Dry Winter Skin & How to Prevent It

16th December 2025

The Truth About Dry Winter Skin (and How to Prevent It)

With us now fully in the depths of winter, you may have started noticing that your trusty skincare routine that’s served you well for months is now losing its shine – along with your skin itself! Cold air outside mixed with warm and dry air inside can completely change how our skin behaves and is one of the main reasons dry winter skin becomes such a common concern at this time of year. In this blog, we’ll take a look at why this happens and how you can tackle it, helping your winter skin sparkle again.

Why Winter Makes Skin Dry

As we move into winter and start getting excited for all of the lovely festivities it brings, our skin is feeling anything but happy or festive! Unfortunately, our skin is taking hits in every direction; with cold, dry air outside, stuffy central heating inside and bad habits to boot, our poor skin really starts to struggle. These seasonal changes are a perfect storm for dry winter skin, leading to discomfort, dullness and irritation. Here are a few of the reasons winter makes our skin so dry:

Low Humidity + Cold Air Outdoors and Dry Heat Indoors

In winter, the outside air holds much less moisture than it does throughout the rest of the year. The cold, dry air quickly draws water out from the epidermis (outer layer of the skin), meaning the skin loses hydration much faster: a key contributor to dry winter skin.

Then, as we move indoors, rather than giving our skin respite from the harsh conditions it’s dealt with outside, the central heating we use reduces indoor humidity further, leaving the air even drier and accelerating moisture loss in the skin.

Compromised Skin Barrier

The outermost skin layer, known as the “skin barrier”, helps contain water within and keep the skin hydrated. However, in winter, the combination of dry air and regular temperature swings from moving outside to inside can quickly weaken that barrier, leaving the skin compromised and more prone to dry winter skin.

Studies have also shown that, in colder weather, natural lipids in the skin, such as ceramides, may reduce, meaning the skin has fewer of the fats it needs to retain water. This leads to dryness, flaking, roughness and loss of smoothness.

Winter Habits

Annoyingly, those winter habits we rely on to warm up and feel better can actually have a negative effect on our skin and worsen dry winter skin.

Those lovely long hot baths / showers, which are so tempting when the temperature drops, unfortunately strip away the skin’s natural oils that help seal in moisture.
Frequent washing of the hands, face & body with harsh soaps or cleansers (as we’re fruitlessly trying to avoid picking up those winter bugs!) can further reduce natural oils and weaken the skin barrier.
When our skin starts to feel dry, we may be tempted to treat it with an exfoliant or scrub with the idea that it will get rid of the dead skin and help it recover; however, this can do the opposite. Over-exfoliation can actually damage the skin barrier and increase dryness, especially if the skin is already compromised.

Wider Winter Stressors

With a compromised skin barrier and loss of moisture, dry winter skin can become rough, flaky and more sensitive. For people with pre-existing skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis, winter dryness can unfortunately worsen flare-ups. If this is the case, you may also need to consult your GP alongside making some of the changes below.

How To Prevent & Manage Dry Winter Skin

Luckily, it’s not all doom and gloom (sorry for the trauma-dump!). There are plenty of tips and tricks to manage or prevent dry winter skin and help renourish your skin back to health!

Moisturise – But Do It Properly

Serum is your best friend during winter, but it’s important to use the right products at the right time to fully get the benefits, especially when dealing with dry winter skin. Washing can quickly strip your skin of its natural oils, so immediately moisturising with a serum can help lock in moisture before it evaporates. Look for serums that contain humectants (e.g. hyaluronic acid, glycerin, urea) and/or occlusives (e.g. petrolatum, rich creams, barrier-repair creams) that help retain water and restore the skin barrier. Fragrance-free, gentle serums (avoiding alcohol and harsh cleansers) are preferable as the skin is more sensitive when dry.

Adjust Cleansing Habits

Long, hot showers and harsh cleansers can make dry winter skin worse. Opting for shorter, lukewarm showers and gentle, non-stripping cleansers can help preserve moisture and protect the skin barrier. Swapping out your harsh soaps and foam cleaners for more gentle, non-stripping products such as gel cleansers and mild cream cleansers can also help lock in that much needed moisture. If you are going to exfoliate, do it less frequently than usual and use a very gentle exfoliant rather than harsh scrubs, although it can be best to skip this altogether until your skin barrier is recovered fully.

Environment and Lifestyle Changes

To counteract the effects of dry winter air and heaters, increasing the humidity indoors with a humidifier can make a big difference to dry winter skin. Keeping humidity at 30-50% can have a significant impact on skin hydration and help tackle winter dryness. Although it’s tempting to turn the heating right up on those cold winter nights, this can really dry out the air and suck the moisture from the skin. Instead, keep the heating at a comfortable, but not high, temperature; this helps both your skin and your bank! When you are outdoors, try and protect your skin from the harsh, cold weather by covering up with scarves, gloves and suitable clothing.

Perfect your Winter Skincare Routine

When our skin starts to feel dull, we can be tempted to amp up our skincare routine with lots of products in the hopes it will do the trick. However, what’s really needed is a much more basic, yet nourishing routine. During winter, keep your routine to gentle cleanser, rich serum and SPF (yes, even in winter!), avoiding any over-active treatments such as exfoliants if the skin is feeling irritated. At night, apply heavier and/or barrier repairing creams to help add in moisture slowly overnight. Daily SPF is still needed during winter as, although less harsh, UV rays are still present and will still dehydrate and damage the skin. These will all help support the skin barrier and reduce dry winter skin without overwhelming the skin.

Nourish the Skin from the Inside Out

Healthy skin isn’t just about cleansing, toning and moisturising. Diet and nutrition also play a vital part in managing dry winter skin, keeping the skin nourished and healthy. The first and most obvious way to support your skin is by staying suitably hydrated. The ‘Eat Well Guide’ advises people should drink 6 – 8 glasses of fluid, preferably water, per day to maintain hydration. If you’re dealing with a weakened skin barrier, you should turn your focus to your diet and nutrition. Deficiencies in vitamins, minerals or essential fatty acids can weaken the skin’s ability to retain moisture, especially in winter. To support your skin’s barrier, try increasing your intake of:

Omega 3 – such as fatty fish, seeds and nuts
Antioxidants – such as berries, leafy greens and vegetables
Zinc – such as nuts and legumes
Vitamin C – such as citrus and peppers
Healthy fats – such as avocado and olive oil

Seek Professional Care

If you start noticing your skin is persistently flaky, itchy, red or cracked, you may need to look into a professional assessment, as these may indicate a compromised barrier or even a skin-barrier disorder.

Hydrating treatments, barrier-repair facials or gentle skin-barrier therapies are a great option for those needing a little more help with their dry winter skin and, as mentioned in previous blogs, autumn / winter is the perfect time for in-clinic treatments, as reduced UV exposure allows for better post-recovery. Our team at Elixir Skin Clinic are experts in thorough skin assessments and can help you find the right treatment or product for your winter skin, such as the ZO Winter Recovery Kit or one of our nourishing barrier-repair facials.

Beat the Winter Skin Blues

Although winter is undeniably harsh on our skin, with healthy habits and proper barrier care, you can avoid the dreaded dry winter skin, keeping it happy and hydrated all season! These simple changes can have amazing effects and when extra care is needed, Elixir Skin Clinic is here to help guide you through your winter skin blues.

Why not book in for a winter skin check or treat yourself to one of our hydrating treatments today, because your skin deserves protection all year round! https://elixiraesthetics.co.uk/contact/