Say Goodbye to Dry: 5 tips for replenishing winter-ravaged skin

I love winter, which I realize may lead you to question my sanity. But I find cold air invigorating and refreshing after months of heat and humidity. My skin, however, is far less enthusiastic. Even during record warm winters like this one, I struggle to keep flaky, itchy skin at bay, from my chin to my shins. On the plus side, this year’s long spell of remarkably dry air has given me ample opportunity to experiment on myself, including whipping up a few DIY recipes. I also consulted with my two Minnesota-born–and-bred estheticians, who I knew would have much to offer in the way of dry skin solutions.

After teasing out what worked from what did not, I present to you 5 easy and affordable adjustments you can make to your daily skin care routine when winter attacks:


1) Drink more water. Far and away the biggest improvements I saw in my skin came with drinking more water, and less coffee and alcohol. Remember: your skin is as much (if not more) a reflection of what is going on inside your body as it is of what is happening outside. If your complexion looks dull, my first (and most affordable) recommendation is to gulp down some good old fashioned H2O.

2) Apply a moisture mask before hopping in the shower. My estheticians recommended this one, and I immediately saw why. Used once or twice per week, moisturizing masks are designed to deliver more concentrated nutrients to the skin. For best results, apply the mask before stepping into the shower, making sure to contain as much steam inside the shower as possible, as the steam allows the mask to penetrate deeper into the skin, while also providing additional moisture. In addition to pre-made masks, like Couleur Caramel’s Moisture Mask, you can also make your own. One recipe I found particularly effective (and delicious): Mash a two-inch chunk of banana and mix with just enough organic, whole, heavy cream to make a spreadable paste. With your face over the sink (this mask can be a bit messy), apply to the face, throat, and decollete. Leave on for a total of 20-30 minutes, then rinse. I apply this mask 10 minutes before getting into the shower, and then leave it on for 10 minutes while in the shower before rinsing off.

3) Apply face and body moisturizers immediately after you shower, while skin is still damp. To get the most out of your lotions, apply them when there is still moisture on your skin, as the water molecules help carry the moisturizing heroes in your lotion deeper into the skin, providing more effective relief from winter’s anti-skin campaign. With body lotions, simple is often better. My favorites include Shea Radiance Whipped Shea Butter, MGA Naked Rescue Cream, and Keys Tortuga Lotion.

4) Add a facial oil to your skin care regimen. The extent to which a moisturizer works depends almost entirely on the relationship between your skin’s ability to product its own moisture, and the strength of the forces removing it. Faced with the powerfully dry, cold air of winter, even oily skin may require a boost. Rather than scrap your moisturizer – or store it away until Spring rolls around again – add a serum with nourishing oils like primrose, argan, and jojoba. These oils contain similar nutrients to the oils your skin naturally produces, providing much-needed moisture, while helping prevent and repair environmental damage. This year, I’ve been alternating between Blissoma Restore Deep Moisture Serum and Intelligent Nutrients Anti Aging Serum.

5) Upgrade to a high-quality night cream. For really dry skin, night creams help skin retain moisture, while delivering nutrients that fight aging and speed up skin cell turnover. Thicker, however, does not necessarily mean better. Many rich facial creams rely on nutrient-devoid and pore-clogging ingredients (petrolatum being the most commonly used) that do nothing to actual improve the quality of your skin. Look for creams with highly nourishing oils, like argan, rosehip seed, olive, and shea. Though hardly what one would consider “organic,” hyaluronic acid and squalane also liven up dry skin, and are found in many excellent night creams, including my favorite, Naturopathica’s Cassis Ultra Replenishing Cream. Other nighttime skin soothers include Logona Organic Rose Night Cream, and (coming soon) Shea Radiance Antioxidant Cream.