How I Handle My Dry Skin in Winter

I know I am not the only one who once the temps drop below 40 degrees becomes an itchy, scaly, sensitive mess. I've had my skin crack and even bleed in winter, and it seems so many different kinds of fabric will just irritate the heck out of me days after I wore them. But over the years I have figured out different products and methods to help. This is how I handle my dry skin in winter.

How I Handle My Dry Skin in Winter

There are three things I've done that have greatly improved the skin on my face and my body when it comes to sensitivity and dryness:

A Humidifier to Improve Indoor Air

Last year, I read on Wirecutter, Strategist, and other reputable review places that a certain cool mist humidifier was the absolute best. I bought one for the living room and one for our bedroom. And those humidifiers sucked. They were so hard to clean, they were noisy, and so big that we gave them away in our city's Buy Nothing group. However, we saw the benefit of running cool mist humidifiers in our home.

So this year we switched to this one from Crane. It's cheaper, super easy to clean, silent, and comes in some cool color options. We have one in our room, one in our living area, one in our daughter's room, and it really improves the air indoors and we all notice it in our skin. Not only that, but I also noticed that as someone who deals with dry allergic eyes, my eyes are happier!

A Shower Filter to Soften Water

Years ago, I got a shower filter, and I saw a noticeable difference in my hair. My color lasted longer, my hair was more manageable, and looked healthier. But I dropped the ball with replacing the filter and removing it when we got a fancy new showerhead.

Then, my hairstylist recommended a shower filter for my curly hair. Aquasana reached out and offered a free shower filter and attachment for a single paid Instagram post, and I added the filter to my shower with my existing showerhead. Again, my hair color lasts longer, it feels and looks healthier, and my skin has also improved.

My family has also noticed that they don't have as dry or sensitive skin with the Aquasana shower filter, and lotions seem to absorb better. So we set up a Subscribe & Save to get a new filter every six months, and it makes such a difference. This little gadget benefits the face, hair, and body.

Supplements to Improve Skin and Hydration

I know not everyone is into this, so feel free to keep scrolling. However, I have found a lot of improvement in taking certain supplements, and one improvement I've found is happier skin.

I started taking borage oil when looking for solutions for my “Rice Krispie” knees. They didn't hurt, but the crunching sound when I did squats at the gym stressed me out. Within a month of taking borage oil pills each morning, the sound subsided but I also found my skin wasn't as dry or as irritated.

When I went plant-based during the pandemic, I looked for supplements to balance what I wasn't getting from dairy, meat, and seafood and began taking a vegan Omega-3 pill. I didn't see much result. But when I started incorporating a few animal products back into my diet I tried this supplement from Thorne and haven't looked back. Thorne is my company for supplements, I appreciate the research and focus and find the quality stellar.

Collagen, Vitamin D, and Vitamin C also offer benefits for hydration, reducing sensitivity, and dealing with eczema and other skin issues. I also take D and C, but for me, the two oils made the biggest impact on my skin appearance and sensitivity. If you aren't getting the results you desire from topical products, consider researching supplements to see if they may offer relief.

Drinking More Water

I know, I know, everyone preaches this and there have been studies even stating that water consumption doesn't affect the hydration of your skin. But it made an impact for me. I have two of these 32 oz. bottles. I keep one at my desk and one that goes from my bedroom to the Peloton bike (and then the kitchen to clean and then upstairs with me at bedtime). I commit to emptying both and consuming 64 oz. before I go to sleep. This is on top of any coffee, tea, and other drinks… even cans of sparkling water.

Yes, you will have to pee more often. Yes, some days you will be chugging 28 ounces at 8 p.m. because you dropped the ball and then will have to get up and go to the bathroom at 2 a.m. It isn't fun, but it became a habit, and I found that within two weeks, my skin improved (and I had to pee less often).

I wouldn't say my skin is more hydrated by drinking more water, but I find it less sensitive. I wasn't feeling as itchy, my skin wasn't as red, and it seemed like when I put products on my skin they worked better. In general, my skin just looked happier. It glowed, it didn't get as many hormonal breakouts, it was more even in tone.

My daughter was dealing with dry and irritated skin, and I challenged her to drink at least 32 oz. of water a day. In a couple of weeks, she found her skin also improved.

How I Deal With my Dry and Sensitive Face

My face was the place where winter affected it the most. I can remember many winters slathering oils, creams, and straight-up Vaseline on my face in hopes of having happy skin without that great of results. Especially under my nose, my skin would get so dry it would flake, get red, crack, and drive me bonkers. The steps above made a HUGE difference, but so did these products and methods:

Using an Oil Face Cleanser

I always used CeraVe; it was recommended by my dermatologist, got consistently great reviews, and didn't seem to strip my skin. But then a few years ago, I was gifted a jar of Colleen Rothschild Radiant Cleansing Balm and it changed my skin for the better.

I had tried oil-based cleansers before, and they seemed cool. However, I always needed to double-cleanse with CeraVe afterward to feel really clean. This solid oil-based cleanser from Colleen Rothschild took off everything from waterproof mascara to long-wear foundation without issue and left my skin so soft and happy.

I rub it on dry skin, not a lot of pressure. You'll see your makeup dissolve. I then leave it on my face (it doesn't irritate my eyes) as I floss, brush, and all that sort of stuff. Then I remove it with a washcloth. I will use the hot water spigot for tooth brushing and hand washing, so by the time I need to dampen my washcloth, it's not ice cold. I put the washcloth over my face and let it just sit there for a bit. I breathe in the smell of the cleanser (a day spa-like smell), and then when I'm ready, wipe off the cleanser.

