Unlock your best winter skin with dermatologist and beauty expert tips for hydration and repair

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When the temperature drops, so does your skin barrier’s will to live.

If you’ve recently noticed your face feeling tight, your lips cracking, your hair sticking to absolutely everything, or your eczema flaring like it has a personal grudge against you leaving the house – you’re not imagining it.

Winter, and the cold weather that comes with it, legitimately changes the way your skin behaves, and there’s a very clear reason why.

We spoke with Consultant Dermatologist Dr Alia Ahmed to find out why, what to do and how we should change up our usual skincare routine – along with haircare tips from Laura Elliott, head stylist and educator at Neäl & Wølf too.

Why is winter bad for your skin?

Cold air holds barely any moisture, and having your central heating whacked up doesn’t help either – it just dries the air out even further. Together, they pull hydration from your skin and weaken the barrier that normally keeps moisture in and irritants out. Dr Alia says this spike in transepidermal water loss (aka the speed at which water evaporates from your skin) is what leaves it feeling dry, tight and reactive.

Dr Alia also explains that one of the skin barrier’s key jobs is to retain moisture, but low‑humidity environments – whether you’re outside in the cold or inside with the heating on – can compromise that barrier and let water escape. That dehydration shows up as tight, itchy or flaky skin. And once those protective factors are stripped away, the skin becomes more open to irritants, which can worsen redness, cracking and sensitivity.

Temperature swings also play a role. Moving quickly from warm to cold environments (or vice versa) can aggravate symptoms because the blood vessels near the surface expand in heat and constrict in the cold. According to Dr Alia, this back‑and‑forth can lead to swelling, flushing and irritation – which explains why winter is such a common trigger for flare‑ups, especially eczema.

Why does eczema get worse in winter?

Eczema thrives in dry conditions. With less moisture in the air outside and dehydrating heating inside, your skin is constantly losing water. As the barrier weakens, irritants can get in, sparking the classic winter cycle of itching, rough patches and inflammation. It’s why eczema‑prone skin often feels more temperamental, reactive and harder to soothe as the temperature drops.

Should we have a different skincare routine depending on the season?

Dr Alia said: ‘I usually recommend making some easy switches to skin care to cope with seasonal changes. For example, cream formulations are good for winter as skin is prone to dehydration, and lotions are better for summer as the lighter texture is more easily absorbed and avoids leaving a greasy film. Serums are good for any season. Foaming textures can be drying on the skin in winter but easily used during summer.’

How to keep dryness and eczema flare‑ups down in winter

These simple, dermatologist‑approved tweaks make a real difference:

1. Choose richer moisturisers. Look for ceramides, glycerin or hyaluronic acid to lock moisture in and support the skin barrier.
2. Run a humidifier at night. It helps replace the moisture that winter air steals from your skin.
3. Take shorter, lukewarm showers. Hot water strips away natural oils and worsens dryness.
4. Use gentle, fragrance‑free cleansers. Harsh products and strong scents can irritate already-sensitive winter skin.

Why are dry lips worse in winter

Lips lack oil glands, so they depend entirely on the environment and your habits. Winter accelerates water loss, and wind exposure makes them crack. Dermatologists also note lips are among the first areas to chap in low humidity – sad times. But fear not, as there are a plethora of lip balms on the market, and overnight masks that will heal those in a flash!

What is the best type of lip balm to use?

• Use balms containing ‘occlusives’, like petrolatum, and shea butter.
• Avoid licking your lips – saliva evaporates fast and makes dryness worse.
• Apply a generous amount of lip balm before bed and before going outside. Better yet, opt for an overnight mask for a hydration hit.

Bad hair day? Snow thanks

Winter doesn’t just dry out your skin – it can leave your hair feeling rough, brittle and generally fed‑up too.

Laura Elliott, head stylist and educator at Neäl & Wølf, says cold air outside and heated air indoors are the main culprits, causing everything from split ends to dandruff and flyaways.

Hands, feet and body – don’t neglect the dry bits

Cold air and indoor heating both contain very little moisture, so your skin loses water much faster in winter. This weakens the skin barrier and causes dryness. Hands and feet dry out more because they naturally produce less oil, and frequent washing or hot showers strip away what little moisture is left. Wind, friction from clothing and lower oil production in cold weather make dryness across the body even worse.

What helps prevent this?

• Moisturise after every wash.
• Use rich, overnight creams or ointments.
• Wear gloves outdoors — experts emphasise protecting skin from wind.

Have we missed anything? Or is there a beauty product you can’t live without during the winter? Let us know in the comments.

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