Skincare during cold days: how to support sensitive winter skin

In winter, the world around you changes, and with it, the conditions your skin needs to function. You'll notice this most on your face: it feels drier, more sensitive, and sometimes tight. Why is that? And what can you do to protect your skin from the cold and dryness? In this article, we delve into winter skin.

Why does your skin feel different in winter?

Your skin is an intelligent organ, constantly responding to the world around you. Under the influence of winter conditions, the skin goes into a kind of energy-saving mode. Blood flow decreases, cell renewal slows, and the production of natural fats becomes more efficient.

So, it's perfectly normal for your skin to feel different in winter. It's a form of adaptation: the skin senses changing conditions and adjusts its system accordingly. In warmer months, processes like blood circulation, repair, and lipid production are more active, while in winter, the skin slows down. This leaves more energy for processes that take priority in winter, such as maintaining body temperature and general immunity.

What does cold do to the face?

Your face takes more punishment in winter than the rest of your skin. While your body is protected by clothing, your facial skin is almost constantly exposed to the cold, wind, and fluctuating indoor and outdoor temperatures. This makes facial skin extra vulnerable.

But what does winter weather actually do to your skin? Cold and wind cause moisture to evaporate from the skin more quickly, which can lead to dehydration. At the same time, the air also contains less moisture in winter: outside because of the cold, and inside because of the heating. If the heater is blazing in the office or at home, the air can even become drier than in desert regions.

That dry air draws moisture from your skin. This happens in microscopic amounts at a time, but the effect accumulates. As winter progresses, it becomes more difficult for your skin to maintain its natural balance. You'll notice this: your skin feels drier, reacts more sensitively to stimuli, and requires more attention than in milder seasons.

Why more intensive lubrication is not the solution

If your face becomes dry or flaky during the winter months, it might seem logical to take more intensive care with more products or extra steps in your routine. But research shows that this is often not what the skin needs.

In winter, your skin works harder to maintain its balance. That's why, especially during the colder months, it benefits from skincare that supports it, not places additional stress on it. Constantly adjusting to different products, formulas, and ingredients demands a lot from your skin. Dermatologists and other skin experts are therefore increasingly advocating for minimalist skincare: fewer steps, no unnecessary additives, only what the skin truly needs.

This approach is also called skinimalism . Especially in winter, rest and stability appear to be better for the skin than extensive routines with many different products and ingredients.

Ingredients that protect without overloading

Dermatologists recommend ingredients that meet the needs of winter skin: protection against moisture loss and support in changing conditions.

Two ingredients stand out:

·      Hyaluronic acid
This skin-friendly ingredient helps the skin retain moisture, even when cold and dry air make this difficult. It supports the skin's natural hydration system. Hyaluronic acid with smaller molecules – short-chain hyaluronic acid – penetrates the deeper layers of the skin and helps maintain moisture levels there. In this way, hyaluronic acid not only works on the surface but contributes to hydration throughout the skin's structure.

·      Ectoine
Ectoine is a natural molecule with a strong protective effect, especially in demanding conditions. It helps cells cope with influences such as cold, wind, and temperature fluctuations, ensuring the skin remains more stable when the environment changes. In winter, ectoine particularly supports the skin's natural ability to retain moisture and protect itself from dehydration.

Winter routine for the face

A calm, simple routine creates a solid foundation your skin can rely on. Consistency and gentleness are especially important in winter.

This is what a supportive winter routine looks like in practice:

·      Mild cleansing  to remove dirt from the skin without damaging the natural lipid layer.

·      Protective day care  which supports hydration and strengthens the skin barrier.

·      Soothing night care  which supports the skin's natural recovery processes while you sleep.

·      Eye care for extra protection of the delicate skin around the eyes, which reacts more quickly to cold and dry air.

Healthy winter skin in every stage of life

As you age and your skin changes, repair and hydration require more support. This becomes especially noticeable in winter, when skin has more difficulty retaining moisture and repairing itself after a day in the cold and dry air. It's therefore perfectly normal for skin to feel drier and more sensitive during this period, and for this to become more noticeable as you age.

With targeted care, you can keep your winter skin healthy and balanced at every stage of life. It's not about correcting, but about supporting the skin's natural functions. In skin science, there's a growing interest in age-supporting skincare: care that supports natural skin functions, rather than focusing on reversing or "fighting" visible signs of aging.

Your skin is much more than what you see on the outside. Beautiful skin is healthy skin. It can effectively fulfill its protective function and helps the body cope with the most challenging conditions. In every season and at every stage of life.

Give your skin a soft winter

Cold, wind, dry air: winter isn't exactly kind to your skin. Your face, in particular, takes a beating. Especially during these months, your skin needs care that doesn't stress it, but supports it.

Just as your skin naturally adapts to winter, your routine can also slow down. Fewer steps, more rest, more focus on what's truly important. Choose ingredients that meet your skin's winter needs: protection against dehydration and support for recovery.

You don't need to correct or force sensitive winter skin. Your skin is naturally well-equipped to handle winter conditions and regain its balance. With a simple routine and the right ingredients, you can help it comfortably get through even the coldest days.

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Sources & further reading

·      Gillbro, J. (2020). Scandinavian Skincare Bible. London: Eyewear Publishing.

·      Papakonstantinou, E., Roth, M. & Karakiulakis, G. (2012). Hyaluronic acid: a key molecule in skin aging. Dermato-Endocrinology, 4(3), 253–258.

·      Schröter, M.-A., Meyer, S., Kunte, HJ, et al. (2017). Ectoine protects DNA from damage by ionizing radiation. Scientific Reports, 7, 15272.

·      Engebretsen, K. A., Johansen, J. D., Kezic, S., Linneberg, A. & Thyssen, J. P. (2016). The effect of environmental humidity and temperature on skin barrier function and dermatitis. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology , 30(2), 223–249.