If your skin turns tight, flaky, or itchy the moment the forecast dips to chilly weather, then you’re not alone. Cold air holds less moisture than warm air. Then we add indoor heat, long hot showers, wool sweaters, and wind in our face which only compounds the problem. The result is a perfect storm for dry skin in winter. The fix for dry skin isn’t complicated, but it does require a few smart skincare products.
Below is a simple, realistic winter skincare routine you can follow every day, with a couple of easy add-on products a few times a week. Consider this your cold-weather skin survival plan. It’s practical, soothing, and a little luxurious.
We’ll keep it cozy, we’ll keep it doable, and we’ll use Eight Saints favorites that are already loved for sensitive, fussy, and thirsty skin.
Why Winter Dries Skin Out
Winter brings low humidity outside and forced air inside. That combo pulls water from your skin’s surface faster than your moisture barrier can replace it which leads to dry skin. When the barrier is compromised, it struggles to keep water in and irritants out. Your skin starts to feel tight, flakes, itches and redness develops.
The answer is threefold:
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Cleanse without stripping away your skin’s moisture.
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Add and trap water with humectants and emollients.
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Seal it all in with a richer cream.
That’s exactly how we’ve designed this winter skincare plan.
Morning: Calm, Hydrate, Protect
Your morning routine should be gentle and glow-giving, not squeaky-clean. Think creamy textures and cushiony hydration.
Creamy Cleanse
Start with Brightside Cream Cleanser. It’s the opposite of a foamy, drying facial wash. It’s a cream cleanser that removes sweat, light oil, and any residue from last night without stripping precious lipids from your skin.
Massage onto damp skin for 30 to 45 seconds. Rinse with lukewarm water, not hot. If you’re wondering how to stop itchy skin in winter, this step is important. The wrong cleanser can cause dryness that gets worse as the day progresses.
Hydration Assistance
While your face is still slightly damp, press in Pep Rally Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Hyaluronic acid acts like a water magnet. It pulls moisture into the top layers of your skin. If your home air feels Sahara-level dry, keep a small humidifier at your desk or nightstand so this step has moisture to hold onto. Use only a few drops to cover your face and neck. Let it sink in for a minute to give your skin the hydration it needs to thrive.
Daytime Moisturizer + Vitamin C
After cleansing and hydrating be sure to add Cloud Whip Vitamin C Cream. Winter is not the time to skip antioxidants. Vitamin C helps brighten the look of dull, cold-weather skin and supports your barrier’s resilience for a healthier appearance. Cloud Whip adds lightweight nourishment without feeling heavy under makeup. If you’re dealing with dry skin from cold weather, this is the comforting cushion you want in the morning.
SPF For Winter
UV rays don’t take a holiday when the weather turns cold. After applying Cloud Whip, apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. Remember that snow reflects UV rays which can negatively impact your skin. Clouds only filter so much. Daily sunscreen is still part of an easy winter skincare routine.
Night: Repair, Replenish, Restore
Nighttime is where we get serious about focusing your skin's barrier repair and deep comfort. You’ve been exposed to wind, heaters, and fabrics all day. Now it’s time to put the moisture back in your skin so you can say goodbye to winter dryness.
Cream Cleanse Again
A second shout-out to Brightside Cream Cleanser. If you wore makeup during the day then you’ll want to double cleanse with Brightside twice, or remove makeup first with a gentle balm, then follow with Brightside. Your skin should feel soft and relaxed after rinsing.
Exfoliate on a Schedule
Exfoliation in winter isn’t about scrubbing your skin every day. It’s about lifting dull surface flakes so your hydrating products can actually reach your skin. Use Zen Out of Ten Bamboo Face Scrub 1 to 2 times a week for sensitive skin and up to 3 times a week for oily skin. Massage it very gently with no grinding. Rinse your skin well. Your skin should feel smooth, not tender.
Drink of Water for Your Face
Apply Pep Rally Hyaluronic Acid Serum again. Hyaluronic acid works beautifully at night because you can layer a richer cream right on top and trap all that hydration.
Night Cream Comfort
Seal it in with Up the Anti Night Cream (choose Up the Anti at night and then use Cloud Whip in the morning). Up the Anti is our richer, replenishing choice for the PM, ideal when dry skin in winter shows up as tightness around the mouth and cheeks. Warm a pea-to-almond size amount between your fingers and press it into the skin. If you’re extra parched, add a thin second layer on the driest patches.
Body Care Attention
Face care gets all the attention, but the rest of your skin works hard in winter and can also suffer from dryness. Choose textures that feel pampering, so you’ll want to use them daily.
