Winter. The season of cozy blankets, hot cocoa, and… flaky, dry skin. 😕 If your face is already throwing tantrums at the first whiff of cold wind, imagine what it’s doing on your arms, legs, and hands. Dryness doesn’t just live on your face, it spreads, making your whole body feel tight, itchy, and uncomfortable. But here’s the thing: with a few simple additions, you can glide through winter from head to toe with soft, hydrated skin.
There is a quiet sensuality in maintaining soft, juicy, healthy skin throughout winter, no matter how harsh the season gets.
Here’s the full-body guide: three essential additions for face and body that will make winter feel less like a punishment and more like self-care heaven.
1. Rich, Nourishing Moisturizers for Face and Body
Winter skincare starts with hydration. And not just any hydration, rich, emollient creams that trap moisture and repair the skin barrier.
Face Moisturizers
For your face, you want something that’s thick but absorbs well:
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream: Packed with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, it restores the skin barrier and locks in moisture.
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream: Lightweight but effective, perfect if you hate the “sticky cream” feeling.
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer: Calm, soothing, and perfect for sensitive skin.
Pro Tip: Apply moisturizers while your face is slightly damp to lock in hydration. Think of it as tucking your skin into a warm, cozy blanket.
Body Moisturizers
Body skin deserves some love too:
- Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion: Oat extracts calm irritation and dryness all over.
- The Body Shop Shea Body Butter: Thick, luxurious, and perfect for elbows, knees, and heels.
- Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream: Works wonders on severely dry areas without feeling greasy.
How to use: Right after your shower, pat your skin dry and immediately apply a generous layer of moisturizer. This traps water from the shower into your skin, hello, full-body hydration.
2. Gentle, Hydrating Cleansers
You might be tempted to scrimp on cleansers in winter, after all, who wants to wash away the little moisture they have? But winter needs a softer touch, both for face and body.
Face Cleansers
- Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream Cleanser: Rich, calming, and non-stripping.
- Aveeno Calm + Restore Cleanser: Oat extracts soothe irritation and redness.
- CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser: Mild, non-foaming, and perfect for sensitive skin.
Winter Tip: Always use lukewarm water. Hot water feels good, but it strips your skin barrier faster than you can say “dryness.”
Body Cleansers
- Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash: Classic, affordable, and deeply hydrating.
- Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash: Calms itching, dryness, and irritation.
- Eucerin pH5 Washlotion: Gentle, non-stripping, and ideal for extra-sensitive skin.
Pro Tip: Limit showers to 10–15 minutes, as long, hot showers pull natural oils from your skin. Use gentle, circular motions instead of aggressive scrubbing.
3. Healing Oils and Treatments
Creams are great, but in winter, oils provide an extra protective layer, especially on face, hands, and legs where dryness hits hardest.
Face Oils
- The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil: Brightens, hydrates, and calms inflammation.
- Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil: Light, non-greasy, and perfect for sensitive skin.
- Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil: Locks in moisture and adds a subtle glow.
Body Oils
- Bio-Oil Skincare Oil: Targets dryness, scars, and uneven texture on the body.
- The Body Shop Almond Oil: Smooths elbows, knees, and heels, and doubles as a bath oil.
- Neutrogena Body Oil Light Sesame Formula: Lightweight, absorbs fast, perfect for full-body massage.
How to Layer Oils
Apply oil after moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp to trap in every drop of hydration. Oils are especially great overnight, they give your skin a protective layer while you sleep and wake up softer than ever.
Bonus Winter Tips
While these three products are the main heroes, a few extra tweaks can make your routine even more winter-proof:
- Hydrating Masks: Use 1–2 times per week. Look for sheet masks with hyaluronic acid or glycerin.
- Humidifier: This may sound weird, but your indoor heating dries the air. A humidifier helps your skin stay hydrated naturally.
- Sun Protection: Even in winter, UV rays sneak through. Use SPF daily. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk SPF 60 is perfect under your winter layers.
Putting It All Together
A sample winter routine might look like this:
AM: Gentle cleanser → Moisturizer → SPF
PM: Gentle cleanser → Moisturizer → Facial oil
Once or twice a week, swap your cleanser for a hydrating mask and layer in your facial oil at night for extra comfort. For your body, continue your moisturizer + oil combo right after showers to keep every inch soft, hydrated, and protected from winter’s harshness.
Final Thoughts
Winter doesn’t have to be a season of suffering for your skin. By upgrading your moisturizer, choosing a gentle cleanser, and adding a healing oil, your face and body will stay soft, plump, and glowing, no matter how frosty it gets outside.
Remember, winter skincare isn’t about complicated routines or fancy products. It’s about smart, effective hydration and repairing your skin barrier so you can confidently face cold winds, dry air, and cozy indoors without your skin screaming for mercy.
