Winter Skin Care Tips: 12 Ways to Stop Dry Skin

Updated October 2026

Treating skin in cold climates

Whether you live in the Midwest, the North or a milder southern climate, winter weather brings a noticeable change to your skin. It is not only the cold that leaves skin feeling dry, tight and chapped; it is the lack of moisture in the air. Cold outdoor air holds little humidity, and indoor heating dries the air even more, so the water in your skin evaporates faster. These winter skin care tips will help you keep your face and body comfortable, soft and healthy from the first cold snap until spring.

Why skin gets so dry in winter

Your skin’s outer layer works like a barrier that holds water in. Low humidity, cold wind, hot showers and harsh soaps all weaken that barrier. When it is damaged, moisture escapes and skin starts to flake, itch and crack. Hands, lips, elbows, knees and shins usually suffer first, and your face, which has the most exposure to the weather, is close behind. Skin of color can also look ashy when it is dehydrated, which is one of the first signs that your routine needs a winter upgrade.

12 winter skin care tips that work

1. Keep showers short and lukewarm

Long, hot showers feel great on a cold day but strip away the natural oils that protect your skin. Aim for about five to ten minutes with warm, not hot, water.

2. Switch to a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser

Foaming soaps and heavily fragranced body washes can be drying. In winter, choose a creamy, gentle cleanser for both your face and body.

3. Don’t towel off vigorously

After your bath or shower, gently pat your skin with a towel so it is still a little damp. Let that extra water go to work for you.

4. Moisturize within minutes

Within about five minutes of your bath or shower, while your skin is still damp, apply moisturizer everywhere, from your neck to your toes. This seals the water into your skin, where it can do the most good. Always apply moisturizer before bedtime and before going outdoors too.

5. Choose the right moisturizer ingredients

In winter, creams and ointments usually do more than thin lotions. Look for products that absorb well without leaving you greasy, and check the label for these key ingredients:

Glycerin and hyaluronic acid – humectants that draw water into the skin.
Petrolatum and dimethicone – occlusives that form a protective layer and trap moisture in.
Ceramides and shea butter – help repair and soften a dry, damaged skin barrier.

6. Exfoliate, but gently

If your skin is especially dry to the touch, or you can literally draw your name on your skin with the tip of a fingernail, a gentle exfoliation once a week can help. After cleansing in the shower, massage a mild scrub over your skin to lift away dry, dead cells, then moisturize right away. Don’t overdo it; winter skin is more easily irritated. Read our guide to the benefits of exfoliating your skin for how often to do it for your skin type.

7. Run a humidifier

Adding moisture back into the air, especially in your bedroom while you sleep, helps your skin hold onto its own moisture.

8. Protect your hands

Wear gloves outside, and keep a rich hand cream by the sink so you can reapply after every wash.

9. Care for your lips

Lips have no oil glands, so they chap quickly in cold, windy weather. Use a balm with petrolatum or beeswax, and add SPF during the day. Smooth lips are also the base of any great lip look; see our tips for wearing a bold lip.

10. Keep wearing sunscreen

UV rays still reach your skin on cloudy winter days, and snow reflects sunlight. Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher to exposed skin every morning.

11. Don’t forget your face

Your face has the most exposure to wind and cold. Switch to a richer night cream, layer a hydrating serum under your moisturizer and pause harsh products that leave your skin stinging.

12. Drink water and eat well

Water in the winter is like sunscreen in the summer: you have to have it. Staying hydrated supports your overall health and helps your skin feel more comfortable, although topical moisturizers do most of the work for dry skin. A diet with healthy fats, such as fish, nuts and avocado, supports your skin as well. By not drinking enough water you can also run into digestive problems like constipation, so drink up!

A simple winter skin care routine

Morning: gentle cleanser, hydrating serum, moisturizer, broad-spectrum sunscreen and lip balm with SPF.

Evening: gentle cleanser, any treatment products your skin tolerates, then a richer cream or ointment. On very dry nights, apply hand cream and wear cotton gloves to bed.

Once a week: gentle exfoliation for rough areas, followed straight away by moisturizer.

When to see a professional

If your skin cracks, bleeds, stays itchy or doesn’t improve after a couple of weeks of better care, see a dermatologist; you may have eczema or another condition that needs treatment. If your skin feels excessively damaged, an in-office treatment such as microdermabrasion may help; read here about how microdermabrasion works. If you are planning in-office treatments this season, such as a session with Touch Up Laser, ask your provider how to care for your skin before and after.

For more routines, see our beauty tips or the full Beauty and Health section.

Winter skin care FAQ

Why is my skin so dry in winter even when I moisturize?

Timing and texture matter. Apply moisturizer to damp skin right after bathing, choose a cream or ointment instead of a thin lotion, and cut back on long, hot showers. A humidifier also helps.