Do You Really Need a Winter Moisturizer?

Don’t leave your skin out in the cold... Jack Frost nipping at your nose means serious, no-holds-barred moisturizer weather has arrived. But can’t I just use my regular moisturizer year-round? Sadly, my little skincare minimalist, no. Winter is essentially a 3-month-long assault on your skin. The dry, forced air of those trusty space heaters, extra long hot showers, and changes in temperature from inside to outside spell major moisture loss. The best way to prepare your skin for the winter war on skin? A winter moisturizer. But not all moisturizers are created equal. Whatever your skin type, there’s a winter formula that’s right for you.

Best Winter Moisturizer for Your Skin Type

Dry Skin

The winter months spell drier-than-usual skin across the board, so if you’ve got dry skin it can feel like you’re starting from behind. Not to worry - there’s hope for your dry, chapped face yet! Meet the mother of all moisturizers, Egyptian Magic. With all-natural ingredients like olive oil and honey, this balmy cream claims to be the ultimate remedy for lizard skin from tip to toe. Slather it on before bed, let marinate overnight, and wake up looking like Cleopatra herself.

Oily Skin

Skimping on the moisturizer just because you have oily skin? Though you may be trying to avoid breakouts, denying your skin hydration in the winter months can have the opposite effect - causing it to ramp up oil production. This, combined with dehydration and flaky winter skin may lead to clogged pores, breakouts, and redness. So when the temperature drops, pick up a lightweight moisturizer like Clinique Moisture Surge. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid to deliver the boost of hydration your skin needs with an oil-free, gel-cream formula that won’t clog pores.  

Combination Skin

Winter can spell double the trouble for combination skin - bringing the negative side effects of dry and oily skin at the same time. It’s important for all you combo cuties to incorporate gentle exfoliation and a hydrating moisturizer like Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream. The Goldilocks of winter moisturizers, it’s heavier than a gel to deeply replenish those dry patches, but still lightweight enough not to clog pores. In other words, juuuuust right.     

Sensitive Skin

If you’ve got sensitive skin, incorporating anything new into your skincare routine can be scary - after all, no one wants to gamble with their face. But what works in the balmy summer months just won’t cut it in the winter. So, when exploring the wonderful world of winter moisturizers, look for formulas that are made for sensitive Sallies like yourself. We love Tolerance Extreme Cream from the sensitivity experts at Avene.     

Normal Skin

If you’re unsure what skin type you have, or if none of the above speak to your skincare soul, go for a tried-and-true winter classic like Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. It’s supposed to help prevent moisture loss while simultaneously replenishing skin with hydrating squalene and moisture pulled straight from the air.     Whichever winter moisturizer you choose, remember that its effects will essentially be nullified if you’re sleeping on a cotton pillowcase. Though comfy and cozy, cotton is a highly-absorbent fabric, which means it’s likely to steal all that skin-quenching moisture when you lay your head down at night. What a waste! Consider switching to a silk case for the colder, drier months and keep your moisturizer where it belongs - on your skin.