How to keep skin hydrated in cold weather

SKINCARE

If you’re looking for some bespoke Winter skincare advice, then book a totally complimentary 1-1 session with one of our Kiehl’s Skincare expert. Available via live video call or in-store, this 30-minute consultation will leave you feeling confident about the right skincare regime for you whether you have sensitive skin, dry patches, irritated skin or any other skin issues. If time is of the essence and you only have a few minutes to spare, try our Healthy Skin Routine Finder. Crafted with our skincare experts’ knowledge, it shares a skincare routine that is personalised to your skin type.

As we reacquaint ourselves the vagaries of our central heating system and rekindle our love for seasonal lattes, we also need to consider switching up our skincare routine. The incoming colder temperatures, and our heavily heated homes combine to leave our skin feeling dehydrated. As well as lacking moisture, dry skin can also be itchy and uncomfortable. So far, so bad? Luckily, there’s a simple remedy: hydration. Here’s our top tips to keep your skin hydrated this autumn and winter.

How do I keep my skin hydrated?

We all know the basic purpose of a moisturiser, it pretty much does what it says on the tin – moisturises! Moisturising is particularly important in colder months as it acts like a topcoat for all your other skincare. For more advice and tips on keeping your dry skin moisturised at any time of year, check out our article Our Best Moisturisers For Dry Skin.

To top up your skin’s hydration levels, adopt a layering approach with your formulas. Get an extra boost from serums, lotions, or mists then lock in the benefits with a moisturiser. Layering multiple hydrating formulas is more effective than a single heavy application of one product as it will create multiple barriers to water leaving your skin. Discover our quick guide to understanding
what order you should apply your skincare products.

How do I keep my skin hydrated?

Dry Skin

Replenishing your skin’s protective lipid barrier is a key element to keeping skin smooth, healthy and hydrated through the cooler months. Our Midnight Recovery Omega Rich Cloud Cream will visibly plump and replenish the protective barrier over night. Infused with Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids, this rejuvenating cream is an ideal addition to your night routine during the winter months. Find out more about the reasons behind dry skin in our article, How To Hydrate Dry Skin.

Normal skin

Our iconic Ultra Facial Cream is our number 1 worldwide bestseller. With its lightweight texture, the formula is easily absorbed and recovers the skin barrier function 55%* faster, immediately leaving skin up to 2.3X more hydrated**. The formula has been put to test in the harshest conditions, even being used by climbers scaling Everest, but don’t worry, it’s perfectly suitable for those of us who are less adventurous as they go about their daily routine. Make it work even harder by opting for our SPF 30 version because yes you still need SPF even on gloomy days.

Mature skin

Try our multi-benefit anti-ageing moisturiser on for size. One of our hardest-working superheroes, it targets seven signs of ageing: visibly lifts, smoothes, firms, refines skin texture, evens skin tone, boosts radiance and enhances the feeling of elasticity for younger-looking skin. 96% saw visible anti-ageing results when applying our anti-ageing corrective cream to the face^ and 92% saw visible improvement in the neck area.^^

^Based on 96% agreement after continuous use in a consumer study.
^^Based on agreement at 8 weeks in a 12-week consumer use study with a panel of 53 women. Individual results may vary.

Oily Skin

If you have oily skin your choice of winter moisturiser is all about the texture. From our famous Ultra Facial oil-free range, this gel cream is suited to oily skin types that find a traditional cream texture too heavy. The lightweight formula is alcohol-free and is easily absorbed, so won’t cause dryness or irritation but does help visibly reduce shine. For more tips on finding a moisturiser that’s right for you, discover our guide to finding a moisturiser for your skin type.

Best winter skincare routine

Always use a gentle, hydrating cleanser in the morning and evening such as Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil which gently dissolves dirt, debris and makeup. If you're experiencing dry skin in the under-eye area, it's worth investing in an eye cream. Our Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado has a thick and creamy formula that gently moisturises the under-eye area, releasing a burst of hydration, apply every morning and evening. You should also consider adding a serum such as our Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid or a facial oil to your skincare routine. Oils are naturally occlusive, meaning they seal in all the moisture from the products previously applied. We recommend our iconic evening facial oil, Midnight Recovery Concentrate. This anti-ageing facial oil visibly corrects the appearance of skin damage caused by 30 days of poor sleep*.

Clinical test results:
Radiance Boosted Up to +13%
Texture Improved Up To +27%
Fine Lines Reduced by Up To -14%

Best Serums for Winter Skin

At Kiehl’s we have a wide variety of facial serums. Enriched with Glycerin and low molecular Hyaluronic Acid, our Super Serum helps skin to better retain moisture and is the perfect first step if you like to layer serums. For a boost of hydration, we recommend Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate. Enriched with Epidermal Hydration Filler and 15% Glycerin, the formula can penetrate up to 10 surface layers deep** and plumps skin with up to 120% more moisture***.

**Results based on formula penetration data in a clinical test on 25 subjects.
***Instrumental test, 25 subjects, measured after 15 minutes.

Body Moisturisers for Winter

Don’t forget your body, especially if you’re someone who likes to cosy up in long hot baths, which can deplete skins natural moisture, put the hydration back with our much beloved Crème de Corps, formulated with Cocoa Butter, Beta-Carotene and Squalane it’s intensely moisturising but non-greasy. If you’re struggling with dry, cracked hands, we recommend our rich, moisturing hand salve. It helps to protect against and repair the appearance of severe dryness caused by frequent washing, heavy industrial work, manual labour, neglect or exposure to harsh elements.

Hot Tips for Cold Days

Once you’ve got your skincare regime sorted there are a few other things that can help. Try a humidifier which should help offset the drying effects of your radiators being on full blast. If you can try to sleep with no or low heating on overnight, your complexion, heating bills and the environment will all thank you for that extra blanket! To avoid flaky skin, it's best to avoid hot water and choose lukewarm water to wash your face with. Water that's too hot directly leads to dry skin and moisture loss by stripping away the natural oils that help to keep the skin smooth and lubricated. Drink plenty of water, our bodies are made up of 70% water and even a small amount of dehydration can show on your skin. Aim for around 1.5 litres a day.

A quick recap, for personalised Winter skincare advice, then book a complimentary 1-1 session with one of our Kiehl’s Skincare expert. Available via live video call or in-store, this 30-minute consultation will help you find the right skincare regime for you.