Winter Skincare

Finally, winter has properly arrived.
Frost on the ground, cold air that makes you see your own breath, scarves wrapped tight and thick jumpers pulled on before you even step outside. Indoors, the central heating is working overtime warm, dry air against skin that’s already under pressure.

It’s the perfect recipe for sensitive, uncomfortable, dry skin. Yep… winter is here here.

This is the time of year I start seeing the same thing again and again in the treatment room. Skin that suddenly feels tight, sore, reactive, or just not quite right. Many people assume their skin has “become dry” overnight, so they reach for the thickest cream they own. But wait….

Winter skin is rarely that simple.

Ideally, we would prep our skin before the cold snap hits. But here we are so let’s start where we are.

Skin doesn’t behave the same way in every environment. It responds constantly to what’s happening around it: temperature changes, central heating, wind, exposure, even how often we move between warm and cold spaces. When those conditions change, our skincare needs to change with them.

Winter brings cold, dry air outside and artificial heat indoors, both pull moisture from the skin. If we keep using the same products in the same way, it’s no surprise skin starts to feel tight, sensitive, or unbalanced. Before you reach for your thickest cream, here me out!

This is the point where adjustment matters.

Rather than simply adding “more” thicker creams, heavier textures we need to be more considered. Supporting hydration, protecting the skin barrier, and working with the season instead of against it.

One ingredient I talk about a lot at this time of year is hyaluronic acid, and it’s often misunderstood.

It doesn’t add oil, and it isn’t a moisturiser on its own. Its role is to pull water into the skin and help hold onto it, which is what gives skin that plumper, more comfortable feeling.

But to keep that moisture in, you need to add a lid on top, a moisturiser. Without it, the hydration can simply escape, especially in cold, dry winter air.

Hyaluronic acid does not stimulate collagen or elastin production. It isn’t an anti-ageing active in the way retinoids or vitamin C are. What it does do is support the environment your skin needs to function well.

Hyaluronic acid plays a supporting role, helping the skin tolerate active ingredients better and keeping it comfortable while real skin change happens underneath.

But before you reach for hyaluronic acid, it’s worth remembering that, like all skincare ingredients, it isn’t suitable for every skin type.

Hyaluronic acid comes in multiple molecular weights. Smaller hyaluronic acid molecules are more active in the skin, and in some people, especially those with sensitive or compromised skin, this activity can trigger irritation or inflammation.

Think of it like this: the deeper something goes, the more likely it is to interact with skin cells. For reactive skin, that interaction can sometimes feel like tingling, stinging, or sensitivity rather than hydration.

This doesn’t mean low molecular weight hyaluronic acid is “bad” it simply means it isn’t right for everyone, particularly in winter when the skin barrier is already under extra stress.

Not wall products that say hyralunic acid are the same. Two products can both say hyaluronic acid on the label and behave very differently on the skin.

This is because hyaluronic acid formulas vary in:

• Molecular weight (large, small, or multi-weight)
  
  

• Concentration (more isn’t always better)
  
  

• Supporting ingredients (soothing vs irritating)
  
  

• The base of the formula (water-heavy, alcohol-heavy, or barrier-supportive)
  
  

A well-formulated product will usually combine multiple weights of hyaluronic acid and pair them with ingredients that support the skin barrier, such as ceramides or humectants like glycerin. This helps hydrate the skin effectively without overwhelming it.

Poorly formulated products may rely heavily on very low molecular weight hyaluronic acid at high concentrations. These can feel instantly plumping but may lead to tightness or irritation, particularly on sensitive or winter-stressed skin. If in doubt, always patch test new skincare where possible.

Personally, I’m a big fan of Dermalogica’s Circular Hydration Serum. I use it on slightly damp skin after cleansing and before moisturiser, this allows the skin to take in hydration and then seal it in properly.