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To prepare your skin for winter, start adjusting your routine before the cold sets in. Switch to a gentler cleanser, keep exfoliating at a pace that suits your skin, add a hydrating toner and serum, move to a richer moisturizer, and wear sunscreen every day. Making these changes in fall gives your skin barrier time to adapt before dry air and indoor heat take their toll.
Winter dryness isn’t limited to cold climates. Whether you’re dealing with snow in the Midwest, wind on the East Coast, or a mild winter where the heat still runs all day indoors, the air around your skin gets drier and your skin feels it. At heaven on earth in Aspen, where the air is dry year-round and winter arrives early, seasonal skin changes show up first, and these are the adjustments that consistently work.
Why does skin get drier in winter?
Cold air holds less moisture than warm air, and indoor heating lowers humidity even further. When the air around you is dry, water evaporates from your skin faster. Wind, hot showers and moving between cold air outside and warm rooms inside add to the stress.
That’s why skin often feels tight after cleansing, looks dull, flakes, or suddenly reacts to products it has always tolerated. These are signs the skin barrier, the outer layer that holds moisture in, needs more support than your summer routine gives it, and in places where humidity stays low all year, skin feels it even more.
When should you switch to a winter skincare routine?
Late fall, before your skin starts showing signs of dryness. Swap one or two products at a time so you can see how your skin responds. If your skin already feels tight or rough, start with your cleanser and moisturizer. Those two changes make the biggest difference the fastest.
Choosing your approach: K-beauty, botanical or clinical
Every step below includes options from three approaches, so you can build a routine that matches how you like to care for your skin. You can mix and match, but choosing one primary approach makes the routine easier to follow, and applying products in the right order helps each one work better.
K-beauty is built around layering hydration and protecting the skin barrier, with lightweight textures that are easy to stack. Ingredients like ceramides, cica and beta-glucan show up often. Choose this approach if your skin is dehydrated or sensitive, or if you like a multi-step routine. Brands: KrX, Corthe, Dermathod, LAPCOS and Neogenesis.
Botanical skincare relies on plant extracts and oils to nourish and comfort skin. Choose this approach if you prefer plant-based formulas with a sensory, ritual feel. Brand: Green Envee.
Clinical skincare, sometimes called cosmeceutical skincare, uses active ingredients like peptides, vitamins and exfoliating acids at professional strength. Choose this approach if you want targeted results for concerns like fine lines, texture and uneven tone along with winter hydration. Brands: Skin Script, Intraceuticals and Chromat.
Step 1: Switch to a gentler cleanser
If your face feels tight right after washing, your cleanser is taking too much with it. Foaming and acne-focused cleansers that work well in summer can strip skin in winter. Choosing a cleanser for your skin type matters more this time of year, and a cream, milk or oil-based formula removes makeup and sunscreen while leaving moisture where it belongs.
K-beauty: Corthe Dermo Essential Cleansing Milk. A silky cleansing milk that takes off makeup, sunscreen and the day’s buildup, leaving skin soft instead of tight. A good choice if your skin feels dry or sensitive by the end of the day.
Botanical: Green Envee Soothe Herbal Cleansing Cream. A creamy cleanser for normal, dry and sensitive skin that leaves your face feeling as comfortable as it does clean.
Clinical: Skin Script Pomegranate Antioxidant Cleanser. Made for dry and dehydrated skin, this creamy cleanser starts hydrating from the first step of your routine and adds antioxidant protection.
Step 2: Keep exfoliating, with the right formula and frequency
Skipping exfoliation in winter is one of the most common mistakes. Dry skin sheds unevenly, so dead cells build up on the surface, making skin look dull and keeping your serums and moisturizers from absorbing well. You end up using more product and seeing less from it.
The goal is finding the right rhythm and the right type of exfoliant for your skin. If you don’t exfoliate now, start once or twice a week. If your skin stings when you apply products, feels tight, or looks red, you’re likely exfoliating too often and should space it out. Always follow with hydration.
K-beauty: Dermathod Priming Booster Peel Pads. Individually wrapped pads that smooth and brighten without the irritation of a traditional peel. They’re easy to keep consistent with and simple to pack for travel.
Botanical: Green Envee Illuminate Enzyme Cleansing Powder. Cleanses and gently exfoliates in one step. A good fit if you want smoother, brighter skin without adding another step to your routine.
Clinical: Skin Script Retinol 2% Exfoliating Scrub/Mask. Combines physical exfoliation with retinol to address rough texture, dullness and visible pores. Use it as a weekly treatment, and not on the same night as other exfoliants or retinoids.
Step 3: Add a hydrating toner or mist
This is the step most people skip, and it’s one of the most useful in dry air. A hydrating toner or mist puts water back into skin after cleansing and helps your serum spread and absorb. Apply it to damp skin and follow right away with your serum or moisturizer.
K-beauty: KrX Quenching Glow Toner. Adds a layer of moisture between cleansing and serum while helping dull skin look brighter. Ideal if you like the layered approach of K-beauty.
Botanical: Green Envee Hydrate Facial Mist. Hydrates and preps skin for serum, and it’s easy to keep in your bag for a midday refresh over makeup, on a plane or after time outside.
Clinical: Chromat Balance Solution. A soothing, hydrating treatment toner that replenishes moisture and strengthens the skin barrier. A strong pick if your skin gets reactive in winter.
