Do You Need to Change Your Skincare Routine for Winter?

By Mari, founder of K Skin Aura · Updated 3 October 2026

Every October the advice arrives at once: switch to a richer cleanser, add a facial oil, buy a sleeping mask, swap your moisturiser for something heavier. Before you do any of that, check how your skin feels now.

My rule is simple: change your routine when your skin changes, not simply because the season has.

Why can skin feel drier in winter?

Partly the weather and partly how we live in it. The American Academy of Dermatology puts it simply: cold air outside, hot air inside and dry air everywhere can disrupt the skin's barrier in winter. Low humidity is a common reason for dry skin, and indoor heating adds to it.

Then there are the habits that come with cold weather: longer, hotter showers, washing your face with hotter water, and sitting next to a radiator all evening. The AAD suggests keeping showers to five to ten minutes in warm rather than hot water, and moisturising while your skin is still slightly damp.

None of that means your skin will change. Plenty of people get through a British winter with the same routine they used in July. Watch for the signs before you start buying.

What should you change first?

Go in this order. Each step is cheaper and simpler than the one after it, and often you won't need to go past the first.

Change one thing, give it a week or two, then decide whether you need the next step. If you change four things at once and your skin improves, you won't know which one helped.

Don't winterise a routine that isn't broken

It's very easy to reach October and feel you should buy a richer cleanser, a thicker cream, a facial oil and a sleeping mask because winter skincare articles say so.

If your skin still feels comfortable, you don't need any of them.

Do you need a richer moisturiser in winter?

Sometimes. Not everybody does. If your skin is fine after washing but feels dry or tight later in the day, the moisturiser is the step to look at.

Start with the one you own. Use a little more of it, put it on while your skin is still slightly damp, and add a second thin layer on the areas that feel driest. If that still isn't enough, keep your usual moisturiser for the morning and use something richer at night. The AAD recommends a cream rather than a lotion for dry skin, and fragrance-free products where you can.

You don't have to swap everything at once. A richer cream at night is often all the winter change your skin needs.

Do you need a hydrating toner or essence?

No. Toners and essences are optional at any time of year, and winter doesn't turn them into essentials. If your cleansing is gentle and your moisturiser is doing its job, they won't add much.

If you've done both of those and your skin still wants a bit more, a hydrating toner under your moisturiser is one option. The one I'd look at is the Haruharu Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner in the 150 ml unscented version. It's an extra layer, not a winter step.

Should you stop retinal, acids or vitamin C in winter?

Not automatically. If your skin stays comfortable, there's no reason to cut back just because it's winter. But if a treatment that was fine through summer starts to cause tightness, stinging or flaking, how often you use it may need adjusting. In that situation the AAD suggests using retinoids and acids less often, or at a lower concentration. That's an adjustment, not a stop.

What I'd avoid is keeping the treatment at full pace and piling hydrating products on top to cover the irritation. Drop back to fewer nights, let your skin settle, then build up again. How to start retinal after 40 has the step-back signals I'd use, and they work just as well in winter.

Do you still need sunscreen in winter?

Winter doesn't make sunscreen disappear from the routine, and the AAD recommends sun protection all year. If you're treating dark marks or uneven tone, or you use a retinoid, I'd keep it in your morning routine. Keep using the one you already like. I've written about whether you need sunscreen every day in the UK in more detail.

A simple winter routine

If you wear sunscreen or make-up and wonder whether you need two cleansers in the evening, do you need to double cleanse? covers how to tell. On drier skin, a second cleanse you don't need is one of the first things I'd drop.

What would I use?

If your skin still feels comfortable with the routine you used through summer, my first recommendation is none of these. Keep using what already works.

If something has changed, these are two products we sell, for two different problems. You'd only need the one that matches yours.

or

When is it more than a skincare question?

Mild winter dryness usually settles once you've adjusted cleansing and moisturising. If your skin is red and sore for more than a few days, cracked and painful, bleeding, itchy enough to keep you awake, or you have a new rash or swelling, more skincare isn't the answer. A pharmacist is a good first stop. See your GP if it doesn't improve, keeps getting worse, or a pharmacist suggests it. If you already have eczema or another skin condition, follow the treatment plan you've been given.

Skin Advice is a cosmetic routine review. It is not a diagnosis, and I won't tell you to change prescribed treatment.

Mari, K Skin Aura, London

About Mari. Mari is the founder of K Skin Aura, a UK Korean skincare retailer. She reviews cosmetic routines and product choices through K Skin Aura's free Skin Advice service. She is not a dermatologist or clinician.

Sources checked. American Academy of Dermatology, Your winter skin survival kit (cold air outside, hot air inside; gentle cleansers; using retinoids and acids less often or at a lower concentration; sunscreen year-round), Dermatologists' tips for relieving dry skin (five to ten minute showers in warm water, moisturising damp skin, cream rather than lotion, fragrance-free) and Dry skin: overview (low humidity and indoor heating). NHS, Itchy skin (pharmacist and GP advice). Haruharu cream: ingredients taken from the product box. Etude cleanser: Etude's product information.

Articles are written and reviewed under Mari's direction using questions and patterns from K Skin Aura's Skin Advice service. Skincare and health-related claims are checked against sources such as the NHS, DermNet, the American Academy of Dermatology and published research where appropriate. Product details are checked against current packaging, manufacturer information and K Skin Aura stock data. Recommendations are not paid placements within editorial articles. If a product you already own is suitable, we will say so.

Frequently asked questions

Should I change my skincare routine in winter?

Only if your skin changes. If it still feels comfortable, keep your routine. If it feels tight after washing, look at your cleanser first; if it feels dry later in the day, look at your moisturiser; if a treatment starts to sting, use it less often.

Do I need a heavier moisturiser in winter?

Not always. Try a little more of the moisturiser you already own, applied to slightly damp skin. If that isn't enough, use a richer cream at night and keep your usual one for the morning.

Why does my skin feel tight in winter?

Cold air outside, heated air inside and low humidity can all leave skin drier, and hotter showers and longer washes add to it. Tightness straight after washing usually points to cleansing first: water temperature, how often you wash, or a cleanser that's too much for your skin right now.

Can I keep using retinol or retinal in winter?

Yes, if your skin is comfortable. There's no automatic winter cut-back. If it starts to sting or flake, use it less often rather than stopping everything or adding more products on top. If your retinoid is prescribed, follow your prescriber's advice.

Do I need sunscreen in winter in the UK?

The AAD recommends sun protection all year. If you're treating pigmentation or using a retinoid, keep sunscreen in your morning routine through winter too.