Ready for Winter? What Your Skin Needs Now

Snow-covered landscapes, skiing, sledding — winter has many beautiful sides. But for our skin, the cold season can be a real challenge. That’s why the right skincare routine is especially important in winter.

Not only true winter fans will agree — a walk through snow-covered landscapes, a ski run, or a sledding adventure can make even the cold, dark season feel truly special. For our skin, however, winter poses a real challenge.
 
Cold temperatures cause the blood vessels in the skin to constrict in order to retain heat within the body. As a result, skin metabolism slows down and fewer nutrients and less oxygen reach the skin. Sebum production decreases, the skin’s protective lipid layer becomes thinner, and the skin grows more sensitive.
 
On top of that, dry indoor heating air accelerates moisture loss, causing the skin to dry out even further. Thick clothing, wool scarves, and similar fabrics can also irritate the skin.
 
All of this makes proper skincare essential during winter to help prevent dryness, irritation, and other skin concerns.

Avoid Additional Stress on Your Skin

To avoid placing extra strain on your skin during winter, it’s important to minimize additional stress factors. Maintaining a healthy diet and drinking enough fluids creates a strong foundation for getting through the colder months in good shape — not just for your skin, but for your overall well-being.

 Additional ways to reduce skin stress in winter include:

• Avoid bathing or showering in water that is too hot
• Use replenishing bath additives, such as a href="/de?product_cat=bath-sensations" target="_self">bath oils, and pH-skin-neutral shower gels
• Avoid aggressive facial cleansers and exfoliants
• Maintain a healthy indoor climate with 40% to 60% humidity

What many people also underestimate in winter is the power of the sun. Especially during long winter walks or ski vacations, adequate sun protection should not be neglected to prevent excessive strain on the skin caused by sunburn.
 

Moisturizing Care Is Especially Important in Winter

During winter, the skin’s natural oil production slows down. For those prone to oily skin, this can actually be quite pleasant to a certain extent, as pores appear smaller and the tendency toward blemishes decreases.
 
However, regardless of skin type, almost everyone is familiar with that uncomfortable feeling of tightness—especially in winter. To prevent the skin from drying out, it is essential to use the right moisturizing care.
 
If you tend toward oily skin, you should increase hydration but avoid overly rich creams. To prevent clogged pores, it’s best to stick with your usual lightweight moisturizer and apply it more frequently throughout the day.
 
Normal and sensitive skin, on the other hand, needs intensive moisture during the cold season—care that nourishes the skin and strengthens it over the long term. This is the only way to help prevent tightness, redness, and itching.
 
Natural lipids have proven particularly effective as winter moisturizers, such as argan oil, shea butter, sweet almond oil, or plant-based moisture boosters like aloe vera. Skincare products that combine these nourishing lipids with soothing ingredients—such as chamomile or marigold—are especially beneficial.

Lips and Hands Are Especially Sensitive in Winter

Hands and lips, in particular, tend to dry out quickly during winter. No surprise—at both of these areas, the skin is thinner and natural oil production is low, or in the case of the lips, nonexistent. This makes them especially vulnerable to cold winter conditions.

Lips should be well protected from moisture loss during winter. Specialized lip care sticks are ideal for this purpose. Lip balms with natural beeswax and other plant-based moisturizers are especially gentle and time-tested. They protect without feeling heavy. One thing to avoid at all costs: moistening dry lips with saliva. This only worsens dryness, as it promotes further moisture evaporation from the delicate lip skin.

The skin on the backs of the hands is also relatively thin and produces very little sebum, making hands particularly sensitive to cold and moisture. Frequent hand washing—especially essential during cold and flu season—adds additional stress.

With the right hand cream, you can protect your hands from dryness and strengthen them for everyday challenges. Whether rich glycerin or soothing panthenol, a good hand cream helps reinforce the skin barrier. During winter, hands should be moisturized in the morning and evening. Very stressed hands should also be rehydrated after every hand wash.

Heavy Legs, Cold Feet – How to Boost Circulation

Reduced circulation in winter doesn’t just make the skin more sensitive and prone to dryness. It can also lead to cold hands and feet, as well as heavy, tired legs.

Legs and feet in particular suffer from lack of movement during the winter months. Tight clothing and long periods of sitting can also negatively affect blood circulation. Staying active therefore remains essential for overall well-being—even in winter. In addition, a warming foot bath or a circulation-boosting care lotion can help relieve tired winter legs and feet.

Natural ingredients such as mountain pine, red vine leaf, camphor, or horse chestnut have proven especially effective. Used in bath additives or leg lotions, these ingredients can stimulate circulation and help restore a pleasant feeling of warmth and lightness.