7 easy ways to prevent and treat winter skin for a healthier and comfortable complexion in the colder months

Skin feeling dry, irritated and dull despite all the joys of the festive season? Sounds like you’ve got a case of winter skin. 

Just like you winter-proof your wardrobe to deal with the changing seasons (linen is out and wool is very much in) it’s good to know how to switch up your skincare to meet your complexion’s cold-weather needs. That might mean upgrading your best moisturiser to something heavier and more ceramide-rich or trading in a foamy cleanser for the nourishment of one of the best cleansing balms. 

“The winter season brings several factors that can affect our skin,” explains NHS doctor, skincare expert and Nivea ambassador Dr Kemi Fabusiwa. “Cold weather, low humidity, drying central heating and reduced sunlight exposure are some of the key elements that can contribute to these effects. Many individuals notice increased dryness, flakiness and roughness during winter. Some people may also experience redness, itching and even conditions like eczema or psoriasis flaring up due to harsh winter conditions.” Dullness is also a specifically wintery problem. In short, winter isn’t great news for our skin. But, the good news, is that we have spoken to three brilliant skin experts to bring you six reliable remedies to prevent and treat those wind, snow and ice-induced side effects. 

Dr Kemi Fabusiwa

Dr Kemi Fabusiwa is an NHS doctor with a passion for skincare who used her Instagram platform to answer your most pressing questions. She is currently working as an ambassador for skincare brand Nivea. 

7 ways to care for winter skin – and stop your complexion from playing up in the first place

1. Protect and reinforce your skin barrier

Want to know how to fix dry skin? Focus on your skin barrier. The main function of the skin is as a barrier that keeps important things like our organs safely inside our bodies, and unwanted things like bacteria and pollution, out. But, when people say the phrase skin barrier, a lot of the time what they’re talking about is the very top layer of our skin, which is called the stratum corneum. If you look at this under a microscope, you’ll see that it looks a bit like a brick wall, with fatty acids like ceramides making up the mortar that holds our skin cells (aka the bricks) together. When our skin is exposed to cold temperatures, that wall becomes weakened and compromised. There’s not enough oil to keep it structurally sound, meaning moisture can escape through the cracks and lead to dryness and irritation. 

“It is important to adjust your skincare during the winter period to include ingredients that will hydrate and support the skin barrier,” says Dr Derrick Phillips, a Consultant Dermatologist working with CeraVe. “Dry skin can be prevented by incorporating ceramides, emollients like shea butter and occlusives like petroleum into your skincare routine. These ingredients will repair the skin barrier and prevent loss of moisture from the skin surface.” With the barrier water-tight and fully intact, winter won’t be able to wreck anywhere near as much havoc on your complexion, and it’ll feel lovely and soft, rather than dry and rough.

Dr Derrick Phillips

Dr Phillips is a Consultant Dermatologist based in London and working with ceramide-focused skincare brand CeraVe. He specialises in all areas of skin health, from acne to rosacea. 

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2. Turn down the temperature of your taps

We know there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of stepping under a scorching hot shower or into a bath hot enough to rival a cauldron when it’s freezing outside, but it’s not going to do your skin any favours.

“Hot showers taken for comfort during the colder months and sitting close to radiators both strip away the essential natural oils from the outer layers of the skin,” explains Dr Phillips.

To avoid upsetting the delicate balance of your skin and stripping it of moisture, trade searing temperatures for more tepid ones when washing your face and body. It’s also a smart idea to make sure that the products you’re cleansing with are nice and gentle on the skin, rather than harsh or overly fragranced which might irritate sensitive complexions.  

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3. Rehydrate your skin

Unlike dry skin which which is short on oil, dehydrated skin is lacking in water. All skin types can be impacted by dehydration during the winter, so your skin could be oily and dehydrated all at once. It happens during the colder months partly as we’re less good at hydrating our bodies in general (it’s harder to guzzle the NHS-recommended six to eight glasses a day when you’re not hot or thirsty) and also because lower humidity levels both indoors and out mean there’s less hydration available for our skin to absorb from the atmosphere.

