Winter means many travelers will be spending time in cold-weather destinations, heading out on après ski trips and cozying up by the fire in cabins with friends, but it also can mean dry, irritated skin. It’s no secret that cold temperatures often leave our skin feeling extremely dry—especially after a long-haul flight. While it can be daunting to switch things up if you’re afraid of breaking out or causing further irritation, your current skincare regimen might not be cutting it against harsh cold and dry climates.
If that's the case, you'll want to add a few gentle, effective products to your winter skincare routine to help retain moisture, using ingredients that are right for your skin type. To help you maintain hydrated, glowy skin all winter long, we consulted a few skincare experts to find the best products to combat the cold. They’ve recommended key ingredients and hydrating products, and shared thoughtful tips for travelers to consider this season, including advice for those with especially dry or sensitive skin. We compiled their expert opinions below to bring you the best winter skincare tips, whether you’ll be skiing in North Carolina or on an expedition ship in Antarctica.
Look for these skincare ingredients
When shopping for new skincare products in the winter months, you’ll want to pay close attention to the ingredients. Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist of MDCS Dermatology, says to “incorporate ingredients like humectants, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which help to draw moisture in; emollients such as squalene which help to nourish, soften, and smooth the skin; and occlusives such as petroleum jelly which can form a protective barrier and help to lock moisture in.” She also recommends ceramides, which can help to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier to minimize moisture loss, as well as niacinamide, an ingredient that boosts ceramide production and helps reduce inflammation.
Dr. Tiffany Libby, a board-certified dermatologist and the Director of Mohs Micrographic & Dermatologic Surgery at Brown Dermatology, agrees on the importance of ceramides. “Ceramides are essential fats within the skin layer that help seal in water content so that the skin barrier does not get dry and irritated,” she says. “As we age, we start to lose ceramides—by our 30s, we have lost up to 40 percent of our ceramides and by our 40s, up to 60 percent.” She suggests looking for key ingredients like hyaluronic acid to draw moisture to the skin’s surface, colloidal oatmeal and allantoid to decrease inflammation, and lactic acid to help exfoliate away dead skin cells and increase skin cell turnover. Below, we've found cleansers, moisturizers, and night creams with these ingredients that you’ll want to throw into your Dopp kit this season.
Try these products to keep skin moisturized
To clean your skin without stripping it, you’ll want to use a creamy and hydrating cleanser. Dr. Garshick recommends the Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier cleanser from Glow Recipe. “It helps support the skin barrier, combining ceramides, pre- and post-biotics, colloidal oatmeal, and avocado oil, all while gently removing makeup,” she says. Another gentle and affordable cleanser is CeraVe’s hydrating facial cleanser—it’s non-greasy, fragrance free, and works for both the face and body. For a little extra hydration, a hyaluronic serum like this one from Moon Juice preserves elasticity and can be used as a primer to prep skin before makeup.
Next, you’ll want a trusty moisturizer, like Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream, which boosts hydration and radiance while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (it layers well underneath makeup, too). More dermatologist favorites: The SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator is packed with hyaluronic acid to provide immediate hydration and the Ameva Skin Activating moisturizer improves the overall appearance of skin while minimizing the potential for dryness. A more affordable yet reliable option is the Cetaphil Rich Hydrating night cream—it’s lightweight, nourishing, and filled with hyaluronic acid to give an extra surge of moisture. If you've also been noticing extra redness in the colder months, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier cream contains colloidal oatmeal and will help reduce it.
