Winter Skin Care Tips to Soothe Dry, Irritated Skin

A change of season often brings with it a change of pace. The colder months invite a slower pace: longer nights, warmer, more nutritious meals, and a natural shift in your winter wellness rituals. But as comforting as this season may seem, winter weather is less kind to the skin. Cold air, low humidity and indoor heat can cause dryness, dullness and irritation, leaving the skin barrier more fragile and in need of extra care.

To help tackle the most common winter skin concerns, we’ve rounded up expert-backed tips to combat dryness and dullness while protecting the skin barrier and restoring a healthy, radiant glow.

Common winter skin problems

Your skin needs a little more love in winter. Harsher weather combined with the stress of the holiday season (the link between cortisol and skin health may surprise you) can leave skin feeling dry, reactive, and unbalanced. Cold air, low humidity, and indoor heat contribute to seasonal stress on the skin, making winter a time when the complexion often requires more careful care.

Common signs of winter skin include:

• Dryness: While dehydrated skin reflects a lack of internal hydration (a signal to increase water or hot beverage consumption), dry skin is often caused by a combination of genetics and environmental stress. Cold temperatures and dry air strip moisture from the skin, causing peeling, tightness, and a rough texture.
• Irritation: Itching, redness and sensitivity are common in winter and are often caused by the environment. Dry indoor air, allergens and pollutants can compromise skin comfort, leaving it more reactive than usual.
• A compromised skin barrier: The skin barrier acts as a protective shield, defending it against environmental stressors, irritation and inflammation. When weakened (often due to harsh ingredients, over-exfoliation, or product overload), skin becomes more sensitive and prone to dullness and breakouts.

While it may be tempting to scrub or treat winter skin aggressively, the most effective solutions focus on replenishing moisture and strengthening the skin barrier. we talk to Hillary Peterson, founder of True Botanicals to find out how it keeps your skin hydrated, resilient and glowing during the colder months.

How to solve dryness and dullness

For dry and flaky skin

A long, steamy shower may be comforting in the winter, but your skin benefits best from a 5- to 10-minute warm shower or bath. Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils and can dilate capillaries, causing increased redness, dryness, and peeling.

After showering, gently pat skin dry and apply a rich moisturizer within minutes to help seal in hydration. When skin is left bare after bathing, water evaporates quickly, taking valuable moisture with it.

When shopping for winter skin care products, look for ingredients that help replenish and protect the skin barrier, including:

• Ceramides
• Peptides
• hyaluronic acid
• fatty acids
• spark
• Glycerin
• niacinamide
• shea butter

For extremely dry skin, cosmetic dermatologist. Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank recommends layering hydration: Apply a light layer of an emollient moisturizer, like Aquaphor, to seal in moisture, followed by a moisturizer on top for added nourishment and protection.

If your skin feels dry and flaky but is not irritated, a gentle exfoliant can help remove dead cells and revive a dull complexion. Opt for a gentle physical exfoliant or a gentle AHA-based chemical exfoliant to soften the texture without compromising the skin barrier. If used carefully, this step can help restore radiance and allow moisturizing products to be absorbed more effectively.

For red, itchy skin

Cold winter air and low humidity can make your skin look and feel red, raw, and uncomfortable. To calm irritation, Peterson recommends fortifying the skin with occlusive ingredients that help seal in moisture and protect against environmental stressors.

Look for nourishing oils and balms that contain ingredients like:

• petrolatum
• dimethicone
• jojoba oil
• Oatmeal

Applying a protective layer, day or night, can help protect compromised skin, soothe irritation, and promote healing during the winter months.

It has also been shown to help the skin retain moisture. For an extra moment of calm, you can enhance the experience with a few drops of relaxing essential oils such as bergamot, lavender or jasmine.

To increase indoor humidity levels, consider placing a humidifier in your bedroom, especially while you sleep. A cool mist humidifier returns hydration to the air, helping to maintain the skin barrier overnight. Keeping the heating at a lower or moderate temperature can also prevent excessive dryness.

Protect your barrier

Barrier protection has become one of the most talked about skin care topics in recent years, and with good reason. A healthy skin barrier is essential for hydrated, resilient and glowing skin. When the barrier is compromised, the skin becomes more vulnerable to irritation, inflammation, and moisture loss.

Common contributors to a weakened skin barrier include:

• Gut health imbalances
• Lack of quality sleep
• Environmental pollutants
• Excessive exfoliation
• Strong cleaners or strippers
• Alcohol-based products
• Heavy fragrances

Restoring your skin barrier often starts with simplifying your routine. Take a break from harsh actives and replace them with barrier-friendly formulas. Then, focus on replenishing moisture to help rebuild the skin’s lipid layer, creating skin that feels calmer, stronger, and more able to withstand the challenges of winter.

Skin care as self-care

Ultimately, caring for your skin barrier is more than just skin care—it’s part of a broader practice of caring for your well-being. Especially in winter, taking the time to nourish your skin becomes a small and meaningful way to take care of yourself during the season.

If you’re ready to turn this knowledge into a simple step-by-step ritual, explore our Winter Skincare Routine Guide.

This post was last updated on December 29, 2025 to include new insights.