"As a born-and-bred Midwesterner, I’m no stranger to the cold—at this point, it actually feels more natural to me than heat does. While needing to bundle up every time I leave the house could be considered the biggest burden of the cold, lately, how insufferably dry my skin gets has actually taken the cake.
By now we all know that the changing of the seasons can affect our skin—and if you live in a finicky climate, it can affect your skin fast. Are you dealing with drier-than-normal skin and looking for a fix (and maybe an explanation too?). We turned to the experts to find out the most effective ways to give your skin some much-needed hydration this winter.
Education Director, Aesthetician, and Laser & Light Specialist at SpaDerma
Ashley is the Education Director at SpaDerma MedSpa in Chicago, where she has been an aesthetician for over 12 years.
Double-Board Certified MD and Founder of Visha Skincare
Dr. Purvisha Patel is the founder of Advanced Dermatology & Skin Care Associates and tbe creator of Visha Skincare.
Why does my skin change with the weather?
Ashley Powers, Education Director and Medical Aesthetician at SpaDerma in Chicago, explained that your skin can change as soon as the weather starts changing. For summer, that usually comes with the first days of high humidity. But for fall and winter, “that first day when we start to see around 50-degree temperatures” might do the trick.
Dryness might be about more than patches of dry skin or itchiness; there’s a lot that can happen when your skin lacks moisture. “With any change in [the] weather, you may notice more dryness or tightness, a bit of redness or flaking, or an increase in oil production,” Powers said. So if you’re noticing your skin feels dry after you get out of the shower or you’re randomly feeling a little more oily than normal, you might be dealing with a bout of dry skin after all.
I usually have oily skin, but now it’s dry. Why?
I couldn’t blot my skin enough this summer, so I didn’t expect my skin to really change with the weather quite so drastically. However, Dr. Purvisha Patel, Board-Certified Dermatologist and Founder of Visha Skincare, said that while the change in the weather makes a difference, so do our habits. “Skin in summer is ‘oily,’ not just due to sebum, but due to sweat and humidity,” Dr. Patel said. “When the weather gets cooler, we tend to take longer and hotter showers. The hot water evaporates easier from the skin, and there is no sweat or humidity in the air to help trap the moisture in. When the water evaporates faster, then the skin appears dry and tight.”
We start changing our habits and daily routines for the fall and winter, and those add up to affecting our skin as well. Dr. Patel suggested using an extra-hydrating moisturizer like Visha Skincare RejuVenating Moisturizer right after a shower when the skin is still damp, which will help prevent all of that water loss and aid in keeping the skin supple and moist.
This moisturizer is lightweight and packed with hyaluronic acid, so it instantly makes your skin feel soft and hydrated—like, next-level smooth. It’s not greasy, making it perfect for daily use, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin.
If I already have dry skin, how am I supposed to deal with extra dryness?
Going from dry to extra or even ultra-dry is no fun. When you already feel like you can’t get enough moisture in your skin and it somehow comes back at you with flakes, redness, and irritation, throwing in the towel, saying “peace” to your skincare routine, and slathering your face with straight Vaseline is tempting.
Those with dry skin might have actually experienced a little relief over the summer with the humidity levels, but their skin is lacking that now and responding accordingly. Dr. Patel recommended increasing the thickness of your moisturizer—such as opting for a cream instead of a lotion—and reducing how often and how much you’re using exfoliating and dry ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and retinol. You can also add in an oil cleanser, which will moisturize your skin while it cleanses and removes your makeup.
Should I change my skincare routine for winter?
“With the change in season, it’s important to change your products to what is best suited for your skin type at the moment,” Powers said. “A common phrase I say in the treatment room is to listen to your skin. If it is breaking out, then you may need to spot treat those breakouts; if it’s dry, add more moisture.” If you’re noticing that your skin is changing, then the routine you were previously using might need some tweaks. You don’t need to overhaul every step, but it might be a good idea to change up the ingredients.
Powers is a dry-skin sufferer as well, and she explained that she changes up her routine quite a bit when the seasons change. She switches from a gentle cleanser to something more hydrating, like PCA Skin Creamy Cleanser, and adds a hyaluronic acid serum both morning and night. Powers also swears by PCA Skin’s Hydrate Mask—she said when applied 2-3 times a week, it’s a “lifesaver” during the harsh Chicago winters.
How to use acids and retinols on dry skin
If you love exfoliating acids like glycolic, lactic, and even retinol, don’t worry—you don’t have to forgo those ingredients entirely just because your skin is dry. In fact, Powers even recommends using them during periods of dryness. “When you have dry skin, you have dead skin cells building on top of one another (sorry for that visual), which causes dullness, flaking, and potentially congestion,” Powers said. “By gently exfoliating that dead, dry skin off, your skin will now be able to fully accept all the serums and moisturizers you are about to put on.” She suggested exfoliating with an acid like glycolic acid 2-3 times a week, depending on how sensitive your skin is. Dr. Patel loves ascorbic acid (AKA vitamin C), azelaic acid, and lactic acid for those with dry, sensitive skin looking to get a little bit of exfoliation.
Powers also recommended adding hyaluronic acid to your routine, saying that everyone can benefit from it regularly. “Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in our bodies, so once you apply, your skin knows exactly what to do with it,” Powers said. However, our bodies stop naturally producing it once we turn 25, and half of what we already have breaks down in our body by 50. “This is why as we age, we get a little drier and we lose that plump and smoothness to our skin,” Powers said.
If you love your retinoid, the key to making it work with your dry skin is taking it slow, not applying it every day, and always finishing it with an occlusive, hydrating moisturizer that will lock in the moisture. Peeling and dryness are often synonymous with retinol, but taking a few extra steps to hydrate (like using hyaluronic acid) can make all the difference. You can even apply moisturizer before and after retinol to dilute the product and keep your skin as moisturized as possible.
Is there anything else I can do? I’m dyin’ here
You probably know by now that the health of your skin is largely based on the health of your body. Both Dr. Patel and Powers recommend keeping hydrated from the inside out by drinking enough water every day (start with at least six glasses a day and go from there) and not skimping on your sunscreen (imagine sun damage on top of all that dryness—yikes). Dr. Patel also recommended getting enough sleep and taking a multivitamin and probiotic daily.
If you’re able to get skin treatments, Powers said starting a chemical peel regimen is a good idea regardless of skin type. “I love peels so much because they are one of the only things we do that can correct multiple concerns in one treatment,” Powers said. “Whether you’re dry, acne-prone, or concerned with premature aging, there is a peel out there for you. Personally, I feel everyone should be on a chemical peel regimen, as they are the best way to keep your skin healthy and strong.” If your skin is too sensitive or you’re not ready for the downtime, she recommended opting for a hydrafacial. On the flip side, if you want something a little more intense, microneedling can rehydrate, smooth, and brighten skin.
Powers highlighted the power of talking to a professional, too. “There is so much misinformation out there about what people should use on their skin and what they shouldn’t, and there is no way to know what your skin needs until it has been properly assessed by a licensed aesthetician,” Powers said. “When someone comes in to see me for the first time, I always say, ‘Talk to me. What brings you in today?’ I find the best results happen when the client and I work together toward their goal.”
If you’re struggling with dryness or any change in skin type this year, seeking the advice of an aesthetician or dermatologist is a good way to get your concerns voiced and tailor a routine for you.
Madeline Galassi, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor
Madeline Galassi is the Fashion & Beauty Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the fashion and beauty categories of the site. She brainstorms, writes, and edits stories across a broad range of topics including trend reports, product reviews, celebrity style, and more. She’s always keeping a pulse on the latest trends to create timely, exciting content for our readers.