Step 4: Use a hydrating serum
A hydrating serum delivers concentrated water-binding ingredients that a moisturizer alone can’t. Beta-glucan and hyaluronic acid are two of the most effective, and each works a little differently. If your skin still feels thirsty an hour after moisturizing, this is the step that’s missing. In dry climates, always follow it with a moisturizer to lock it in.
K-beauty: Neogenesis Beta-Glucan Serum. A lightweight serum made from beta-glucan that hydrates dry, dehydrated or sensitive skin while helping calm and support the barrier. An easy, affordable place to start.
Botanical: Green Envee H.A. Collagen Boosting Serum. An oil-free serum with 15% hyaluronic acid and plant peptides that hydrates deeply and softens the look of fine lines. Works for every skin type.
Clinical: Intraceuticals Rejuvenate Daily Serum. A hyaluronic acid serum that hydrates and smooths tired, dehydrated skin. It’s the at-home serum from the same professional line used in Intraceuticals oxygen facials, a treatment offered at the heaven on earth spa in Aspen.
Step 5: Move to a richer moisturizer
The moisturizer that worked all summer often isn’t enough once the air dries out. Look for a cream that both draws in water and holds it there. If your skin is oily or acne-prone, you may only need a slightly richer formula, not a heavy cream.
K-beauty: Corthe Rich M Cream. A dermatologist-developed moisturizer for parched, depleted skin. It gives lasting comfort without feeling heavy, which makes it easy to wear under makeup.
Botanical: Green Envee Nourish Replenishing Moisturizer. Made for skin that never seems to get enough moisture, especially skin that feels tight or less supple than it used to.
Clinical: Skin Script Hydrating Moisturizer. Combines shea butter with hydrating ingredients for dry skin that still feels uncomfortable after a lighter cream. Also a good choice for sensitive and rosacea-prone skin.
Step 6: Wear sunscreen every day
Winter sun is easy to underestimate. UV rays reach your skin on cloudy days and through windows, and snow reflects them back up at your face, so a winter walk can mean more exposure than you’d think. If you ski or travel to the mountains, exposure is even higher because UV increases with altitude. Daily SPF also helps prevent the dark spots and uneven tone that are much harder to treat later.
K-beauty: KrX Sunblocker SPF 50. High UVA and UVB protection in a light, creamy texture that’s comfortable for everyday wear.
Botanical: Green Envee Sun Shield Serum SPF 50. A weightless mineral sunscreen with a serum texture that evens skin tone, available in several tints. For many people it replaces foundation.
Step 7: Add a weekly hydrating mask
Once or twice a week, a hydrating mask gives dry skin a deeper dose of moisture. It’s especially helpful after a flight, a day outdoors in the cold, or any time your skin feels tight and tired.
K-beauty: LAPCOS Daily Ceramide Sheet Mask. Packed with ceramides to replenish moisture and help skin look smoother and more rested. Easy to keep on hand for a quick reset.
Botanical: Green Envee Firm Collagen Gel Masque. A lightweight gel mask that leaves tired, tight skin softer and plumper.
Clinical: Skin Script Botanical Bloom Hydrating Mask. For skin that seems to drink up moisturizer without ever feeling hydrated enough. A good weekly step before an event.
Extra winter care
Eyes: The skin around the eyes is thinner and shows dryness and fatigue first. Green Envee Renew Eye Complex is a lightweight eye cream that hydrates and improves the look of dark circles, puffiness and fine lines.
Facial oil: For very dry skin, a few drops of oil over moisturizer at night holds hydration in while you sleep. Green Envee Flora Elixir Botanic Facial Oil gives concentrated nourishment without a greasy feel, and it also comes in a travel-size mini.
Hands and body: Hands are often the first place winter dryness shows. Green Envee Zen Hand and Body Cream softens dry hands and body and absorbs quickly, so you can use it throughout the day.
Winter travel: Planning a ski trip or flying somewhere for the holidays? Airplane cabins, wind and high altitude are hard on skin. The Green Envee Vacation Rescue Kit puts travel-size essentials together for exactly that, so your skin doesn’t pay for the trip.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Should I stop exfoliating in winter?
A: No. Most people benefit from continuing to exfoliate in winter. Use a gentle formula, start with once or twice a week, and adjust based on how your skin feels.
Q: Do I need sunscreen in winter?
A: Yes. UV rays are present year-round, and snow and altitude increase exposure. Wear SPF daily, including on cloudy days.
Q: Can I use retinol in winter?
A: Yes, but winter can make retinol more irritating. Use it a few nights a week, follow with moisturizer, and avoid using it the same night as other exfoliants.
Q: What’s the difference between dry and dehydrated skin?
A: Dry skin lacks oil, while dehydrated skin lacks water. Many people have both in winter. Hydrating toners and serums address dehydration, while richer moisturizers and oils help dry skin.
Q: How do I know if my skin barrier is damaged?
A: Common signs include stinging when you apply products, persistent tightness, redness and flaking. If you notice these, simplify your routine, pause exfoliation for a few days, and focus on gentle cleansing and moisturizing.
Not sure which products are right for you?
The Skin Clarity Consultation is a 60-minute virtual session that builds a personalized routine for your skin, wherever you live.
Give the gift of a better winter routine
If someone on your list loves skincare, many of these products are featured in The Heaven on Earth Holiday Gift Edit, organized by price so it’s easy to find the right gift.
