When to Switch to Your Winter Routine (and What to Change)
Here's something that sneaks up on everyone: the products that felt perfect in humid summer suddenly feel "not enough". Skin turns tight after washing, makeup clings to dry patches, and your lips are permanently chapped. That's not your imagination. It's winter, and your skin barrier is feeling it.
Why winter is hard on skin
Cold air holds less moisture, and indoor heating dries it out further. A review in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology found that low humidity and low temperatures reduce skin barrier function, make skin more reactive to irritants and increase eczema flares (Engebretsen et al., 2016). A study comparing the same 25 women in summer and winter found higher water loss, lower hydration and lower ceramide levels in winter (note: most authors worked for a major skincare company) (Wei et al., Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2016).
In short: winter skin loses water faster and has less of the mortar that holds it in.
Signs it's time to switch
- Skin feels tight within minutes of cleansing.
- Your moisturiser "disappears" within an hour.
- Flaky patches around the nose, brows or mouth.
- Products that never stung suddenly sting.
- Rough, itchy shins and hands.
In much of North India that's November to February. In cooler climates it starts earlier. Air-conditioned offices can cause a mini-winter all year round!
What dermatologists recommend
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests short 5–10 minute showers in warm (not hot) water, applying moisturiser to damp skin right after washing, choosing creams or ointments over lotions, and running a humidifier in the bedroom (AAD dry skin tips). For winter specifically, they also suggest cutting back on AHA and BHA products (AAD, cold weather and your skin).
Your winter switch, step by step
- Cleanser: swap foaming for a creamy, low-foam cleanser. (Monday's post shows how to build a gentle one.)
- Hydration layer: keep it, but make it richer. Glycerin is the workhorse here (see our glycerin post), plus Sodium PCA and Panthenol.
- Moisturiser: go from gel or lotion to cream. Raise the oil phase and add butters and barrier lipids.
- Exfoliation: cut back to once a week, or switch to gentler PHAs (our exfoliant guide).
- Night: add a thin occlusive layer on very dry areas.
- Body and hands: richer creams with urea or lactic acid (our body care post).
- Sunscreen: still every day. Winter sun still has UVA.
Winter-proofing your formulas
If you make your own, these are easy upgrades:
- Barrier lipids: Ceramide Complex plus Cholesterol and fatty acids, following the 3:1:1 idea from Ceramides 101.
- Richer emollients: Shea Butter, Squalane, Mango Butter.
- Occlusives: a little Petrolatum or Candelilla Wax in balms.
- Soothers: Colloidal Oatmeal, Allantoin, Bisabolol.
- Humectant balance: keep glycerin, but always pair it with enough emollients on top.
Stability check: winter also means cold warehouses and courier vans. Freeze-thaw test your creams before launch, as in our stability testing guide.
Explore Barrier Repair, Emollients & Occlusives and Butters.
Cracked, bleeding or very itchy skin that doesn't improve should be seen by a dermatologist.