Winter skin care: how to help your skin through cold, wind and dry air

When temperatures drop, many of us notice that our skin behaves differently than in summer. It feels tight after washing, dry flakes appear on the cheeks, redness shows up around the nose, lips crack, and make-up suddenly collects in dry patches. This is no coincidence: winter gives the skin a combination of cold outdoors and dry, warm air indoors, and the skin has to adapt to it.

The good news is that you don't need a completely new routine. In most cases, small changes to how you cleanse, moisturise and protect your skin are enough.

We first wrote about dry skin in winter on the blog back in 2018, in the article Caring for dry skin. The basic advice still holds, but the article is a little dated: our range has changed since then, and we wanted to explain some of the tips in more detail. So it was time for a refresh.

Why is skin drier in winter?

The outer layer of the skin acts as a protective barrier. It keeps moisture in the skin and keeps irritants out. In winter, this barrier is under pressure from several sides at once:

• Cold air holds little moisture. When we heat it indoors, relative humidity drops even lower, often below 30%. Dry air literally draws water out of the skin.
• Wind and cold constrict the small blood vessels and slow down the production of the skin's natural oils, which protect it.
• A hot shower after a cold day feels lovely, but it dissolves the protective oils on the skin.
• Quick transitions from the cold into a heated room put additional strain on the skin, which in sensitive skin often shows up as redness.

The result is skin that loses moisture faster than it can replace it. That is why in winter it feels tight, flakes and reacts more quickly to products it tolerated without any problems in summer.

1. Cleanse more gently

Cleansing is the step we most often overlook in winter. Foaming cleansers with strong surfactants (sulphates) and hot water clean the skin so thoroughly that they also remove the oils it needs.

• Wash your face with lukewarm water, not hot.
• Choose a mild cleanser without sulphates. If your skin isn't oily in the morning, simply rinsing with water is often enough.
• After washing, gently pat your skin dry with a towel; don't rub.
• The same goes for the body: shorter, less hot showers and a mild shower gel. In our shop, for example, that is IDUN Pure & Clean, which is sulphate-free and also suitable for washing your hands.

2. Apply moisture in layers, on still-damp skin

In winter it pays to think in layers. Moisturising ingredients such as hyaluronic acid bind water in the skin, while creams with oils and butters hold that moisture in so it doesn't evaporate.

A simple sequence after cleansing:

1. A hydrating toner or essence on still slightly damp skin.
2. Serum (if you use one).
3. Cream, which in winter can be somewhat richer than in summer.

The last step is important. In very dry air without a cream on top, hyaluronic acid can after a while make the skin feel even drier, because the water evaporates from it. The cream on top acts like a lid.

For the first step, we recommend IDUN Hydra Calm mineral essence. It contains two types of hyaluronic acid for moisture and Centella asiatica extract, which soothes irritated skin, something that is welcome in winter. Pat a few drops into your skin morning and evening, then follow with your cream.

3. Don't forget sun protection

There is less sun in winter, but UVA rays are present all year round and also penetrate clouds and windows. On snow, UV radiation is even stronger, as snow reflects a large part of it. If you are going skiing or into the mountains, a cream with a high sun protection factor is a must, even when it is cold and the sun doesn't seem strong.

For everyday days in town, mineral make-up can also offer extra help. According to the manufacturer, IDUN mineral powder foundation has a mineral sun protection factor of SPF 15. It is a nice addition, but not a substitute for sunscreen on the ski slopes.

4. Lips need special attention

Lips have no sebaceous glands to protect them naturally, so in winter they are among the first to crack. A few habits that really help:

• Don't lick your lips. Saliva evaporates quickly and dries them out even more.
• Before going out into the cold, apply a nourishing balm or a gloss with oils.
• Remove dry flakes gently with a soft cloth, never by peeling them off.

If you wear make-up, in winter choose products that also care for your lips. IDUN Lip Lusher contains sunflower seed oil, vitamin E and raspberry seed oil, while IDUN cream lipsticks contain shea butter and Nordic cloudberry oil. IDUN matte lipsticks are also made with nourishing oils, but if your lips are very dry, apply a thin layer of balm underneath first.

5. Adapt your make-up to dry skin

Many people notice in winter that a foundation that looked flawless in summer now emphasises flakes and dry patches. It isn't a bad product, but skin that lacks moisture. A few tricks:

• Skincare first, then make-up. Give your cream a few minutes to absorb before you start applying make-up.
• Less is more. Apply foundation in thin layers and only where you really need it.
• For very dry skin, try liquid foundation instead of powder foundation. IDUN Norrsken has a silky texture, vitamin E and lingonberry seed oil, so it doesn't dry out the skin.
• A face mist takes away the powdery look of powder foundation. Spritz IDUN Ready, Set, Refresh with niacinamide over your make-up so it melts into the skin; during the day you can also use it for a quick refresh in a dry office.
• Cream blushes blend more beautifully on dry skin than powder ones. You can blend Soft Tint stick blush simply with your fingers.

If you go skiing in winter or your eyes water in the cold, a waterproof mascara that doesn't smudge is welcome, for example Vatn Waterproof.

6. Take care of the air indoors

The easiest way to help the skin is to reduce the cause. An air humidifier in the bedroom or a container of water on the radiator can raise humidity towards the recommended 40–60%. It also helps not to overheat rooms and to air them briefly and regularly.

7. Hands need care several times a day

The skin on the back of the hands is thin and has few sebaceous glands, and frequent washing and disinfecting dry it out even further. Use a mild soap, dry your hands well after washing and apply cream, and wear gloves in the cold. Nails are also more brittle in winter. It helps to remove polish with an acetone-free remover (IDUN has one too) and to protect weak nails with IDUN nail hardener.

8. Help your skin from the inside too

In winter we drink less water because we don't feel as thirsty as in summer. Warm tea and water throughout the day, enough sleep and food with healthy fats (nuts, seeds, fish, olive oil) are the foundation on which every cream builds.

When to see a dermatologist?

If, despite gentle care, your skin is constantly red, itchy or cracked, or scaly patches appear, consult a doctor or dermatologist. Conditions such as atopic dermatitis and rosacea, which require professional treatment, often get worse in winter.

In short

• Wash with lukewarm water and mild cleansers.
• Apply moisture in layers and seal it in with a cream.
• Don't forget UV protection, especially on snow.
• Care for your lips and hands several times a day.
• Apply make-up to cared-for skin and in thin layers.
• Humidify the air indoors too.

If you are looking for gentle products for the winter months, IDUN Minerals products can be a good choice. The Swedish brand develops its products in the Nordic climate, where long, cold winters are part of everyday life. Their products are vegan, mostly free from added fragrance, dermatologically tested and suitable for sensitive skin. You can find the full range in our shop in the Face care and Make-up categories.