Cold winter air, harsh winds, and indoor heating can strip away your skin’s natural moisture, leaving it feeling dull and dehydrated. However, with the right winter skincare routine, you can keep your skin soft, hydrated, and glowing all season long.
Why Does Skin Get So Dry in Winter?
When winter arrives, the crisp, chilly air may feel refreshing, but your skin often disagrees. Many people notice that their skin becomes tight, flaky, or rough, no matter how much product they use. So, why does this happen?
Low Humidity Levels
Cold air holds far less moisture than warm air. As a result, your skin loses water more quickly, leaving it dehydrated. If you spend long hours outside or in centrally heated spaces, your skin struggles to retain hydration, leading to that uncomfortable dryness.
Indoor Heating
While heating keeps you cosy, it also strips humidity from the air. That means your skin faces dry air both indoors and outdoors – a double hit to its natural moisture balance.
Hot Showers and Harsh Cleansers
It’s tempting to take long, hot showers in winter, but hot water removes essential oils from your skin. Additionally, many foaming cleansers are overly astringent, leaving your complexion dry, irritated, and dull.
A Compromised Skin Barrier
When your skin loses its natural oils, its protective barrier weakens. Without that defence, water evaporates faster, causing flaky texture, redness, and increased sensitivity – especially for people prone to sensitive or eczema-prone skin.
The good news? With the right winter skincare routine, you can strengthen your skin barrier again and restore hydration.
How to Restore Hydration and Glow
Once you understand why your skin feels dry in winter, the solution becomes much clearer. The key lies in adjusting your routine and lifestyle to support long-lasting moisture. Here's a few tips on how to support dry skin in winter:
Adjust Your Routine
- Switch to a gentle cleanser: A hydrating face wash helps protect your natural oils while cleansing effectively.
- Add a hydrating serum: Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin, which draw moisture into the skin.
- Use a good moisturiser for dry skin: Opt for products containing ceramides or shea butter to lock in hydration and strengthen your barrier.
- Don’t skip SPF: Even in cloudy weather, UV rays can deplete your skin’s moisture levels.
Upgrade Your Night Ritual
At night, your skin works hardest to repair itself, making your evening routine the perfect time to add deeper hydration and nourishment. Apply a night cream, or sleeping mask to replenish moisture overnight.
Try: Napiers Frankincense Nourish Night Cream
This deeply hydrating night cream is enriched with frankincense, sandalwood, and vetiver. It features rosehip oil to soften and smooth, while shea butter creates a protective barrier to lock in lasting moisture. Jojoba oil helps balance and nourish without clogging pores, and a blend of natural antioxidants helps protect the skin’s appearance from the visible effects of environmental stressors. Together, these ingredients work overnight to support the skin’s natural repair process, leaving it soft, supple, and refreshed by morning.
As well as a night cream, you could also run a humidifier to keep indoor air from drying out your skin while you sleep.
Small Lifestyle Shifts
- Take shorter, lukewarm showers to preserve your natural oils.
- Stay hydrated – drinking enough water supports overall skin health.
- Eat omega-rich foods like salmon, walnuts, or flaxseeds to nourish your skin from within.
- Avoid over-exfoliating: once a week is enough during winter months.
Step-by-Step Winter Skincare Routine
Here’s a simple, effective winter skincare routine to help you achieve smooth, hydrated, and radiant skin:
1. Cleanse: Some foaming cleansers can be heavily astringent, stripping away your skin’s natural oils and leaving it feeling dry or tight. Instead, switch to a gentle cleanser that removes impurities effectively while maintaining hydration and comfort.
Perfect for dry or winter-stressed skin, this cleanser removes impurities without that tight, uncomfortable feeling that harsh cleansers can cause. Formulated with rowan berry extract, naturally rich in Vitamin C, this gentle cleanser helps brighten and protect dull complexions while supporting the skin barrier.
2. Tone: Apply a hydrating toner to prep the skin for serums and moisturisers
This gentle rose hydrosol mist helps to tone, soothe, and lightly hydrate the skin, making it ideal for those experiencing dryness or irritation during the colder months.
Formulated with pure Rosa damascena petals it helps restore the skin’s natural balance after cleansing and reduces redness and discomfort. The delicate rose aroma adds a subtle touch of relaxation to your skincare routine, leaving skin feeling refreshed, soft, and supported.
3. Serum: Use a Vitamin C serum with hyaluronic acid to brighten and support the skin.
Lightweight and fast-absorbing, this formula combines stabilised Vitamin C with hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate, brighten, and protect the skin. Perfect for dull, dry, or tired-looking winter skin, it helps restore radiance while supporting your skin’s natural defences against environmental stressors. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin draw moisture into the skin, keeping it plump, smooth, and comfortable even in dry, heated indoor air.
Formulated with Stay-C® 50, a stable form of Vitamin C, this serum helps even out tone, improve dullness, and deliver lasting antioxidant protection without irritation. To learn more about Stay-C® 50, read our blog.
To also explore more on Vitamin C and its importance in skincare, read here.
4. Moisturise: Seal everything in with a thick, nourishing moisturiser for dry skin.
Discover the importance of using a thicker cream during winter in our in-depth guide.
Try: Napiers Rowan Moisture Formula
This deeply hydrating moisturiser is enriched with Scottish rowan berries, macadamia oil, shea butter, and seaweed extracts to help support bright and youthful-looking skin. Ideal for dry complexions, it locks in moisture, restores softness, and helps strengthen the skin barrier when it’s most vulnerable to cold weather.
Naturally high in Vitamin C, rowan berries help to brighten and protect the skin, while a blend of lion’s mane mushroom, speedwell, and Scottish seaweed promotes rejuvenation and improves firmness over time. Macadamia oil and shea butter provide lasting nourishment, leaving the skin smooth, supple, and comforted without heaviness.5. Protect: Finish with SPF 30+ to prevent further dehydration and protect against UV damage.
Following this step-by-step winter skincare routine can help maintain a healthy glow even in the coldest months.
FAQs
Can dry skin cause itching?
Yes, dry skin can lead to itching because a weakened moisture barrier allows irritants to penetrate and moisture to escape.
Why is dry skin itchy?
When the skin loses its natural oils, tiny cracks can form on the surface, triggering nerves and an immune response.
Can dry skin be a symptom of something else?
Sometimes – persistent dryness can be linked to conditions like eczema or psoriasis. If symptoms persist, consult a medical professional for advice.
What helps relieve itchy, dry skin?
Apply a rich moisturiser after cleansing, avoid hot water, and use gentle products with nourishing ingredients like shea butter or ceramides.
Should I exfoliate dry skin in winter?
Yes, but gently – once a week is ideal. Over-exfoliation can damage your barrier and worsen dryness.
What is the best moisturiser for dry skin in winter?
Look for thick, nourishing creams with ceramides, shea butter, or squalane. These ingredients help restore hydration and repair your skin barrier.
Do I need sunscreen in winter?
Absolutely. UV rays penetrate clouds and windows, so daily SPF is essential even in colder months.
