Why Your Skin Feels So Dry in Winter (and What Actually Helps)

If your skin suddenly feels tight, flaky, dull, sensitive, or just off lately, you’re not imagining it. Winter has a way of sneaking up on our skin, even if you’ve never struggled with dryness before.

Every December, we hear the same thing in the treatment room:
“I don’t know what changed… my skin just doesn’t look good”

So let’s talk about why that happens, and what actually helps.

Why Winter Is So Hard on Your Skin

Cold air outside combined with dry heated air inside will make your skin lose moisture faster than it can hold onto it. Add in hot showers, holiday stress, using the wrong products, and/or skipping parts of your routine when life gets busy, and your skin barrier will start to struggle.

That can show up as:

• Dry or flaky patches

• Tightness after cleansing

• Redness or sensitivity

• Makeup not sitting right

• Skin looking dull instead of glowy

Even people with “normal” or oily skin notice changes this time of year.

Common winter skin mistakes we see

Winter skincare doesn’t have to be complicated, but there are a few habits that tend to backfire:

• Over-exfoliating
  It’s tempting when your skin feels rough, but too much exfoliation can actually make dryness worse.

• Skipping SPF
  Yes, even in winter. UV damage doesn’t take a season off.

• Using the same products year-round
  Your lightweight summer moisturizer probably isn’t cutting it right now…

What Actually Helps Your Skin in the Winter

Here’s what we consistently see makes the biggest difference:

• Switching to a richer, more nourishing and hydrating moisturizer

• Keeping exfoliation gentle and intentional

• Staying consistent with SPF

• Adding professional skincare treatments back into your routine

This is where facials really shine in winter. A customized facial helps restore hydration, support your skin barrier, and reset everything so your at-home routine can actually do its job.

You don’t need to “fix” your skin. You just need to support it through the season it’s in.

Our Advice?

Listen to your skin. Winter is the time to slow down, nourish, moisturize, and protect, not strip or overcorrect. If your skin feels different, that’s okay. We’re here to help you figure out what it needs right now.

Cheers,
Larra