Dry, Dull, Irritated? Exactly How to Fix Your Winter Skin

A change of season often brings a change in rhythm. The colder months invite a slower pace: longer nights, warmer, more nourishing meals, and a natural shift in your winter wellness rituals. But as comforting as this season can feel, winter weather is less kind to your skin. Cold air, low humidity, and indoor heat can lead to dryness, dullness, and irritation—leaving your skin barrier more fragile and in need of extra care.

To help address the most common winter skin concerns, we gathered expert-backed tips to combat dryness and dullness while protecting your skin barrier and restoring a healthy, radiant glow.

Common Winter Skin Problems

Your skin needs a little extra TLC in winter. Harsher weather paired with the stress of the holiday season (the link between cortisol and skin health may surprise you) can leave skin feeling dry, reactive, and out of balance. Cold air, low humidity, and indoor heat all contribute to seasonal skin stress—making winter a time when your complexion often asks for more thoughtful care.

Common signs of winter skin include:

• Dryness: While dehydrated skin reflects a lack of internal hydration (a cue to increase your water or warm beverage intake), dry skin is often caused by a mix of genetics and environmental stress. Cold temperatures and dry air strip the skin of moisture, leading to flakiness, tightness, and a rough texture.
• Irritation: Itchiness, redness, and sensitivity are common in winter—and they’re often triggered by your environment. Dry indoor air, allergens, and pollutants can all compromise the skin’s comfort, leaving it more reactive than usual.
• A compromised skin barrier: Your skin barrier acts as a protective shield, defending against environmental stressors, irritation, and inflammation. When it’s weakened—often due to harsh ingredients, over-exfoliation, or product overload—skin becomes more sensitive and prone to dullness and breakouts.

While it may be tempting to scrub or treat winter skin aggressively, the most effective solutions focus on replenishing moisture and strengthening the skin barrier. We spoke with True Botanicals founder Hillary Peterson to learn how she keeps her skin hydrated, resilient, and glowing through the colder months.

How to Fix Dryness & Dullness

For Dry, Flaky Skin

A long, steamy shower might feel comforting in winter—but your skin is better served by a 5- to 10-minute lukewarm shower or bath. Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils and can dilate capillaries, leading to increased redness, dryness, and flaking.

After showering, gently blot skin dry and apply a rich moisturizer within a few minutes to help seal in hydration. When skin is left bare after bathing, water evaporates quickly—taking valuable moisture with it.

When shopping for winter skincare, look for ingredients that help replenish and protect the skin barrier, including:

• Ceramides
• Peptides
• Hyaluronic acid
• Fatty acids
• Centella
• Glycerin
• Niacinamide
• Shea butter

For extremely dry skin, cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank recommends layering hydration: apply a light layer of an emollient moisturizer—such as Aquaphor—to seal in moisture, followed by a cream moisturizer on top for added nourishment and protection.

If your skin feels dry and flaky but isn’t irritated, a gentle exfoliator can help lift away dead skin cells and revive a dull complexion. Opt for a delicate physical exfoliant or a mild AHA-based chemical exfoliator to smooth texture without compromising your skin barrier. Used thoughtfully, this step can help restore radiance and allow hydrating products to absorb more effectively.

For Itchy, Red Skin

Winter’s cold air and low humidity can leave skin looking—and feeling—red, raw, and uncomfortable. To soothe irritation, Peterson recommends fortifying the skin with occlusive ingredients that help seal in moisture and protect against environmental stressors.

Look for nourishing oils and balms containing ingredients like:

• Petrolatum
• Dimethicone
• Jojoba oil
• Oats

Applying a protective layer—day or night—can help shield compromised skin, calm irritation, and support healing throughout the winter months.

It’s also proven to help skin retain moisture. For an added moment of calm, you can enhance the experience with a few drops of relaxing essential oils like bergamot, lavender, or jasmine.

To increase moisture levels indoors, consider placing a humidifier in your bedroom—especially while you sleep. A cool-mist humidifier adds hydration back into the air, helping support your skin barrier overnight. Keeping your heat set to a lower or moderate temperature can also prevent excessive dryness.

Protect Your Barrier

Barrier protection has become one of the most talked-about skincare topics in recent years—and for good reason. A healthy skin barrier is essential for hydrated, resilient, glowing skin. When the barrier is compromised, skin becomes more vulnerable to irritation, inflammation, and moisture loss.

Common contributors to a weakened skin barrier include:

• Gut health imbalances
• Lack of quality sleep
• Environmental pollutants
• Over-exfoliation
• Harsh or stripping cleansers
• Alcohol-based products
• Heavy fragrances

Restoring your skin barrier often starts with simplifying your routine. Take a break from aggressive actives and replace them with barrier-supportive formulas. Then, focus on replenishing moisture to help rebuild the skin’s lipid layer—creating skin that feels calmer, stronger, and better able to withstand winter’s challenges.

Skin Care as Self-Care

Ultimately, caring for your skin barrier is about more than skincare—it’s part of a larger practice of tending to your well-being. In winter, especially, taking time to nourish your skin becomes one small, meaningful way to care for yourself through the season.

If you’re ready to turn these insights into a simple, step-by-step ritual, explore our Winter Skincare Routine Guide.

This post was last updated on December 29, 2025, to include new insights.