As well as making sure we’re drinking enough “the key to treating and preventing dehydrated skin is using moisturisers and skincare products containing hyaluronic acid, glycerin and urea,” advises Dr Phillips. All three of these belong to a family of ingredients called humectants which work like magnets to draw moisture into the skin and hold it there.  

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4. Don’t overwhelm your complexion

Winter is the perfect time to address any skin concerns, like hyperpigmentation, that have either been brought on or made worse by a summer’s worth of sun exposure. “Brighter-looking skin can be achieved through exfoliation with acids and retinoids, which remove superficial pigmentation and promote the renewal of the outer layers of the skin,” advises Dr Phillips. “ The problem though, is that if your skin is irritated and compromised by the colder weather, then it’s not going to take too kindly to a sudden influx of strong actives. Our advice is to go slow and low, introducing one new ingredient or product at a time and using just a couple of times a week, to begin with. Once you can see that your skin is happy and tolerating this well, you can consider upping the ante with more regular use or combining it with different ingredients. 

“Some individuals may want to consider switching their skincare to less harsh products generally during the winter, perhaps skipping the actives that may be stripping the skin of natural oils,” says Dr Pyal Patel, a GP and expert advisor for E45. Beta-hydroxy acids like salicylic acid, a type of liquid exfoliant that works wonders on overly oily and spot-prone complexions, is a good example of an ingredient you might need less of during the winter, as the weather means your complexion is less likely to be congested. Trade instead for poly-hydroxy acids (or PHA skincare for short) like gluconolactone and lactobionic acid which are still great exfoliation but much gentler on the skin.

Dr Pyal Patel

Dr Pyal Patel is a GP with a special interest in dermatology and all things skin-related. She is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to product recommendations as well as practical advice, and currently working as an expert advisor for E45. 

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5. Get outdoors when you can

With most of us leaving for work in the dark and coming home in the dark, it’s tricky to get much sun exposure at all between November and February. “A lack of sunlight during winter can impact our complexion,” explains Dr Fabusiwa. “Sunlight is an important source of vitamin D, which plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy skin. Reduced sunlight exposure can lead to a deficiency of this vitamin and potentially affect the overall appearance and function of our skin.”

If you can’t nip out for a walk on your lunch hour, think about other ways you can top up your vitamin D levels, such as applying topical skincare that contains it, popping a supplement or investing in a sun lamp for your desk. 

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6. Invest in an antioxidant serum

Skin looking drab? Alongside soaking up some more vitamin D, antioxidants are your secret weapon against winter-induced dullness. They work by preventing free radicals (a type of molecule emitted by things like UV rays, pollution and cigarette smoke) from damaging your healthy skin cells and robbing them of radiance. With continued use, they can also make your skin appear generally brighter and more luminous by evening out its tone and fading hyperpigmentation.

There are lots of different antioxidants used in skincare, such as vitamin E, glutathione and resveratrol, but vitamin C is the most popular. “Using products with brightening ingredients like vitamin C can help improve skin tone and reduce dullness,” says Dr Fabusiwa. 

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7. Don’t forget your SPF

During the summer it’s easy to think of your best facial sunscreen as a non-negotiable daily essential, but when it’s grey and dreary outside rather than super sunny, it starts to feel much less important. The problem with that mindset though, is that the potential for sun damage doesn’t disappear when the clocks fall back.

“Although the sun may not feel as intense during winter, harmful UV rays can still penetrate through clouds and cause damage to our skin,” explains Dr Fabusiwa. This particular type of UV she’s talking about is UVA rays, which, according to Dr Phillips, “stimulate the breakdown of collagen, damages skin cells and is responsible for 80% of the signs of skin ageing.” All in all, not ideal.

“Snow can also reflect sunlight, intensifying its effects,” Dr Fabusiwa adds. “Therefore, it’s crucial to wear sunscreen with at least SPF30 on exposed skin, especially the face, during winter to protect against UV damage and premature ageing.” Not taking this advice might not mean winter skin problems for this year, but unfortunately will come back to bite you later. Play it safe by following your daily moisturiser with one of the best sunscreens for sensitive skin. 

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