Winter Skincare Guide:
Tips for Dry Skin Relief
Winter Skincare Guide:
How to Care for Dry Skin in Winter
Winter can be tough on your skin. Cold air, indoor heating and harsh weather conditions can all leave your skin feeling dry, tight and rough. Dry skin in the winter is a common concern, but with the right care, a tailored skincare routine for winter and nourishing products, you can help keep your skin feeling more comfortable and hydrated1.
This guide explores the causes of dry skin during winter, practical ways to help protect your skin from dryness, and tips for building a winter skincare routine that keeps your skin healthy and hydrated all season long.
Signs of Dry Skin
in Winter
Dry skin during winter can show up in several ways. Recognising the early signs helps you adjust your winter skincare routine and keep your skin feeling comfortable.
- Tightness:
Your skin may feel less flexible, especially after exposure to cold air or after showering or washing your hands.
- Rough or flaky areas:
Areas like the elbows, hands and knees may feel rough or scaly to the touch.
- Dullness:
Dry winter skin can appear duller and more lacklustre compared to warmer months.
- Dry lips:
The lips are often overlooked but are especially prone to signs of dryness in winter3.
Paying attention to these sensations can help you care for your skin and maintain softness throughout the colder seasons. Regular moisturising will help support hydration and keep your skin feeling more comfortable1.
Causes of Dry Skin
During Winter
Understanding why skin dries out during winter can help you take steps to help protect it from dryness. Some common factors that contribute to dryness include:
Environmental Factors
- Cold weather and low humidity:
Winter air holds less moisture, and indoor heating reduces humidity, both increasing water loss from the skin.
- Hot showers and baths:
Hot water strips natural oils from the skin, which can leave it feeling drier and less comfortable4.
Lifestyle and Habits
- Frequent handwashing:
Especially with alcohol-based soaps, frequent handwashing can lead to the skin on your hands becoming more dry1.
- Harsh cleansers:
Soaps or body washes with strong fragrances or containing alcohol remove moisture from the skin1.
Recognising these common factors will make it easier to plan a winter skincare routine that addresses your needs and helps keep your skin hydrated.
Winter Skincare Tips
for Dry Skin
Keeping skin hydrated in the winter requires consistent care and maintenance5. Here are some essential tips for winter skincare:
A nourishing moisturiser boosts your skin’s moisture against cold, dry conditions and helps to prevent water loss1. Carrying a versatile moisturizer with you can help you moisturize dry skin throughout the day on your hands, face, or other areas prone to dry skin.
NIVEA Soft is a lightweight, non-greasy cream with Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E to deliver soft, supple skin. Available in several convenient sizes, this on-the-go moisturiser offers a refreshingly light formula and can be applied on the face, hands and body as needed.
For extra care that goes wherever you go, try NIVEA Creme. This rich, creamy moisturising cream enriched with Provitamin B5 intensively moisturises, nourishes and protects skin from that rough, dry feel. Like NIVEA Soft, you can also apply NIVEA Creme to hands, body or face to enjoy soft, smooth skin. For a little extra care, apply to the roughest areas such as knees, feet and elbows.
Hands are one of the most frequently exposed areas during winter, making them especially prone to dryness. Try these tips to keep them soft and protected:
- Wear gloves when outdoors to shield your hands from the cold air and harsh winds.
- Apply moisturizer and reapply regularly throughout the day:
NIVEA Essentially Enriched Hand Cream: delivers intensive nourishment for up to 24 hours. NIVEA Smooth Hands & Cuticle Care Hand Cream: fast-absorbing hydration that helps strengthen the skin’s protective moisture barrier.
For extra care, apply a thicker layer of moisturizer overnight and wear cotton gloves to help support hydration2.
Lips tend to dry out faster than other areas of the skin6, so it’s important to keep them hydrated with nourishing products like:
- NIVEA 2 in 1 Lip Balm & Scrub Aloe Vera: enriched with Vitamin E and Aloe Vera, this lip balm gently exfoliates while leaving lips soft and moisturised.
- NIVEA Dewy Lip Care: formulated with Hyaluronic Acid for hydration that lasts all day, this balm keeps lips feeling soft and dewy.
Reapply lip balm throughout the day for hydrated, soft lips, especially after eating or drinking1.
- Use mild or fragrance-free soaps and body washes to help preserve your skin’s natural oils1.
- Pat skin dry with a towel instead of rubbing to avoid dryness-related discomfort.
- Take shorter showers using lukewarm water instead of hot to help preserve your skin’s natural moisture.
- Limit long baths, which can increase water loss from the skin.
- Use a hydrating body wash to maintain softness and hydration, such as:
NIVEA Shea Butter: enriched with Shea Butter, this formula with a nourishing serum gently cleanses while leaving your skin soft and moisturised.
NIVEA Nourishing Care Body Wash: helps gently cleanse and hydrate skin with a formula enriched with a unique blend of naturally-derived* oils, Provitamin B5 and Vitamin E.
- Remember to moisturise immediately after showering or bathing, while your skin is still slightly damp, to help lock in extra moisture and maintain soft, hydrated, healthy-looking skin.
If you are experiencing very dry and rough skin, it can be helpful to apply a deeply nourishing moisturiser overnight to take advantage of the opportunity to soothe dry skin while you sleep.
NIVEA Intense Healing Body Cream helps to relieve dry and rough skin for up to 72 hours. Its formula infused with Provitamin B5 provides nourishing moisture that intensively moisturises and soothes dry and rough skin after just one application. With regular use, this non-greasy body cream will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth. Also available as a body lotion. Apply before bed and any time that skin is feeling dry.
Dry air can contribute to dry skin, and this includes indoor environments. In addition to the cold, windy weather in the winter, indoor environments can often be drying with forced hot air heat. Use a humidifier to keep indoor humidity between 30–50%, helping to balance the drying effects of indoor heating1.
Drinking water regularly supports your skin’s natural moisture balance from the inside out2.
Even on cloudy winter days, UV rays can damage skin and impact your skin’s moisture barrier2. Apply sunscreen daily and follow the product directions along with taking other sun protection measures.
Key
Takeaways
Dry skin during winter is common, but with the right routine, your skin can stay soft, comfortable and well-hydrated all season long. Stick to regular moisturising to help protect your hands and lips from dryness, and use richer creams when your skin needs extra care.
Choosing thoughtfully formulated products like NIVEA nourishing body washes, hand creams and hydrating lip balms helps maintain your skin’s natural moisture balance every day. With simple habits and nourishing products, plus a skincare routine for winter that suits you, you can keep your skin feeling healthy, cared for and comfortable, even through the coldest months.