Why skin gets drier in winter
Skin gets drier in winter because cold outdoor air and heated indoor air both hold very little moisture, so skin loses water faster. Long, hot showers make it worse by stripping the natural oils that help hold moisture in.
A winter routine
A winter routine: creamy cleanser (or just a rinse), moisturiser on damp skin and broad-spectrum SPF 30+ in the morning; creamy cleanser and a richer cream at night, with a thicker layer on dry patches. Take short lukewarm showers, and use lip balm and hand cream through the day.
- 1Morning: creamy cleanser or just a rinse, moisturiser on damp skin, broad-spectrum SPF 30+
- 2Night: creamy cleanser, a richer cream, and a thicker layer on dry patches
- 3Take shorter, lukewarm showers and moisturise the body straight afterwards
- 4Apply lip balm and hand cream through the day
Ease off strong exfoliants and retinoids if skin feels tight, flaky or stings.
Get a routine for your own skin
Saundarya AI is an AI skin analysis and grooming app that reads a single selfie and returns a personalised report: face shape, skin type, detected skin concerns with the visual evidence behind them, a morning and night skincare routine, product picks at three budgets, and an 8-week improvement plan.
Generic advice is a starting point. A scan reads dryness and how it changes across the year on your own face, shows the visual evidence and a confidence score, and builds a morning and night routine around it. The first full analysis is free.
This is general cosmetic guidance, not medical advice. See a dermatologist for skin that is painful, spreading, scarring or not improving after 8-12 weeks.