Winter is well on its way, which means one thing: it’s dry skin season. The cold air in the winter months causes the moisture in your to skin evaporate more quickly, leading to dry, flaky skin that’s both uncomfortable and unsightly. But fear not, because this guide is here to help you prevent dry skin in winter so that you can stay smooth-faced and glowy all year round. Stay tuned for my top tips.

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. When you book through my links, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Avoid Scalding Hot Showers

I know that it’s tempting to turn up the heat in the shower on a cold day, but hot water strips your skin of its natural oils, thus drying it out even more. Lukewarm water is much gentler on your face. If you have to have your showers piping hot, then wash your face at the basin afterwards. Adding in this one simple step could really spare your skin this winter.

Use a Gentle Cleanser

Harsh ingredients are not your friend this winter. Instead, opt for a gentle cleanser full of hydrating ingredients to leave your skin soft, smooth and flake-free. 

Exfoliate Regularly 

Exfoliating your skin is so important for hydration. When you remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, your products are able to perform much more effectively. I recommend using a lactic acid serum 2-3 nights per week as this is a gentle exfoliant that’s a perfect match for dry skin. Here are some quality options with safe concentrations of lactic acid:

It’s also a good idea to dermaplane your face every 3-4 weeks. Dermaplaning is essentially shaving your face with a scalpel. I promise, it’s not nearly as crazy as it sounds and it’s the best way to remove peach fuzz and dead skin cells. For more on that, check out this comprehensive guide. 

Use a Hydrating Serum

Hyaluronic acid is the undisputed skincare superstar of recent years and it’s long been one of my top 5 must-have skin care products. It’s a humectant ingredient that can retain over 1,000 times its weight in water. In short, it’s a hydration hero that will seriously help you prevent dry skin in winter. 

Apply a few drops of high-quality hyaluronic acid serum to damp skin right after cleansing. Then, go in with your moisturizer straight afterwards to lock in all of that hydrating goodness – otherwise, the serum may evaporate.

 Soothe Irritated Skin With Centella Asiatica 

Centella asiatica is one of the best Korean beauty products out there. It’s a natural ingredient that reduces redness and soothes irritation, so I recommend incorporating it into your winter skin care routine. Here are some of the best ones on the market:

Moisturize Regularly

Well, duh. Choose a rich moisturiser with high quality hydrating ingredients and apply it to damp skin straight after your hydrating serum. An emollient moisturizer will not only hydrate the skin but also lock in moisture to prevent it from drying out again. Here are some of my favorite winter picks:

Stay Hydrated 

We’re generally less thirsty in the winter but your skin can’t be hydrated if you aren’t. To prevent dry skin in winter, keep on chugging water like it’s a hot summer’s day, even if there’s a blizzard raging outside.

Use A Face Oil At Night

Face oils are an old-school beauty secret that have come back with a bang. Not only do they reduce wrinkles and minimize pores, they also hydrate and protect the skin, which is exactly what you need during the winter months. 

A face oil should be the last step in your night time routine, so apply it after your moisturizer and look forward to radiant skin in the morning. I especially like rosehip and marula oils as they’re both full of antioxidants. 

Experiment with Slugging

This last suggestion is going to sound crazy, but stick with me. I love investigating new and kooky trends and so I present to you: slugging. 

Slugging means slathering your face with Vaseline before you go to bed and washing it off in the morning. The Vaseline forms a protective barrier over your skin which locks in all the moisture from your other skin care products, allowing them to hydrate you to the fullest.

This bizarre trend first appeared on Reddit – I mean, where else? – and has taken the internet by storm. Not everybody is a fan, but many beauty gurus swear by it. If you’d like to try it, put an old towel over your pillow to protect your linens.

For more on skin care, check out my guide to getting rid of mask acne or how to incorporate retinol into your skin care routine.