Before you even think about splashing out on serums or stocking up on face masks, let’s cover the basics for surviving the colder months. Winter isn’t just a season; it’s an endurance test for your skin. The combination of biting winds, central heating, and shorter days can leave your complexion looking less radiant and more... well, raw. But don’t worry; there’s a way to keep your glow intact.
Your Winter Survival Kit:
Keep your skin barrier strong. This is your first line of defence, so be kind to it.
Ease up on exfoliation. Scrubbing away too much can leave your skin vulnerable.
Stock up on antioxidants. They’re like a superhero cape for your face.
Don’t forget Vitamin D supplements. Sunlight is scarce, but you still need that glow.
Now, let’s talk about what your skin really needs this winter, tailored to your unique type—because no one-size-fits-all approach will do here.
Dry skin often feels tight, with flakiness and irritation making an unwelcome appearance. According to experts, the best thing you can do is avoid soap and overly hot water, which strip away natural oils and leave your skin inflamed.
Your Morning Skincare Routine
Your morning skincare routine should be simple and easy to do on a regular day, as well as, the days when you are in a rush. We recommend a 4 step formula - cleanse-nourish-hydrate-protect.
Cleanser
When choosing a cleanser for dry skin, the goal is to remove impurities without stripping away essential moisture. Opt for a cream, milk, or oil-based cleanser with hydrating ingredients like glycerine, ceramides, or aloe vera, which help maintain your skin's natural barrier. Avoid foaming cleansers and those with alcohol or sulphates, as these can exacerbate dryness. A gentle, non-drying formula sets the stage for the rest of your morning skincare routine, ensuring your skin stays soft, comfortable, and ready to take on the day.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser with Hyaluronic Acid
It's a dermatologist-developed gem for normal to dry skin, combining a non-foaming gel formula with three essential ceramides to gently cleanse while protecting your skin barrier. With added hyaluronic acid for moisture retention, it’s fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and leaves your skin feeling soft—not stripped.
£12.50
Buy here.
Medik8 Cream Cleanse
This clenaser has a shea butter-infused formula that melts away heavy makeup and impurities while deeply nourishing dry, sensitive skin. Its rich, creamy texture leaves your complexion refreshed, moisturised, and perfectly prepped for the rest of your routine.£24
Buy here.
Toner or Mist (Optional step)
Using a toner or mist in your morning routine during winter is an optional, but lovely, step to add a boost of hydration before layering your other products. Look for formulas with soothing ingredients like rose water or hyaluronic acid to calm dryness and lock in moisture. A quick spritz or swipe can also help your skin feel refreshed, especially if central heating has left it feeling tight. Think of it as a gentle wake-up call for your face, not a necessity, but a nice-to-have.
MARIO BADESCU Witch Hazel & Rosewater Toner
The Mario Badescu Witch Hazel & Rosewater Toner refreshes and rejuvenates skin by removing impurities while preserving moisture, with antioxidant-rich rosewater and rose oil for a radiant complexion.
£14
Buy here.
Serum
Serums are your secret weapon for tackling winter skin woes in the morning, delivering a concentrated dose of hydration and protection before you layer on moisturiser. Look for a formula with hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture or antioxidants like vitamin C to shield your skin from environmental damage. They’re lightweight, fast-absorbing, and an easy way to keep your skin glowing even when the weather is grim. Apply a few drops post-cleansing and watch your complexion thank you.
Eyeam Inflammaging Skin Solution
It's a clinically tested, ultra-light hydrating fluid designed to calm redness and irritation while locking in moisture for a dewy finish. Perfect for all skin types, including sensitive, eczema, and rosacea-prone skin, it’s ideal as a protective base under moisturiser and SPF or as a daily moisturiser.
£45
Buy here.
Doctors Formula - Power Active Hyaluronic Acid
This hydrating formula targets dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles while brightening dull skin with gentle AHAs. Packed with hyaluronic acid, citric acid, pro-vitamin B5, and soothing plant extracts, it boosts moisture, reduces wrinkle depth, and leaves skin fresh, smooth, and calm.
£34.95
Buy here.
Medik8 Super C Ferulic
Medik8’s Super C Ferulic is a potent vitamin C serum clinically proven to reduce wrinkles, dark spots, and uneven tone while improving skin firmness. Formulated with 30% stabilised vitamin C, it delivers powerful anti-ageing benefits, making it the ideal addition to any morning routine for mature skin.
£69
Buy here.
CeraVe 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
CeraVe Vitamin C Serum is a hydrating, lightweight formula with 10% L-ascorbic acid to brighten the complexion and improve skin tone, while hyaluronic acid boosts hydration.
£16.48
Buy here.