Sometimes I need to take a clean washcloth and wipe my eyes of any residue, but in general, that's all I need to do to clean my skin at night. I do not wash my face in the morning; a bit of water or toner is all that's needed to remove any leftover moisturizers. But this cleanser has made my skin so happy. Hydrated, soft, less irritated, and I need fewer products to deal with my winter skin.

Layering Moisture

When we get into the depths of winter, the last thing I want is a long nighttime beauty routine. It's dark, I'm tired, I just want to go to bed. But it's worth it because I wake with happy skin when I take the time and layer moisture.

After cleansing while my skin is still damp, I apply a hyaluronic acid. Acid sounds like it's an exfoliant, but it's a natural substance found in the body's connective tissue. It's also a humectant, which means it retains moisture. And it has been shown to help speed healing.

Applying hyaluronic acid to damp skin and then under a moisturizer really makes a difference in how hydrated and happy my skin feels. As a content creator, I try a lot of different brands at different pricepoints. This one from The Ordinary is a quality budget-friendly alternative.

Then over my night cream (this one from Colleen Rothschild continues to be a favorite for really hydrating without being greasy), I apply an oil. When it's really dry and cold, I replace the oil with old-school Vaseline. It sort of seals in all the hydration and then I use a wet washcloth to remove any residue in the morning.

I also layer during the day with hyaluronic acid, my moisturizer, and a hydrating tinted moisturizer. And any day I'm at home and don't have a Zoom or have to shoot content, I do my nighttime skincare during the day. These no-makeup, yes-moisture days balance out the days when I have a full face and have to go out in the cold and wind.

Not Washing My Face in the Morning

Let's face it, your face isn't getting dirty while you sleep. So why do we wash it in the morning? I find a damp washcloth will remove any sand from my eyes or residual moisturizer from the night prior and removing this step really helped my skin be more hydrated and happy during the day.

How I Deal with My Dry and Sensitive Body

The humidifier, the supplements, the shower filter, and the water consumption helps my skin, but it still needs some serious assistance to not be scaly, miserable, and even cracking in places in the winter. What works for me:

Dry Brushing

I have been dry brushing on and off for over 20 years. When I forget about it, my skin lets me know by feeling rough and scaly. Dry brushing sounds painful, but it actually feels pretty awesome. First thing in the morning, before you shower, work out, or apply any products, use a dry brush to gently brush your skin up towards your heart. I brush from neck to fingertips and toes and try to reach every part of me.

Dry brushing feels great (once you get the hang of it), and it will exfoliate off dry skin meaning your moisturizers will be more effective. It gets the blood flowing and I find it a great pick-me-up in the morning, especially when it's dark and cold.

Using a Japanese Skin Cloth

I've used traditional washcloths, I've used “poufs,” and loofahs, but when I switched to a Japanese skin cloth (this brand, in particular, is my jam; one color for each family member), my life was forever changed.

Made from nylon like those body poufs, a skin cloth is instead a woven long cloth that will make lather but will also gently exfoliate your skin. Even better, the length is long enough that you can get your back! And these can be used for a long while; I wash mine on the gentle cycle of the machine every so often to get them completely clean.

While salt and sugar scrubs can be hydrating with their oils, a skin cloth is a great alternative if you find them messy or complicated. Also you can then exfoliate while using your favorite sensitive hydrating body wash. And speaking of…

Switching up the Body Wash

I love yummy-smelling body washes that are also kind to my skin. I have several I really like that are made with good ingredients and hydrate.

• Nécessaire is my favorite; it's a sustainable B Corp brand that uses high-quality ingredients. They have natural yet chic scents and their fragrance-free option doesn't smell like plastic or really like anything at all. Promo code ALISON will get you 10% off your order.
• My daughter loves Glossier's Body Hero Oil Wash, and I have to say the scent is delicious (orange blossom and neroli). I often use it myself.
• I like how subtle Atoderm by Bioderma is—it has almost no scent, but it works so well with any perfume I wear.

But when it comes to the time in winter when my skin is begging for spring to return, I use only Atoderm. A foaming shower oil, it hydrates while cleaning and is so gentle it can be used on babies. You usually have to give up lather or scent for such hydration and a formula for sensitive skin. And for something that costs half as much as the fancy brands, it provides a pretty luxe bathing experience while not irritating or drying. This with the SALUX washcloth is my jam for soft, happy winter skin.

Treating Body Moisture As I Do Face Moisture

When it comes to moisturizing my body, I've always expected a single product to achieve everything. And I think some amazing products on the market accomplish a lot. But for really dry and angry skin, I've learned to layer my moisturizers as I do with my face.

Nécessaire makes this fragrance-free body serum that is essentially hyaluronic acid for below your neck. It also has ceramides and niacinamide, and I just add some to my body moisturizer, and it makes a big impact without feeling greasy or irritating my skin. It may perform better if it's applied to damp skin and then lotion over it, but I've found success mixing it with lotion and applying it to damp skin.

I also layer an oil over the lotion. From spring through fall, my moisturizer of choice is Neutrogena Body Oil. I love the scent, so I love coating myself with it, putting on my terrycloth robe, and letting it soak in as I take care of my face and hair. But by Thanksgiving, I'm layering it on top of other products.

Just like with my face, I find the oil sort of seals everything in. And this way I can use a heavy-duty sensitive skin moisturizer (don't have a favorite and use a few different brands, if you have a fave please share in the comments) and still enjoy the scent and the ritual of Neutrogena Body Oil.

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I know my skin issues are not the same as everyone and may live in a different climate. But as someone who dealt with very dry and irritated skin every winter since I was young, I just had to share what I've learned and how I handle my dry skin in winter. But I'd also love to hear from you (and I bet fellow Wardrobe Oxygen readers would as well). What do you use to handle your dry or sensitive winter skin? Let us know in the comments! Please note any comments with two or more links will be held in moderation, but I'll be watching and approving periodically.