Dermatologists Reveal 3 Simple Ways to Achieve Healthy-Looking Winter Skin

When winter rolls around, a heavy sweater, puffy jacket, gloves, and scarf are inevitable — but dry skin doesn’t have to be. Just like how we accessorize to keep the bitter cold air at bay, we can switch up our beauty regimen to target some of the winter’s biggest skin woes, including lack of moisture, a decrease in elasticity, and a dull complexion.

“The combination of windy, cold, dry weather outside and humidity-depleting heaters indoors works to drain our skin of vital moisture during winter months,” says Dr. Arash Akhavan, MD, FAAD, founder and owner of The Dermatology & Laser Group in NYC. “Our dewy, hydrated summer glow can quickly fade to a dull and ashy appearance,” Dr. Akhavan, adds.

Improving Hydration

“In winter months, there are several reasons why we must focus on increasing hydration,” says Dr. Loretta Ciraldo MD FAAD, a Miami-based board certified dermatologist and founder of Dr. Loretta skincare. Like Dr. Akhavan, Dr. Ciraldo says that climate-controled conditions of central heating can dry out the air, resulting in drier skin, too. “Our skin itself has less production of healthy, moisture-trapping skin oils referred to as lipids and ceramides,” says Dr. Ciraldo. With that in mind, it’s important to keep hydration at top of mind when caring for the skin during the winter season. And, fortunately, there are a few ways to add that moisture back in.

As Dr. Ciraldo mentioned, vitamin B5 is another potent and effective humectant and incorporating it into your winter regimen can help replenish the skin’s moisture levels. One way to do so is with a serum such as SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel, which is specifically formulated with vitamin B5 as well as hyaluronic acid to attract moisture to the skin. When used with a vitamin C serum, this serum can give the complexion a rejuvenated, smoother, and brighter appearance.