As the temperatures drop and the air becomes drier, our skin can often feel the effects of winter—tightness, dryness, and dullness can quickly set in. Maintaining a radiant complexion during the colder months means giving your skin the extra hydration and protection it craves. With the right products, you can keep your skin glowing and healthy all winter long. From nourishing moisturisers to protective serums, here are 10 must-have beauty products that will help your skin stay soft, supple, and beautifully radiant, no matter how cold it gets outside.
1. Hydrating Cleanser
In winter, a gentle, hydrating cleanser is essential to remove impurities without stripping your skin of its natural oils. Look for cleansers that contain soothing ingredients like ceramides or hyaluronic acid to help lock in moisture and maintain your skin’s protective barrier. A good hydrating cleanser will leave your skin feeling clean and refreshed while still maintaining that much-needed hydration during the colder months.
Luxury Pick: Tatcha The Rice Wash
This creamy, pH-balanced cleanser gently exfoliates and hydrates, leaving skin soft and radiant.
Affordable Pick: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
A simple yet effective option, enriched with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to cleanse and hydrate without drying out your skin.
2. Exfoliating Scrub or AHA/BHA
Exfoliation is key to maintaining a bright and smooth complexion during the winter months. By gently removing dead skin cells, you can help prevent dullness and allow your moisturisers to absorb more effectively. Opt for a physical exfoliating scrub for a quick buff, or choose a chemical exfoliant like AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) or BHA (beta hydroxy acids) for a more thorough and even exfoliation without irritation. Regular exfoliation will leave your skin soft, radiant, and better equipped to absorb moisture.
Luxury Pick: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial
A powerful blend of AHA and BHA acids that refines skin texture and reveals a fresh, glowing complexion.
Affordable Option: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
An effective and budget-friendly AHA exfoliant that helps to gently exfoliate the skin, improving radiance and clarity.
3. Hydrating Toner
A hydrating toner is a must-have for your winter skincare routine, as it helps to replenish moisture lost during cleansing while prepping your skin to absorb the rest of your products more effectively. Look for toners that contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or rose water, which help to soothe, hydrate, and balance the skin. Using a hydrating toner regularly will leave your skin feeling soft, refreshed, and ready to face the cold weather.
Luxury Pick: Fresh Rose & Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Toner – This luxurious toner is infused with rose water and hyaluronic acid, providing deep hydration while calming and softening the skin.
Affordable Option: Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist – A lightweight and budget-friendly mist that delivers a burst of hydration with hyaluronic acid and black oat, perfect for keeping skin moisturised throughout the day
4. Vitamin C Serum
A Vitamin C serum is a game-changer in your winter skincare routine, offering powerful antioxidant protection while brightening and evening out your skin tone. This multi-tasking serum helps to combat dullness, minimise dark spots, and defend against environmental damage. By adding a Vitamin C serum to your regimen, you’ll keep your skin looking radiant and refreshed, even during the gloomiest winter days.
Luxury Pick: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic – This cult-favourite serum combines Vitamin C with Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid to deliver advanced protection against free radicals while brightening and firming the skin.
Affordable Pick: TruSkin Vitamin C Serum – A budget-friendly alternative, packed with Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and Vitamin E, designed to brighten, hydrate, and improve overall skin texture
5. Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Hyaluronic acid is a winter skincare essential, as it works wonders for keeping your skin hydrated and plump. This moisture-binding ingredient can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, helping to lock in hydration and prevent dryness. Applying a hyaluronic acid serum under your moisturiser will keep your skin soft, smooth, and protected from the harsh winter air, making it a must-have in your daily routine.
Luxury Pick: Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum – This high-end serum contains both long and short-chain hyaluronic molecules to deeply hydrate and plump the skin, giving a smooth and dewy finish.
