How I Take Care Of My Body Skin During Colder Months

Written By Amy M. Koberling

I swear when the weather cools down, my skin is the first to complain. Am I referring to the skin on my face, of course. BUT! I am absolutely referring to my “body skin.” And you better believe winter is the season I become extra intentional with my body skin routine. My goal this time of year is pretty much always the same: minimize water loss, support the barrier, and lock in hydration that actually stays.


Body care doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective, but it does need to be strategic—especially in colder, drier months. Here’s the exact approach I take, step-by-step.

Step 1: Exfoliation

The reason I am mentioning exfoliation first is because most of the time when I shower, I start with an “active” body wash. Then for a second “cleanse,” I will go in with my gentle body wash! 

  • Why exfoliate in winter: A huge mistake I see people make is that they stop exfoliating in colder months. A mix of the cold air and indoor heat slows down natural cell turnover and increases flakiness.  

  • Why I skip scrubs: Like I mentioned, I love using my first cleanse for my body to be an active cleanse. With that, this will never ever be a physical scrub. They can create micro-tears and worsen dryness/itching. I prefer chemical exfoliants (like salicylic, lactic, or mandelic acid) because they exfoliate evenly and with less irritation.

  • Best acids for winter skin:

Step 2: Body Wash

Following the active cleanse, I love to go in with a gentle body wash!

  • Just like you probably (& hopefully) switch your facial cleanser, the same goes with your body wash. In the fall and winter, I switch to a gentle, barrier-supportive body wash with ceramides, glycerin, niacinamide, and hydrating oils—these replenish moisture as you cleanse and help prevent the tight, itchy feeling. 

  • Random, but I see a lot of discourse on this online, so I wanted to briefly mention the temperature of water in the shower. I keep the water warm—not hot and limit shower time to help prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

  • What body wash I am reaching for:

    • iota Supervitamin Body Wash — for starters, the smell is 10/10. This one is also packed with niacinamide, glycerin, and postbiotics to support the skin barrier and microbiome. The formula cleanses without disrupting lipids, which is key in colder weather when the skin is already losing moisture.

    • Nécessaire The Body Wash — this one is just super rich and yummy. It has niacinamide and gentle surfactants, so again, super hydrating.

Step 3: Moisturize

After showering, I pat skin dry and moisturize immediately while still slightly damp.

  • Again, I am hoping you use moisturizer year round, but now is the time to go with something a little richer. 

  • I recently have been reaching for Curél Dry & Itchy Body Cream a lot when I want a no-frills, deeply replenishing moisturizer that supports the barrier and calms irritation. It’s pretty much a staple in any derm office. 

  • When I want something a little more decadent (aka I want to smell like a cupcake), I use Josie Maran Vanilla Vibez Body Butter or Kate McLeod’s Body Stone. It’s rich and just so yummy.

  • In colder months, I love to seal in hydration with an oil. Oils create an occlusive layer that slows that water loss and locks in the moisture from your cream. I rotate between the Tata Harper Revitalizing Body Oil for a splurge option and the Naturium’s Body Oil for a more budget-friendly (but just as good) option.

  • Usually if it’s before bed and I am not using an oil, I really want to seal in the moisture from my moisturizer. So I will use the same slugging technique that I use on my face. Just a thin layer of occlusive (Prequel will always be my fav) over my moisturizer. .

Step 5: SPF

This is obviously specific to daytime bodycare, but let this be your reminder to always always wear SPF during the day! Even in colder months, UV and visible light reach exposed areas. Consistent protection is the absolute best thing you can do for your skin, second to none! Supergoop’s Play has been a favorite for awhile now, and I love Pipette’s for my daughters,

Pro Tip: A bit of a miscellaneous one, but I will say using a humidifier in my bedroom has made a massive difference for me (especially as a dry skin girlie)! When indoor heat kicks on, the air becomes desert-level dry, which pulls moisture from your skin while you sleep. A humidifier helps keep moisture in the air — and on your skin. Just a little bonus tip if you really want to go above and beyond!

I hope your skin is glowing all fall & winter long! As always, DM me any and all questions!

xx Amy

**Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and may contain products gifted in PR. This means that I may earn a small commission when you purchase via these links at no additional cost to you (thank you! It helps me keep things up and running)… As always I ONLY recommend products, goods and services that I stand behind and personally love and use.

Amy M. Koberling
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