Winter brings harsher conditions that challenge your daily commute and, more importantly, your skin barrier. Cold winds and low humidity sap moisture, leaving even typically oily skin feeling dry and sensitive. “Low humidity and extreme temperature shifts increase transepidermal water loss, leaving your complexion tighter, duller, and more reactive—even in people who have oily skin the rest of the year,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Divya Shokeen MD, FAAD, tells Vogue. That’s why it’s important to adjust your skincare routine each season. “Think of it as a seasonal wardrobe refresh, not a total reinvention,” she says.
Vogue’s favorite Winter-Safe Skincare Products
Before getting ahead of yourself, that doesn’t mean layering on a million milky toners, a plethora of hydrating serums, and barrier-repairing products. While none of those products are inherently bad, when skin is particularly sensitive, too many products at once can further disrupt the skin and even contribute to breakouts, celebrity aesthetician and acne specialist Sofie Pavitt previously explained.
With that in mind, there’s no more pressing time to protect your skin barrier than now: get targeted and back to basics. “This is the season to prioritize barrier repair, hydration, and gentler textures while dialing back anything overly stripping or aggressive,” says Dr. Shokeen. Below, the beauty experts break down essential steps to keeping your skin barrier smooth and supple—single digit degrees be damned!
Step 1: Use a Gentle Cleanser
Since frigid weather is irritating enough to the skin on its own, it’s best not to aggravate things further. That means swapping out face washes with active ingredients for a gentle cleanser. “In winter, a non-foaming cream, milk, or gel cleansers are best,” says Dr. Shokeen, emphasizing avoiding any formulas that leave skin feeling tight or squeaky. That’s because harsh climates already cause significant water loss. Instead, she explains, gentle face washes use mild surfactants and often boast skin-friendly pH levels, helping to thoroughly remove dirt, oil, and leftover sunscreen without further stripping skin.
Dr. Shokeen’s pick is Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost cleanser for its ability to cleanse effectively while maintaining barrier integrity. La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Gentle Facial Cleanser, meanwhile, is a personal staple of board-certified dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe, MD, thanks to its milky hydrating formula rich in prebiotic thermal water and ceramides. Two other derm-loved cleansers similar in texture and composition: SkinCeuticals’s and Vanicream’s.
Step Two: Strip Your Exfoliation Regimen
Experts advise keeping exfoliation to a minimum during the colder months—even if you’ve built up a tolerance to AHAs, BHAs, or retinoids. “Over-exfoliation in the winter weakens the barrier and amplifies redness,” says Dr. Shokeen, who recommends scaling back exfoliation frequency altogether during the winter season. Instead, she suggests opting for low-strength chemical exfoliants over harsh physical scrubs or aggressive actives.
If chemical exfoliation is still needed, mandelic acid is an easy go-to. Pavitt describes the mild AHA as non-drying and effective at working on the skin’s surface to lightly buff away dead skin cells. Even better, her skincare brand’s Mandelic Clearing Serum is a Vogue editor-favorite. If you’re sticking with retinol, Dr. Shokeen advises spacing out usage or choosing lower concentrations that include hydrating ingredients to soothe while promoting cell turnover. Case in point: The Ordinary’s serum, which balances a low dose of retinol with squalane—a formula that board-certified dermatologist Dr. Noah Gratch, MD, previously described as “effective yet gentle.” K-Beauty cult favorite brand Iope makes another notoriously gentle retinol formula.
Step Three: Opt for a Nutrient-Rich Moisturizer
Just as you’d reach for thicker clothes, the experts recommend switching to a richer moisturizer when it’s cold out. “Winter is the time to transition from lightweight gels to cream-based moisturizers rich in ceramides, lipids, and humectants,” says Dr. Shokeen. This helps combat winter dryness and reduce transepidermal water losses, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy Rose, MD, previously explained.