Affordable Option: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 – A highly effective yet budget-friendly serum that combines hyaluronic acid with Vitamin B5 to boost hydration, leaving your skin feeling plump and refreshed
6. Rich Moisturiser
As the cold weather sets in, your skin may need the extra nourishment that a rich moisturiser provides. A thicker cream helps to lock in hydration, protect the skin barrier, and combat the dryness and flakiness that often accompany winter. Look for moisturisers with ingredients like ceramides, shea butter, or oils to deeply hydrate and keep your skin soft and supple throughout the day.
Luxury Pick: Augustinus Bader The Cream – A high-end, deeply hydrating moisturiser that uses advanced TFC8 technology to support skin renewal and provide long-lasting moisture.
Affordable Option: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel – A lightweight yet ultra-hydrating formula that delivers a burst of moisture with hyaluronic acid, keeping your skin smooth and hydrated without the luxury price tag.
7. Face Oil
Face oils are a fantastic addition to your winter skincare routine, offering an extra layer of nourishment to seal in moisture and keep your skin hydrated. They are especially beneficial in colder months, as they help to strengthen the skin’s barrier, protect against harsh environmental conditions, and leave your skin looking radiant and dewy. Opt for a face oil with ingredients like rosehip, argan, or jojoba oil for maximum hydration and skin-soothing benefits.
Luxury Pick: Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil – A luxurious night oil infused with retinol and blue tansy to deliver hydration while improving the appearance of fine lines and uneven skin tone.
Affordable Pick: The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil – A budget-friendly, nourishing oil rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, perfect for keeping your skin hydrated, smooth, and glowing during winter.
8. Lip Balm
Chapped lips are a common issue during the winter, so a good lip balm is essential to keep them soft and hydrated. Look for balms containing nourishing ingredients like shea butter, lanolin, or beeswax to lock in moisture and protect against the cold. A hydrating lip balm will not only prevent dryness but also leave your lips feeling smooth and supple all season long.
Luxury Pick: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – A rich, luxurious lip treatment that works overnight to deeply hydrate and repair dry, cracked lips, leaving them soft and plump by morning.
Affordable Option: Burt’s Bees Lip Balm – A classic and affordable option made with beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter to provide long-lasting hydration and protection against the elements.
9. Body Lotion
During the winter months, your body’s skin can become just as dry and flaky as your face, so a rich body lotion is a must-have. Look for formulas with ingredients like shea butter, ceramides, or oatmeal, which provide deep hydration and help soothe and protect the skin. Applying a nourishing body lotion after a warm bath or shower will help lock in moisture, leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth, and protected from the harsh winter elements.
Luxury Pick: La Mer The Reparative Body Lotion – A luxurious, ultra-hydrating lotion that soothes and repairs dry skin, leaving it soft, radiant, and beautifully moisturised.
Affordable Option: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion – An effective, budget-friendly option formulated with colloidal oatmeal to provide long-lasting hydration and relieve dry, sensitive skin
10. Hand Cream
With frequent handwashing and exposure to cold weather, your hands can easily become dry, cracked, and irritated in winter. A nourishing hand cream is essential to keep your hands soft, hydrated, and protected throughout the season. Look for hand creams with ingredients like shea butter, glycerin, or lanolin to lock in moisture and provide relief from dryness. Regular use will keep your hands smooth and healthy, even in the chilliest conditions.
Luxury Pick: L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream – A rich, luxurious cream infused with 20% shea butter to deeply nourish and protect dry, winter-worn hands, leaving them soft and smooth.
Affordable Option: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream – A highly effective, budget-friendly cream with glycerin that provides intense hydration and relief for even the driest hands, offering long-lasting softness.
With these 10 must-have from luxury to affordable products, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle dryness, dullness, and the harsh elements of the season. Whether you’re looking to splurge on a luxury item or find a budget-friendly option, these products will help keep your skin soft, supple, and radiant throughout the colder months. So, wrap up warm, enjoy the season, and let your skin glow no matter how chilly it gets outside!
