barrier and maintain hydration. The right ingredients and habits can support healthier skin during colder months. Small skincare changes can make a noticeable difference in skin health. This guide covers essential winter skincare tips and products for healthy, hydrated skin. Learn how to keep your skin soft, comfortable, and radiant all winter long.

What Skincare Products Should I Use in The Winter?

Include Moisturizing Ingredients

You've heard it before, and we're here to tell you again. Use a daily face cream or cover-up that has SPF protection against UVA rays. Believe it or not, even though it's not beach season, the rays still manage to reach our skin. At night, try using a heavier cream, as you won't be hydrating (internally or externally) for ideally 8 hours. Nighttime is also the perfect time to slather cream on those forgotten feet and hardworking hands – not having them in use during this time increases its chance to soak into your skin faster. For body care, moisturize immediately following your bath or shower to best lock in moisture. Coconut oil (yes, the same kind you eat), shea butter, seabuckthorn oil, aloe, almond oil, calendula, and vitamin E are all great things to look for when buying a moisturizer.

Use Gentle Products

Cut back on aggressive skin treatments during the winter months. This means exfoliating only once a week. This is a perfect time to use hydrating masques instead of clay-based ones, which can be more drying. Avoid alcohol-based toners or astringents that can strip necessary oils and moisture from the skin.

Wash your face no more than twice daily to avoid stripping natural oils. Adjust your skincare routine with the seasons. In winter, consider switching from oil-control cleansers to hydrating cleansing milks or gentler cleansers. Choose fragrance-free skincare products when possible. Fragrances can irritate sensitive or dry skin, especially during colder months.

For body wash, look for moisturizing ingredients like goat milk, shea butter, or nourishing oils. Avoid very hot showers because heat can worsen dryness and damage the skin barrier. Use warm or cooler water to help your skin retain moisture. After showering, apply moistuizer while your skin remains slightly damp. This step helps lock in hydration and supports the skin barrer.

Stay Hydrated

You want your skin to look hydrated? Then you better HYDRATE! The amount of water you need will vary based on age, weight, and physical activity – the general rule: drink enough to keep your urine a pale yellow (like straw) colour. If you take B vitamins, you may notice your urine is bright yellow, no matter how much you drink (don't worry, this is normal!). If you prefer hot beverages, try herbal tea instead. It counts as a glass of H20!

Consume Healthy Fats

Moisturize from the inside out by regularly eating healthy omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish or fish oil and flax or flax oil. Healthy fat-rich foods, such as nuts and avocados, can also go a long way in keeping skin looking nourished and glowing.

Eat Key Skin Supporting Nutrients

Foods high in vitamins A, C, E, and selenium keep your skin healthy, radiant and well-protected from oxidative damage. Vitamin A increases the rate of skin turnover; sweet potatoes are also a great source of vitamin A. Vitamin C promotes collagen, and vitamin E is secreted on the skin's surface - for protection and moisture. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, so eat your greens with a little oil. Selenium helps promote glutathione action, an antioxidant extraordinaire, fighting inflammation, aging, and skin cancers, all caused by free radical damage. Two Brazil nuts a day will give you a healthy dose of selenium – who knew!

Lifestyle Tips To Support Skin During Winter Months

Don’t underestimate the importance of sleep, a healthy diet, and regular exercise when it comes to your skin; all of these are essential. Growth hormones are released while we sleep, necessary for tissue repair. When we don't get enough, even our skin pays the price. Sleep deprivation has been shown to age the skin, leading to dullness, fine lines and dark circles under the eyes. Diet and exercise are often overlooked, ignored or put aside during the winter months. Focus on fruits and veggies. If you aren’t up for a salad when its cold out, make a hot salad by lightly steaming some kale, broccoli and bok choy, top with pine nuts, and dress it with a sesame oil, garlic, soy sauce and honey dressing. Yum! If you can't make it to the gym, throw on your snowsuit and get outside… winter sports are fun AND an effective exercise.

The skin is our largest organ – give it some well-deserved pampering this winter!