Winter presents a unique set of challenges for the skin. Cold air, harsh winds, indoor heating, and shifts between chilly outdoor conditions and heated indoor spaces all place significant stress on the skin.
Low humidity and cold temperatures weaken the skin barrier, increasing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and allowing moisture to escape more easily. As a result, skin often feels dehydrated, tight, rough, flaky, and more sensitive, while lips become dry and cracked. Cold weather also causes blood vessels to constrict, reducing circulation and limiting the delivery of oxygen and nutrients needed to support healthy skin function and repair.
Indoor heating further accelerates moisture loss by reducing humidity levels, while frequent temperature changes can provoke redness and sensitivity in already vulnerable skin. Winter winds add to this by stripping away the skin's natural lipids, compromising its protective barrier and leaving it increasingly susceptible to dehydration and environmental damage.
The result is a complexion that appears dull, depleted, and less resilient. During the colder months, prioritising deep hydration, barrier repair, and gentle exfoliation helps restore moisture, strengthen the skin's natural defences, and maintain a healthy, radiant complexion throughout the season.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN IN THE WINTER
CLEANSING
Winter skin requires a cleanser that effectively removes impurities without compromising the skin barrier. Cream, milk, balm, and oil cleansers dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and daily debris while preserving the skin's natural lipids. Unlike foaming cleansers, which can leave skin feeling tight, these nourishing formulas help replenish the fatty acids winter conditions naturally deplete, leaving the complexion soft, balanced, and better prepared to absorb the products that follow.
Tip: Cleanse with lukewarm rather than hot water, as excessive heat can further weaken the skin barrier and increase moisture loss.
EXFOLIATION
Exfoliation remains an essential step during winter, helping to remove the build-up of dry, dull surface cells so hydrating and active ingredients can penetrate more effectively. The key is to exfoliate gently; over-exfoliation can compromise the skin barrier, leading to increased sensitivity, dehydration, and irritation.
Tip: Choose gentle chemical exfoliants over harsh physical scrubs and reduce frequency if your skin feels dry or reactive.
HYDRATION
Hydration begins well before your moisturiser. Layering humectant-rich serums onto freshly cleansed skin helps draw water into the epidermis and maintain optimal hydration levels throughout the day. Look for formulas containing multi-molecular hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and polyglutamic acid to attract moisture, alongside antioxidants that help defend against environmental stress.
Tip: Apply hydrating serums to slightly damp skin to maximise water retention.
BARRIER SUPPORT
A well-functioning skin barrier is your best defence against winter. Finish your routine with a nourishing moisturiser containing ceramides, essential fatty acids, peptides, or plant-derived lipids to replenish what cold weather strips away. For very dry or compromised skin, applying a facial oil as the final step helps lock in hydration, reduce TEWL, and provide an additional layer of protection against the elements.
RESTORE
Winter is the ideal time to incorporate hydrating masks and overnight treatments into your routine. Used two to three times a week, these intensive treatments replenish moisture reserves, soothe irritation, strengthen the skin barrier, and support the skin's natural overnight repair processes, leaving your complexion calmer, stronger, and more radiant by morning.
SPF
Although the temperatures are cooler, UV radiation remains present throughout winter and continues to accelerate collagen breakdown, pigmentation, and premature skin ageing. Daily broad-spectrum SPF is essential for protecting your skin's health and preserving the results of your skincare routine.
Tip: Apply SPF every morning as the final step in your skincare routine, even on cloudy days or if you spend most of your time indoors near windows.
Healthy winter skin begins with understanding what it truly needs. A considered, barrier-focused routine helps restore balance, strengthen resilience, and leave your complexion nourished throughout winter and into the seasons ahead.
Mariya Makas
Founder
RIYA Studios
