How to Winterize Your Skincare Routine

Transitioning our wardrobe from fall to winter attire is a routine that Canadians know all too well. Our beloved linens and silks get relegated to the back of our closet, hidden behind bulky wools, corduroys and cashmeres, as we attempt to capture the feeling of a warm hug amid sub-zero temperatures. And forget about slipping on a single sweater; layers reign supreme when it comes to cold-weather cocooning.

But did you know that as your clothes shift and evolve for the season, so, too, should your skincare routine? Take inspiration from your wardrobe and opt for thicker textures and multiple layers for extra protection. Intentional layering of hydrating elixirs like serums, creams and balms will lock in much-needed moisture, ensuring that it doesn’t escape from your skin barrier.

“In the winter, skin is more prone to dehydration, which can present as dryness, cracking and eczema,” explains Dr. Roni Munk, a Montreal-based dermatologist. “It’s important to change your skincare routine to better adapt to the climate. In colder weather, I recommend that people not only moisturize more frequently — to better tolerate harsh and dry conditions — but also use a thicker moisturizer. The thicker the emollient, the more hydrating it is.”

Reach for products that include ceramides or hyaluronic acid in the ingredients list, as they help replenish and strengthen the skin barrier, which inevitably takes a hit in extreme temperatures. “Hyaluronic acid, in particular, will actually help us maintain our own internal moisture levels, as opposed to just adding additional exterior moisture,” says Munk. And if your skin is sensitive to cold temperatures, he suggests reducing the concentration or frequency of use of the exfoliants in your routine, like retinol and acids such as glycolic, salicylic, lactic and mandelic.

As you prepare to embrace (or simply try to make the best of) the coldest time of the year, swaddle yourself in luxe sweaters and scarves, balms and creams.

Orveda Rich Brew Cream

Featuring both glycerin and hyaluronic acid, this luxe, intensely moisturizing cream is suitable for all skin types — even the most sensitive skin — and promises to firm and lift facial contours while improving the glow of your complexion.

Uriage H.A. Booster Serum

Skin in need of a little boost? Try incorporating Uriage’s new H.A. Booster Serum into your routine. Made with 1.5 per cent pure and natural hyaluronic acid, it instantly gets to work on signs of dryness. The result? Plumped, smoothed and hydrated skin.

Vaseline Pro VitaB3 Serum-Burst Lotion

With its lightweight formula, your skin will feel comfortable without any leftover greasiness. Its transformative serum-burst format quickly absorbs into skin, giving you a soft, velvety finish.

Josie Maran Pink Algae Pro-Retinol Body Butter

Looking for extra moisture for winter and want to prep your skin for warmer days? Josie Maran’s new Pink Algae Pro-Retinol Body Butter will give you smoother, hydrated skin you’re after, thanks to argan oil, avocado oil and shea butter, plus the skin texture-smoothing benefits of pro-retinol, without any irritation.

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Cream

Dermatologica’s new Multivitamin Power Recovery Cream helps combat the key signs of skin stress, reducing dullness, dryness, fine lines and sagging.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Green Fig Cleansing Balm

Enriched with a trio of oils to promote healthy, hydrated and radiant skin, the new Elemis cleansing balm has a transformative texture that melts away makeup, nourishes and hydrates, leaving skin soft, glowing and deeply cleansed without removing its natural oils.

Ilia Barrier Build Skin Protectant Cream

With a soft and silky formula, this fragrance-free cream is packed with ceramides, calcium and algae hydrogel, boosting skin hydration and replenishing the skin barrier.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Water

Inspired by the brand’s cult-favourite Magic Cream, the latest skincare innovation from Charlotte Tilbury is now available in a lightweight, bouncy gel texture, making it ideal for oily or combination skin that needs a burst of hydration during the winter.

Guerlain Youth Watery Oil Serum: Abeille Royale

This one-stop-shop of healthy skin renews and rejuvenates the complexion thanks to three types of healing Black Bee honey and French royal jelly. Its lightweight and watery oil texture restores and tightens skin, while feeling comfortable enough for daily wear.

Yves Rocher Intense Moisturizing Care Hydra-Végétal

This intensely hydrating moisturizer can also be used as an overnight mask, if your skin is feeling extra-parched. In fact, during a clinical study, 96 per cent of participants claimed that their skin felt hydrated in the morning.

Shiseido Waso Calmellia Multi Relief SOS Balm

Enriched with camellia oil from Japan, this multi-purpose balm can treat dry areas of the face, body or hair (yes, really!). In fact, you’ll see and feel results in just one day.

Dr. Hauschka Apricot Day Cream

Enriched with vitamins and fatty acids that revitalize your complexion and help your skin retain moisture and protect it from drying out, the latest from Dr. Hauschka is a wintertime must.

The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum

This do-it-all serum is designed to support skin barrier repair while soothing discomfort and reducing the look of redness — all crucial when the temperature starts to dip.

Omy Laboratoires Smoothing Body Cream

Don’t forget about the skin on your body! The newest launch from Canadian brand Omy Laboratoires is designed to relieve dryness and restore your moisture barrier, while also protecting against roughness through exfoliating and moisturizing properties. This can benefit skin prone to ingrown hairs, eczema, psoriasis and keratosis pilaris.

Miracle 10 Soothe

Ideal for post-treatment care, and those suffering from inflammatory skin conditions, which can ramp up in the winter, this probiotic-rich serum improves the look of irritated, inflamed skin.

Dove Shower Sensor Body Wash

Want to keep enjoying hot showers this winter without worrying about skin damage? Too-hot showers can strip your skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and irritated—the last thing you want in the winter (or ever). Dove’s new body wash has got your back with the new sensory smart label that displays a “VERY HOT” warning on the bottle when your shower heat is at the point that it may affect your skin barrier. The limited edition bottle transforms showering into an elevated experience that encourages a more skin-friendly temperature.

A version of this article first appeared in FASHION’s November 2023 issue. Find out more here.