Skincare for Cold & Dry Weather

Cold, dry weather gradually reduces moisture from exposed skin. Cheeks and lips may feel tight first, while the forehead and nose remain relatively normal, creating combination skin that is dry in some areas but not others. Apply hydrating serum while the skin is slightly damp, then follow with a moisturising cream containing ceramides, fatty acids or squalane. Use gentle cleanser, lip balm and broad-spectrum sunscreen, and reduce strong exfoliation if the skin becomes sensitive. Hair may become dry, static-prone and difficult to manage indoors. Use conditioner at every wash, add leave-in serum to the ends and minimise excessive heat styling or very hot showers.

Hydrate, Strengthen and Seal

Cold air combined with humidity between 30% and 40% can gradually reduce water within the skin’s outer layer. During four to five hours outdoors, wind, limited water intake and repeated movement into heated interiors may make the face feel increasingly dry.

The cheeks, lips and area around the eyes may become tight first, while the forehead and nose remain normal or slightly oily. This can create skin that feels dry in some areas but still produces surface oil in others. Human research found that several hours in a low-humidity environment reduced stratum-corneum water content and changed the skin’s surface pattern, making dehydration-related texture more noticeable.

What may happen to your skin:

• Gradual moisture loss: Cold, dry air may reduce hydration without producing obvious perspiration.
• Tight cheeks and lips: Exposed areas may feel stretched, rough or uncomfortable.
• Combination behaviour: The T-zone may remain slightly oily while the outer face becomes dry.
• More visible dehydration lines: Temporary fine lines may become noticeable when the outer skin layer lacks water.
• Greater sensitivity to cleansing: Strong foaming cleansers, hot water and scrubbing may intensify dryness.

The right approach:

The priority is to replenish water and support the lipid barrier that helps retain it. Choose:

• A hydrating serum containing glycerin, hyaluronic acid, panthenol or beta-glucan
• A moisturising lotion or cream containing ceramides, squalane, cholesterol or fatty acids
• Application of serum while the skin is slightly damp, followed immediately by cream
• A gentle cream or low-foaming cleanser used with lukewarm water
• Broad-spectrum sunscreen with a comfortable moisturising base
• Lip balm and additional cream on the cheeks, sides of the nose and other dry areas

Avoid depending on facial mist alone. In dry air, sprayed water may provide only temporary relief unless it is followed by a moisturising layer. The ideal mantra for this weather is: Hydrate, Strengthen and Seal. Water-based hydration should be supported by a nourishing lotion or cream that helps the skin remain comfortable throughout a cold, dry day.

Skincare Ideal for These Climates and Countries

Winter / cooler months:

• December-February: Beijing, China; Tehran, Iran; Isfahan, Iran; Shiraz, Iran; Yazd, Iran; Kerman, Iran; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Samarkand, Uzbekistan; Bukhara, Uzbekistan
• June-August: Mendoza, Argentina; Santiago, Chile; Johannesburg, South Africa
• November-March: Denver, USA; Albuquerque, USA; Santa Fe, USA; Salt Lake City, USA; Reno, USA; Boise, USA; Hohhot, China; Lanzhou, China
• Cool-season nights / mornings: Arequipa, Peru

Shoulder months:

• April-May & October: Leh, India
• March-April & October-November: Lhasa, China
• November & March: Urumqi, China; Yerevan, Armenia; Cappadocia (Göreme), Türkiye
• October & April: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Calgary, Canada; Edmonton, Canada

Summer / hotter months:

• Warmer dry-season afternoons: La Paz, Bolivia