As the chill of winter sets in, it’s not just your wardrobe that needs an update—your skincare routine does too. The combination of cold winds, dry indoor heating, and low humidity can wreak havoc on the skin, often leading to dryness, flakiness, and increased sensitivity. According to MECCA’s Skincare Education Manager, Franchesca Lay, winter skincare requires a more intentional approach. “These environmental stressors can compromise the skin’s barrier,” she explains. “Winter is the time to prioritise hydration, nourishment, and protection to maintain skin barrier and overall resilience.”
Franchesca’s expert advice? Reach for ingredients that support and strengthen the skin’s barrier. Think ceramides, niacinamide, and squalane for repair, and hydration heroes like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and occlusive butters to lock in moisture. “Switch to a non-stripping cleanser, layer in hydrating serums and barrier-repair moisturisers, and don’t skip SPF, even on overcast days,” she adds. “A weekly overnight mask can help replenish moisture, and don’t forget often-overlooked areas like the lips, under-eyes, and hands.”
Cleanse Gently
Cleansing can make or break your winter skincare routine. The Tower 28 SOS Daily Rebalancing Gel Cleanser is a standout for its gentle, barrier-respecting formula that purifies without stripping, making it ideal for sensitive or dry winter skin.
Another winter-friendly favourite is CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser—a cult classic formulated with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to cleanse while maintaining the skin’s moisture barrier. Both are excellent choices to keep your skin clean, calm, and comfortable through the colder months.
Face Creams & Treatments That Work Overtime
Hydration is the name of the game in winter, and a well-layered skincare routine starts with a hard-working serum. The Dr Dennis Gross DermInfusions 3D Visible Fill & Repair Serum delivers hyaluronic acid and peptides to plump and repair. Follow with a nourishing moisturiser like the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturising Cream, rich in ceramides to reinforce the skin’s defences. For those looking to indulge, the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Cream offers a luxurious dose of nourishment, firming, and resilience.
Need something ultra-calming before bed? Try the Kit: Good Night Balm—a buttery balm-to-oil moisturiser enriched with oat kernel oil and shea butter that melts into skin to soothe, hydrate, and help restore overnight. And for an added boost, the Augustinus Bader Hydrogel Face Mask is perfect as a weekly treatment to flood the skin with restorative hydration.
Don’t Forget the Lips
Your lips are one of the first areas to show signs of winter dryness. Enter the Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask, a silky, overnight treatment that deeply hydrates, smooths, and repairs cracked lips, leaving them soft by morning.
Body Care That Goes the Distance
It’s easy to overlook body care, but winter skin needs full-body hydration. For a budget-friendly and effective solution, the Mixa Urea Cica Repair+ Renewing Cream is enriched with urea and cica to soothe and replenish dry, sensitive skin. The DermaVeen Extra Hydration Intensive Moisturising Lotion is a fragrance-free, oat-based formula that delivers serious moisture, making it a bathroom essential for the whole family.
And if you’re looking for a fast, fuss-free format, try the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Spray Lotion—a fine mist moisturiser enriched with panthenol and madecassoside that hydrates, calms, and supports barrier repair in just a few sprays. It’s perfect for on-the-go application and ideal for irritated, dry, or itchy skin in winter.
So as you rug up this winter, make sure your skincare routine is just as layered. With these nourishing essentials in your beauty arsenal, your skin will stay soft, hydrated, and protected—no matter what the weather throws at it!
Tower 28, Augustinus Bader, Dr Dennis Gross, Dr Jart, Tatcha and Kit can be found at Mecca
CeraVe, Mixa, DermaVeen and La Roche-Posay can be found at Chemist warehouse online and instore
Sulwhasoo can be found at Adore Beauty and Sephora
Images supplied
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