5 Skincare Products That Rescued My Dry Winter Skin

My relationship with winter is perplexing; I happen to prefer the cooler weather over spring and summer, but my skin doesn’t agree. It’s as if the minute the season changes, the moisture is inexorably sucked out of my skin. I get flakey patches around my chin, my face feels tight and painful, and any sign of radiance has vanished.

As a professional shopper, I’ve tested hundreds of formulas over the past few years, but so far, these six skincare products have worked their way into and have stayed in my everyday routine. They leave my skin feeling soft and hydrated, and most importantly, they feel super lightweight on my face.

6 Winter-Friendly Skincare Essentials

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Cleanser

You should always start with a gentle cleanser, and this formula leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean without irritating my face. It’s a restorative gel that foams up when exposed to water. Plus, it’s packed with brightening vitamin C, hydrating hyaluronic acid, barrier-protecting glyceryl glucoside, soothing birch sap, and reparative amino acids. I noticed a big difference when it came to my engorged pores, and now they look smaller.

Mediheal Collagen Ampoule Pads

I learned about Mediheal through TikTok, and I didn’t think they’d become so essential to my routine. After my shower, I’ll typically lay these over my cheeks and chin and leave them on for 15 to 20 minutes. Then I’ll swipe them all over my skin before tossing them, and it leaves my face feeling silky smooth. They’re the perfect prelude to my serum and moisturizer.

The Inkey List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum

This new serum is an affordable savior for rough, irritated skin. I recently had windburn around my nose and lips, leaving me so uncomfortable. But this mild formula felt soothing and can help restore your skin barrier in 15 minutes. It’s an effective cocktail of ectoin, hyaluronic acid, and multiple ceramides to revive dry skin.

E.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Thirst Burst Drops

E.l.f.’s latest multi-use serum is like a tall drink of water for my face. Whenever my serum needs a little boost or I want to add a glow to my matte foundations, one pump of this gel-serum does the trick. It imparts a lit-from-within radiance that never feels greasy.

Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Refillable Moisture Cream

You can expect a brand like Glow Recipe to know a little something about hydration. One of its most popular products is the Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner, and the brand wound up turning it into an ultra-moisturizing cream for even deeper moisturization. You need a very small amount of this stuff to make a difference. I’ll use it at night and wake up with my skin still feeling fresh. I also love that the container is refillable!

Cocokind Revitalizing Eye Cream

I’m very lazy, so if I’m using any eye cream or serum, it’s usually got an applicator attached, and I love how soothing the metal tip on this cream feels. It literally wakes up my eyes in the morning, and I’m ready to take on some early Zoom meetings. The cream is loaded with oat extract, hibiscus flower acids, and Persian silk tree extract to fade discoloration and plump the skin.