Best Routine For Dry, Winter Skin
Ok — I’m going to be real with you. I’m cold. It’s cold outside. I’m pretty sure I have a cold. And my skin? It is absolutely going through it. You know the signs. Your skin feels tight the second you cleanse, your lips are cracked, your foundation is pilling in places it never used to… Don’t worry, I’m right there with you.
This is your reminder that your skincare routine is not meant to be static. Your skin needs seasonal adjustments.. In honor of this, I’m sharing my exact PM routine for dry, cold months.
A few things to keep in mind…
A lot of the “why” behind our skin feeling the way it does in winter is probably common sense. The colder temperatures, lower humidity, indoor heat…it’s all going to cause your skin to lose more water than it can hold on to. So unless we are incredibly intentional with our routines, our skin is going to feel dry and dehydrated.
This leads me to one of the biggest winter skincare misconceptions…
Hydrating your skin and moisturizing your skin are not the same!
• Hydration = water inside the skin
• Moisture = oils and lipids that seal and protect
Most people skip hydration entirely and try to fix winter skin by caking on moisturizers.
But without restoring water first, you’re just sealing dryness into the skin — which leads to tightness, irritation, and poor product absorption.
We will get into this in the routine, but the best thing you can do is use a hydrating serum and then do a thin layer of your favorite moisturizer.
Without further ado, let’s get into the PM Skincare Routine you’re going to use all winter..
Step One: Double Cleanse
In the winter, cleansing is one of the most important — and and most commonly overlooked — steps in protecting your skin barrier.
If you’ve read my blog on first cleanses, you know that I typically cycle between cleansing balms, oils, and micellar water. With that, in colder months, I’m always going creamier, so I usually suggest a cleansing balm. TBH I am likely reaching for Elemis Cleansing Balm or Naturium’s Ginseng Balm. I won’t bore you with the how-tos (you can read my full blog on how to double cleanse though, if you’re new to it)!
From there, I always look for second cleanses that contain barrier-supportive, hydrating ingredients — things like glycerin, panthenol, squalane, ceramides, and gentle surfactants. These types of formulas help maintain hydration, reduce inflammation, and keep your skin feeling comfortable. Skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Oil Cleanser has been a favorite for years.
Pro Tip: Lean into how your skin feels after cleansing! It’s more telling than you think. Your skin should feel clean after cleansing, not squeaky or stripped. If it does, that’s usually a sign your cleanser is working against your barrier rather than with it.
Step Two: (optional) Eye Cream
You’ve probably heard me say this a thousand times, but if you’re feeling extra, you can absolutely add an eye cream here. It’s one of those steps that if I have the time and I feel like a little zhuzh, I’ll do it. Here are a few of my favorites!
Step 3: Hydration
This is the step that I think really sets this routine apart.
Before I apply my moisturizer, I have been loving applying a hyaluronic acid serum first. Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant — meaning it attracts and holds water inside the skin. My personal favorite is the PCA Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum (a bit of a splurge, but I find it worth it), and for a more budget-friendly option, you can’t go wrong with Naturium’s.
Step Three: Moisturizer
As you’d imagine, during colder months, you’re going to want to reach towards your favorite rich and creamy moisturizer. Similar to your cleanser, look for ingredients like ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids.
In the colder months, I rotate between Aestura Atobarrier Cream and Skinfix Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream. You really can’t go wrong with either one!
Step Four: Final Topper (optional)
One to two nights of the week, if my skin feels especially dry — and as long as I’m not using strong actives — I’ll finish with a slug. I usually do a pea sized amount of Prequel all over! Think of it like a protective seal.
If I’m not doing a slug, but I do feel extra dry, I have been using Bonjout Beauty Balm for awhile now (and love it).
Either of these options aren’t something you need every single night, but when your skin needs extra support, it can make a huge difference.
Step Five: Don’t Forget Your Lips
Your lips don’t have oil glands, which makes them especially vulnerable to dryness and cracking in the winter (I know mine have been extra cracked while I’ve been in Ohio). Because of that, I almost always finish my routine by applying Ointment to my lips at night.