Moisturiser
Moisturiser is an essential step in any winter skincare routine, especially for dry skin, as it helps to lock in hydration and create a barrier against the harsh, drying elements. Cold air and indoor heating can quickly strip your skin of its natural moisture, leaving it feeling tight and uncomfortable. A rich, nourishing moisturiser replenishes lost moisture, soothes irritation, and keeps your skin feeling soft and supple throughout the day. It’s your skin’s defence against dehydration, ensuring it stays hydrated and protected no matter how chilly it gets outside.
PAI C-2 Believe Vitamin C Brightening Face Moisturizer
This face moisturiser offers radiance without irritation, thanks to its light, silky formula designed for sensitive skin. Infused with vitamin C and up-cycled Bilberry extract, it delivers glow and essential skin repair in one.
£49
Buy here.
Biovene Vitamin C Day Boost Age-Correcting Moisturizer
This moisturiser with Vitamin C and Organic Mango hydrates and brightens the skin, reducing signs of aging while promoting a youthful glow. Formulated with UVA + UVB filters, it improves elasticity, reduces wrinkles, and offers long-lasting hydration to protect against dryness and environmental damage.
£7.98
Buy here.
EMBRYOLISSE Lait-Crème Multi-Protection
This moisturiser offers many benefits, including hydration, UVA-UVB protection, anti-pollution, and anti-aging, while also serving as a makeup base and after-shave cream. Ideal for daily use, it wraps the skin in a satiny veil, leaving it supple, radiant, and protected, making it perfect for sensitive skin.
£20.99
Buy here.
Sun-protecting cream
Sun protection is crucial year-round, even in winter, as UV rays can still damage your skin, causing premature aging and increasing the risk of skin cancer. A sun-protecting face cream with broad-spectrum UVA and UVB filters is an essential part of your morning routine, even when it's cold or cloudy. These creams not only shield against harmful rays but also often include hydrating ingredients to keep your skin nourished and protected from both environmental damage and moisture loss. Make SPF a non-negotiable step, ensuring your skin stays safe, healthy, and glowing all winter long.
Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel
Protection with advanced UVA/UVB technology and pollution defence, making it perfect for oily skin in hot, humid conditions. This lightweight, non-comedogenic formula absorbs quickly, leaving skin smooth, shine-free, and shielded from free radicals and premature aging.
£44.50
Buy here.
Eucerin Oil Control Sun Gel-Cream Dry Touch SPF50+
This is a lightweight, non-greasy sunscreen designed for oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin, offering high UV protection with advanced Spectral Technology. Infused with Glycyrrhetinic Acid and sebum-regulating ingredients, it provides a dry touch finish, controls shine for up to eight hours, and supports skin's natural repair mechanisms.
£19
Buy here.
THE INKEY LIST Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen
This sunscreen offers UVA and UVB protection with a hydrating formula featuring Polyglutamic Acid, Glycerin, and Squalane for a smooth, dewy finish. Non-pilling and suitable for all skin types and tones, it primes the skin for makeup while locking in moisture for lasting hydration.£15
Buy here.
An additional step
Marshmallow Flavored Lip Balm
Packed with three super oils, treat your lips to our Marshmallow Lip Balm. Our rich, never sticky marshmallow lip balm pampers and protects your lips. Keep your pout perfectly hydrated, never chapped or dry. Includes a delicate shimmer, enhancing the sheen.
£16
Buy here.
Your Evening Skincare Routine
Your night-time skincare routine is all about repair and hydration, especially if you have dry skin. After a day of exposure to harsh weather and environmental stressors, your skin needs extra care to replenish lost moisture and strengthen its barrier. By using nourishing, targeted products, you can wake up with soft, soothed, and revitalised skin, ready to face the day ahead.
Cleanser
Start your night-time routine with a gentle, hydrating cleanser to remove makeup, SPF, and the day’s grime without stripping your skin. Look for a formula that nourishes while it cleanses, leaving your skin soft and refreshed, ready for the next steps.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser with Hyaluronic Acid
It's a dermatologist-developed gem for normal to dry skin, combining a non-foaming gel formula with three essential ceramides to gently cleanse while protecting your skin barrier. With added hyaluronic acid for moisture retention, it’s fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and leaves your skin feeling soft—not stripped.
£12.50
Buy here.
Pai Skincare Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil
The Rosehip Cleansing Oil effortlessly removes makeup, SPF, and impurities, including stubborn waterproof mascara, without stinging or compromising on gentleness. With nourishing rosehip oil, it emulsifies with water to leave skin soft, balanced, and radiant, making it a perfect eco-conscious choice for clean, healthy skin.
£33
Buy here.
