Winter Skincare Tips to Soothe Dry, Irritated Skin

Seasonal changes often bring about changes in rhythm. The cold season slows down our pace with longer nights, warmer, more nutritious meals, and natural changes to our winter health habits. However, although it feels comfortable during this season, the winter weather is not very kind to the skin. Cold air, low humidity, and indoor heat can cause dryness, dullness, and irritation, making the skin barrier more fragile and requiring special care.

To address the most common winter skin concerns, we’ve gathered expert-backed tips to fight dryness and dullness while protecting your skin’s barrier and restoring a healthy, radiant glow.

Common winter skin problems

Skin needs a little more TLC in winter. The combination of harsh weather and holiday stress (the link between cortisol and skin health may surprise you) can leave your skin dry, reactive, and out of balance. Cold air, low humidity, and indoor heat all contribute to seasonal skin stress, so winter is a time when your skin often needs extra care.

Common signs of winter skin are:

• drying: While dehydrated skin reflects a lack of internal hydration (which signals increased intake of water or hot drinks), dry skin is often caused by a combination of genetics and environmental stress. Cold temperatures and dry air strip the skin of its moisture, leaving it feeling dry, tight, and rough.
• stimulation: Itching, redness, and sensitivity are common in winter and are often caused by the environment. Dry indoor air, allergens, and pollutants can all make your skin less comfortable and make your skin more reactive than usual.
• Deterioration of skin barrier: The skin barrier acts as a protective shield, protecting against environmental stressors, irritation, and inflammation. When your skin becomes weakened due to harsh ingredients, over-exfoliation, or overuse of products, your skin becomes more sensitive and more prone to dullness and breakouts.

While it may be tempting to aggressively scrub and care for your winter skin, the most effective solutions focus on hydrating and strengthening your skin barrier. I talked to him. Hilary Peterson, founder of True Botanicals Learn how she keeps her skin hydrated, elastic, and glowing during the colder months.

How to cure dryness and dullness

For dry and flaky skin

Long, steamy showers may feel soothing in the winter, but a 5-10 minute warm shower or bath is more effective against damaging skin. Hot water strips your skin of its natural oils and dilates your capillaries, which can worsen redness, dryness, and peeling.

After showering, gently pat dry your skin and apply a generous amount of moisturizer within minutes to lock in moisture. If you leave your skin bare after bathing, the moisture evaporates quickly, taking away valuable moisture with it.

When shopping for winter skin care, look for ingredients like these to help replenish and protect your skin’s barrier.

• ceramide
• peptide
• hyaluronic acid
• fatty acid
• Centella asiatica
• glycerin
• niacinamide
• shea butter

If you have extremely dry skin, go to a cosmetic dermatologist. Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank We recommend that you continue to stay hydrated. Apply a light layer of an emollient moisturizer like Aquaphor to lock in moisture, then apply a cream moisturizer on top for added nourishment and protection.

If your skin is dry and flaky, but not inflamed, a gentle exfoliant will remove dead skin cells and revive dull skin. To smooth your skin without compromising your skin barrier, choose a gentle physical exfoliant or a mild AHA-based chemical exfoliant. If you follow this step carefully, the shine will be restored and moisturizing products will be absorbed more effectively.

For itchy, red skin

Winter’s cold air and low humidity can make your skin look and feel red, irritated, and uncomfortable. To soothe inflammation, Peterson recommends fortifying your skin with occlusive ingredients that help lock in moisture and protect against environmental stressors.

Look for nourishing oils and balms with ingredients such as:

• vaseline
• dimethicone
• jojoba oil
• oats

Applying a protective layer day and night will protect damaged skin, soothe irritation, and support healing all winter long.

It has also been shown to help the skin retain moisture. For extra tranquility, you can further enhance the experience by adding a few drops of relaxing essential oils such as bergamot, lavender, or jasmine.

To increase indoor humidity levels, consider placing a humidifier in your bedroom, especially while you sleep. A cool mist humidifier adds moisture to the air and supports your skin barrier throughout the night. Keeping your heat settings on low or medium temperatures can also prevent excessive drying.

protect the barrier

Barrier protection has become one of the hottest skincare topics in recent years, and for good reason. A healthy skin barrier is essential for hydrated, elastic, and glowing skin. When the barrier is compromised, the skin becomes more vulnerable to irritation, inflammation, and water loss.

Common causes of weakened skin barrier include:

• Imbalances in gut health
• lack of quality sleep
• environmental pollutants
• excessive exfoliation
• Harsh or exfoliating cleansers
• alcohol based products
• rich scent

Restoring your skin’s barrier often starts with simplifying your daily routine. Ditch aggressive active ingredients and replace them with barrier-supporting formulas. We then focus on hydrating and rebuilding the skin’s lipid layer, creating calmer, stronger skin that can withstand the challenges of winter.

Skin care as self-care

After all, caring for your skin barrier is much more than skin care, it’s part of a broader practice of staying healthy. Especially in the winter, taking the time to nourish your skin is one small but meaningful way to take care of yourself throughout the season.

If you’re ready to turn these insights into easy step-by-step rituals, check out our winter skin care routine guide.

This post was last updated on December 29, 2025 with new insights.