10 Essential Winter Skincare Tips for 2025
As we head into winter (and 2025! crazy!), the harsh winter elements can take a toll on your skin. This means that your skin will need some extra attention and TLC to make sure it stays healthy, hydrated, and functioning properly. Luckily, we’ve got you covered! Below are 10 essential winter skincare tips to keep your skin healthy and glowing this cold season. Let’s dive in! ❄️
Winter Skincare Tips for 2025
1. Invest in a Humidifying Device
During the cold winter months, the combination of outdoor cold and indoor heating can severely dehydrate your skin (indoor heating can reduce humidity levels to as low as 10%, while our skin typically needs at least 30% humidity to maintain proper moisture balance). Consider placing a humidifier in your bedroom or workspace to prevent moisture loss from your skin and keep your skin barrier functioning optimally.
2. Update Your Cleansing Routine
Cold weather can strip your skin's moisture and protective oils, making traditional foam or gel cleansers a bit too aggressive. Switching to gentler cream-based or oil-based cleanser during winter months can help preserve your skin's natural moisture barrier while effectively removing impurities. They can also help maintain your skin's delicate pH balance while still providing necessary nourishment as you cleanse.
Look for cleansers containing:
Ceramides
Hyaluronic acid
Glycerin
**Some good cleanser options for oily skin can be found here: 5 Best Cleansers for Oily Skin, or here: The Simple Nighttime Skincare Routine for Beginners
3. Layer Your Hydration (Use the “Moisture Sandwich” technique)
When thinking of winter skincare, layers are key to help support and lock in your skin’s moisture. Winter's extreme temperature fluctuations (between heated indoors and cold outdoors) can deplete your skin's moisture reserves. Using the sandwich method of layering your skincare with multiple barriers of protection can help your skin adapt to and persist through these environmental stresses.
Start with:
A hydrating toner or essence (check out: 5 Moisturizing Toners for Dehydrated Skin!)
A lightweight serum (preferably with hyaluronic acid)
A nourishing moisturizer
A protective face oil for extra barrier support
**For extra guidance on how to properly layer your skincare products, check out: How to Layer Skincare Products for Best Results
4. Don't Skip Sunscreen
UV rays can be just as damaging in winter as in other seasons, especially if you’re in an area with snow. Snow can actually reflect up to 80% of UV rays and reach back to your face, effectively doubling your sun exposure! As such, winter sun combined with wind can actually be more damaging than summer sun exposure. That’s why it’s so important to wear sunscreen daily (and reapply throughout the day)!
Choose a broad-spectrum with at least SPF 30+ that includes:
Blue light protection
Antioxidants
Moisturizing ingredients
**Some good sunscreen options, which are gentle enough for sensitized winter skin, can be found here: 5 Best Lightweight Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin
5. Protect Your Skin Barrier
Winter's harsh conditions can compromise your skin barrier, leading to increased sensitivity, redness, and moisture loss, which makes barrier TLC super important during winter months. Using ingredients like the ones below can help with strengthening your skin's natural barrier:
Niacinamide
Peptides
Ceramides
Fatty acids
**For more tips on how you can protect your skin barrier, be sure to check out: 5 Tips for Skin Barrier Repair
6. Incorporate Overnight Treatments
Night time is crucial for skin repair. Your skin's regeneration process peaks between 10 PM and 2 AM, making overnight treatments particularly helpful and effective during winter when your skin needs that extra repair support.
Some night time treatments to try that can enhance your care routine include:
Overnight masks
A rich night cream
Retinol products (but make sure you ease into retinol as it can cause irritation)
Hydrating sleep masks
**And if you’re looking for a baseline nighttime skincare routine to get your started, check out: The Simple Nighttime Skincare Routine for Beginners
7. Don't Forget About Body Care
While we often focus on facial skincare, body care is equally as important in winter. The skin on your body has fewer oil glands than facial skin, making it more prone to dryness and flaking during winter months. And I don’t know about you… but in the winter, it’s so cold getting out of the shower that sometimes I skip putting lotion on my body 🤫
But to make sure your body gets the necessary TLC, some helpful steps include:
Exfoliating gently once a week (and considering using a dry brush before showering)
Applying body lotion immediately after showering
Using body oils for extra nourishment
**For additional helpful tips and products for taking care of your body, check out: Your Ultimate Guide to a Body Skincare Routine
8. Perfect Your Post-Shower Timing
Post-shower skincare is crucial and requires more strategic timing in the winter. The warm water and body wash you use can strip your skin of its natural oils and disrupt its natural pH balance, leaving it susceptible to dryness and irritation. But also, your skin post-shower is more receptive to the products you apply, making them more effective.
Pat your skin dry immediately (and avoid vigorous towel drying as it may cause irritation)
Within a few minutes of drying off - and while your skin is still damp - apply a thick layer of moisturizer to effectively trap moisture and combat dryness caused by cold weather
If possible, dry off and apply product while still IN the shower area as the steam can help keep your pores open, and your skin damp and receptive to skincare products.
9. Warm Your Products
Warming your skincare products between your palms for 15-30 seconds before applying helps improve the absorption and overall experience with skincare products in the winter.
Benefits include:
Preventing shocking your skin with cold products (which can actually cause vessel restriction)
Improving product absorption
Enhancing blood circulation
Making application more comfortable
10. Be More Thoughtful With Actives
Winter requires a more strategic approach to active ingredients as your skin is naturally more sensitive and reactive due to environmental stress. The combination of active ingredients and cold wind exposure can lead to increased irritation.
Adjustments to your routine to account for this can include:
Buffering active ingredients with moisturizer (ex. mixing in retinol with your night cream before application)
Reserving retinoids and acids for evening use only
Reducing frequency of exfoliation
Monitoring skin sensitivity more closely
Decreasing the amount of different products you use, and instead looking for multi-functional skincare products, to prevent overburdening and potentially irritating your skin
Winter skincare in 2025 is all about smart hydration, barrier protection, and using strategic application to support your skin. By trying out these tips and staying consistent with your routine, you can help make sure that your skin stays supported and nourished throughout the winter months. Just remember, everyone's skin is different, so you can feel free to adjust these recommendations based on your specific skin needs. Wishing you great skin this winter! ☃️