Hydrating Toner
A hydrating toner is like a drink of water for your skin, balancing and soothing it after cleansing. Opt for one enriched with calming ingredients to prep your skin for maximum absorption of serums and creams.
Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free-Toner
Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner refreshes and soothes the skin with its gentle, flower-powered formula. Free from alcohol, it removes dirt and debris while balancing your skin’s moisture levels for a calm, balanced complexion.
£39
Buy here.
The INKEY List PHA Toner
The INKEY List PHA Toner is a gentle exfoliant perfect for sensitive skin, helping to smooth texture and brighten your complexion. With moisture-locking PHA, soothing aloe, and redness-calming niacinamide, it’s the ideal blend of exfoliation and hydration.
£13
Buy here.
Dermalogica Multi Active Toner
Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner is a feather-light mist that preps your skin for better moisture absorption with hydrating humectants. Infused with arnica and cucumber extracts, it soothes and refreshes, making it a travel essential for rehydrating post-flight.
£14
Buy here.
Serum
Nighttime is the perfect moment for serums that repair and restore, so choose one packed with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or peptides. These powerhouses target dryness, fine lines, or dullness, working while you sleep to deliver a plumper, healthier complexion.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum
This intensely hydrating serum is clinically proven to plump and repair dehydrated, ageing skin in just one day. Packed with hyaluronic acid, it boosts elasticity and firmness, delivering a radiant, supple complexion while reducing fine lines and wrinkles over time.
£44.95
Buy here.
Medik8 Hydr8 B5
This serum delivers intense hydration with multi-weight hyaluronic acid, leaving skin visibly plump and cushion-soft. Lightweight and oil-free, it absorbs quickly to replenish moisture and smooth fine lines without any greasy residue.
£45
Buy here.
NATURIUM Barrier Bounce
Naturium Barrier Bounce serum delivers an instant hydration boost, plumping and brightening the skin for a dewy, radiant glow. Packed with squalane, urea, and ceramides, it strengthens the skin barrier to lock in moisture and revitalise even the driest complexions.
£26.50
Buy here.
Night Cream
A rich night cream locks in moisture and delivers intense nourishment to your skin as you rest. Look for formulas designed to replenish and repair, so you wake up with a soft, hydrated glow.
LIZ EARLE Skin Repair Night Cream
Liz Earle’s Skin Repair Night Cream delivers deep hydration and supports overnight recovery for a radiant, well-rested look by morning—even if you haven’t had eight hours of sleep. Infused with plant-based hyaluronic acid, borage seed, and avocado oil, it visibly reduces signs of fatigue while its calming rose and lavender scent soothes the senses before bed.
£26
Buy here.
L'Oréal Paris Dermo Expertise Triple Active Hydrating Night Moisturiser
L'Oreal Paris Dermo Expertise Triple Active Night Pot delivers intense moisture and protection, working overnight to combat UV rays, pollution, and stress that can leave skin feeling dull. Infused with glycerin, omega 3 & 6, this rich yet lightweight cream restores the skin's barrier, leaving it soft, supple, and luminous by morning.
£7.49
Buy here.
Medik8 Advanced Night Restore 50ml
Medik8's Advanced Night Restore is a ceramide-rich night cream that works overnight to smooth lines, firm the complexion, and nourish the skin’s barrier for a rejuvenated look by morning. Clinically proven to improve skin fullness and visibly reduce wrinkles in just 7 days, it pairs perfectly with retinol for enhanced firming and smoothing results.
£59
Buy here.
Facial Oil
Finish with a luxurious facial oil to seal in all the goodness from your routine and provide an extra boost of hydration. It’s the ultimate indulgence, leaving your skin smooth, radiant, and perfectly protected against the winter chill.
Pai Skincare Rosehip Bioregenerate
Pai Skincare’s Regenerative Rosehip Oil is a must-have for sensitive skin, offering deep conditioning and enhanced firmness without irritation. Using a unique CO2 extraction method, it delivers long-lasting, potent nutrients to improve elasticity and promote a clear, even complexion.
£29
Buy here.
The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
The Ordinary's 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil is a skin-nourishing powerhouse suitable for all skin types. Its cold-pressed, organic formula preserves the full potency of rosehip’s essential fatty acids and pro-vitamin A, helping to reduce signs of photo-ageing and improve overall skin health.
£9.70
Buy here.
Omorovicza Miracle Facial Oil
Omorovicza’s Miracle Facial Oil is a luxurious, light-textured blend that targets fine lines, hydrates the skin, and protects against environmental stress. With a potent mix of sea buckthorn, rosehip, and bakuchiol, this oil nourishes and revitalizes the complexion, leaving it smoother, firmer, and visibly youthful.
£90
Buy here.
