Winter Skin Care Tips: How to Treat Dry Skin

Of all the seasons, winter is by far the hardest on your skin. Harsh winds, freezing temperatures, UV rays, and dry air all take a toll on your skin and leave you feeling dry and itchy.

Luckily, all you need is a few key products with clean ingredients that are gentle on skin while delivering intense moisture that lasts. And because winter is at our doorstep, we compiled our best products to use for your winter skin care routine.

Why Is My Skin So Dry in Winter?

Simply put, skin becomes dry when it doesn’t have enough moisture. This can happen from being outside in harsh weather conditions without the right protection as well as from using grooming products with harsh chemicals in them. It can also be caused by certain medical conditions.

During winter, the air both outdoors and indoors becomes significantly drier due to lower humidity levels. Cold air holds less moisture compared to warm air, and indoor heating systems further reduce the humidity levels inside your home. This dry air leads to increased moisture loss from your skin, making it more prone to dryness and irritation. However, with the proper winter skin care routine you can mitigate this increased water loss and maintain the appropriate level of moisture in your skin.

How to Prevent Dry Skin in Winter

It’s easier to prevent dry skin before it happens rather than to try to repair it while the air is still dry. You’ll want to make sure to use the right products consistently to maintain moisture levels and get through the winter feeling soft and hydrated.

The most at-risk skin is what’s exposed while you’re outdoors. For the most part, that means your face and your hands, which is what you’ll want to pay special attention to during the winter. Below are the essential men’s winter skin care products that you should start using now before the coldest days of winter arrive.

Use A Daily Moisturizer With SPF

If you don’t use a daily moisturizer, you’ll want to start using one now. But save yourself some time by choosing one with built-in SPF. That way your skin can hydrate and heal itself while protecting it from drying and damaging UV rays. It’s an easy way to protect your skin year-round.

We make two daily SPF moisturizers—both made with premium, clean ingredients. Our Everyday Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer with SPF 37 uses a hybrid formula to give you 3-in-1 benefits: moisturization, UV protection and anti-aging. The other, our 100% Mineral Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer with SPF 30, uses Zinc Oxide, a mineral that reflects the sun before it can cause damage. It also has anti-aging ingredients that go on smooth, not greasy, and smell and feel just like everyday moisturizers.

Add A Gentle Cleanser and Eye Cream To Your Winter Skin Care Routine

Incorporating a gentle cleanser like our Gentle Foaming Face Wash is crucial for your winter skin care routine. This face wash effectively cleanses without stripping your skin of its natural oils, which is essential during the colder months. It’s perfect to use before applying our Face + Eye Cream, ensuring your skin is clean and ready to absorb the moisturizer effectively. The Gentle Foaming Face Wash complements the hydrating and nourishing properties of the Face + Eye Cream, which is our go-to face cream for dry skin in winter.

Amp Up Your Daily Moisturizing With Overnight Hydration

Dry skin can creep up on you overnight. Remember, winter air is dry indoors too, especially with indoor heating in full effect. So give your skin an extra boost by adding a hydrating serum and moisturizer before bed to your winter skin care routine.

Our Overnight Renewal Serum is an excellent choice for a hydrating serum. This advanced anti-aging serum takes your skin routine to the next level by keeping your skin moisturized while working to help produce new skin cells, restore suppleness, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. After applying the serum, follow up with our Face + Eye Cream for complete hydration. The Face + Eye Cream works perfectly with the serum, locking in moisture to ensure your skin stays deeply hydrated and rejuvenated throughout the night.

Exfoliate To Stop Itchy Skin and Moisturize Effectively

In winter, dead skin cells accumulate causing dry, itchy skin which creates a barrier that hinders moisturizers from penetrating effectively. Our Superfoliant Body Scrub comes into play here, gently exfoliating to remove dead skin cells and smoothing the skin's surface. This not only alleviates the discomfort associated with dry skin but also primes your skin for optimal moisture absorption.

Use Moisture-Locking Ingredients For Extra Hydration

To lock moisture inside, your skin creates its own protective barrier of lipids at the skin’s surface called sebum. This barrier helps lock in moisture to prevent it from evaporating and provides a shield against environmental factors like wind, water, pollution, and bacteria. Skincare products containing ingredients that mimic this natural barrier effectively enhance your skin's moisture retention.

These moisture-locking ingredients, found in products like our Body Lotion and Dry Hand Repair Cream, help keep your skin hydrated and protected, especially in harsh winter conditions. They blend seamlessly into your winter skin care routine, ensuring your body absorbs the beneficial oils needed to lock in moisture.

Use Lip Balm to Avoid Dry Chapped Lips

The skin on your lips is different from anywhere else, so it needs special moisturizer. That’s why we have two kinds of shine-free lip balms, one with SPF protection and one without. They both protect your skin from harsh winter winds, so keep one by your bed, one at the office, one in your bag, one in the car… you get the idea!

Oars + Alps Men's Winter Skin Care Routine

To ensure you don’t have to endure dry, irritated skin this winter, we compiled a comprehensive winter skin care routine that you can use to stay hydrated and healthy all season long.

1. Gentle Cleansing: Begin by gently washing your face with lukewarm to remove dirt and impurities. Avoid hot water and use a gentle cleanser like our Gentle Foaming Face Wash to make sure you’re not stripping your skin of its natural oils.
2. Immediate Moisturization: Right after cleansing, while your skin is still damp, apply a hydrating moisturizer to lock in that moisture. During the day, use one of our Anti-Aging Face Moisturizers with SPF to not only hydrate but also protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
3. Eye Area Care: Don’t forget the delicate under-eye area. Our Face + Eye Cream, enriched with Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, and Alpine Caribou Moss™, provides targeted hydration and protection against the elements.
4. Body Care: Exfoliate with our Superfoliant Body Scrub to remove the layer of dead skin cells that are causing irritation and preventing effective hydration Then to ensure your skin retains moisture, use our Body Lotion and Dry Hand Repair Cream which contains vitamins and oils needed for healthy, moisturized skin.
5. Lip Protection: Keep our shine-free lip balm, available with or without SPF, around at all times to protect and nourish the sensitive skin on your lips.
6. Nightly Renewal: Before bed, use our Overnight Renewal Serum to rejuvenate and deeply hydrate your skin as you sleep. Follow up with the Face + Eye Cream for total coverage.

Bonus Winter Skin Care Tips

In addition to your winter skin care routine, here are some bonus tips to further protect your skin during the winter months. 

1. Reduce Heat Exposure: While a hot shower can feel relaxing on a cold day, it's best to limit your exposure to excessively hot water. Hot water can strip your skin of natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. Opt for lukewarm water when showering and washing your face to help preserve your skin's moisture.
2. Stay Hydrated: Internal hydration is just as important as external moisturization. Drinking plenty of water helps maintain your skin's moisture balance from the inside out. This is especially important in dry winter months when your body can lose more water through the skin.
3. Humidify Your Environment: Consider using a humidifier in your home or office to add moisture back into the air. This can be particularly helpful in maintaining your skin's hydration levels, especially in rooms where you spend a lot of time, like your bedroom.
4. Cover Up: When heading outdoors, protect your skin from the cold and wind by wearing gloves and a scarf. This physical barrier can help reduce the impact of harsh winter elements on your skin.

Stop Dry Skin in Its Tracks with Oars + Alps

The key to effective winter skin care lies in selecting the right products with the right ingredients. At Oars + Alps, we take pride in our premium, clean formulations that are not only gentle on your skin but also highly effective in combating dryness and irritation. Explore our range of hydrating products, designed specifically for the unique challenges of winter skin care, and enjoy nourished, well-cared-for skin this season.