Shower Strategy
Keep showers warm, not hot, and limit to 10 minutes when possible. Before you step out, use Welcome to the Scrub Coconut Body Scrub once or twice a week. Gentle exfoliation on the body clears dead skin so moisture can sink in. It’s especially helpful on arms, thighs, and calves where flakes tend to show.
Lock in moisture within 60 seconds
Pat—don’t rub—your skin with a towel. You want to keep it a little damp. Then apply Cocoa Cream Body Butter head to toe. This is your “body lotion for dry skin,” but creamier and more satisfying to give your skin the hydrating drink it needs. The trick is timing. Apply within a minute of leaving the shower to trap that precious water. If you prefer a lighter texture for daytime, you can layer a thinner lotion for dry skin in the morning and keep Cocoa Cream for night.
Hand Care
Hand soap plus hot water plus winter equals cracked knuckles and rough fingers. Keep a tube of Almond Butter Sugar High Hand Cream at your sink, on your desk, and in your handbag.
Apply a pea-size amount of hand cream after every wash, and a slightly thicker layer before bed. Don’t forget your cuticles which can tear and crack causing pain. A consistent hand ritual is one of the fastest ways to reduce itchy skin patches and rough edges that catch on sweaters.
Your Weekly Winter Skincare Rhythm
Here’s how it all fits together in real life:
Every morning
Every night
Face exfoliation
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Zen Out of Ten Bamboo Face Scrub: 1–2x/week if sensitive, up to 3x/week if oily
Body
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Welcome to the Scrub Coconut Body Scrub: 1–2x/week
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Cocoa Cream Body Butter: daily after shower
Hands
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Almond Butter Sugar High Hand Cream: after every wash, and before bed
This is the simplest version of an effective winter skincare routine that you can easily and quickly follow to say goodbye to dry skin. Feel free to adjust the richness of your cream or how often you exfoliate based on how your skin feels that week.
Troubleshooting
You’ve cleaned up your skin care products and you’re moisturizing, but you’re still scratchy by 3 p.m. Try these small tips which can make a big difference.
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Switch to lukewarm water. Hot showers and hot sink water strip skin lipids fast and makes it hard for your body to replace them.
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Humidify your space. Strive to keep your indoor humidity level between 35 to 45%. Your winter skincare will work harder for you in the right environment.
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Mind your fabrics. Think about what you are wearing because wool and rough blends can create friction on already-dry areas. Layer a soft cotton tee or long sleeve under sweaters if your neck and arms get irritated or are suffering from dryness.
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Moisturize more often. Keep Cocoa Cream Body Butter and Almond Butter Sugar High Hand Cream on hand because you'll want to reapply the formulas several times if you are suffering from dryness or tightness.
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Exfoliate gently and consistently. Flakes block moisture so you’ll want to use a light pass with Zen Out of Ten to reduce that “nothing sinks in” feeling.
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Patch test and keep it simple. In winter, remember that less is more. Stick to a streamlined routine and avoid over-layering too many actives at once.
If your itch remains intense or you notice a rash, check with a dermatologist to rule out eczema or contact sensitivities.
Winter Skincare Tips
Every skin type can thrive in winter with a few tweaks.
Here’s how to customize without complicating your routine.
If your skin is dry or tight most days
Use Brightside Cream Cleanser in the morning and at night. Layer Pep Rally on damp skin, then go in with Cloud Whip in the morning and a generous dollop of Up the Anti at night.
When your skin is extra rough, add a thin second coat of Up the Anti over the cheeks and around the mouth.
For the body, lean on using Cocoa Cream Body Butter daily and also use Welcome to the Scrub once a week to keep flakes from building up.
If your skin is combination or oily
Oily skin can still be dehydrated, especially in heated indoor air. Keep Brightside as your cleanser, Pep Rally for hydration, and Cloud Whip in the morning for brightening without grease.
At night, start with a pea-size amount of Up the Anti, and only add more if you feel tightness 20 minutes later.
Exfoliate with Zen Out of Ten up to 3x a week, focusing on the T-zone to help serums sink in.
If your skin is sensitive or reactive
Use only lukewarm water, pat dry, and prioritize creamy textures. Use Zen Out of Ten sparingly at least 1–2x a week, and massage lightly. Press, don’t rub, your creams into the skin.
If your barrier feels raw, pause exfoliation for a week and double down on Pep Rally plus Up the Anti at night.
Build Your Winter Skincare Kit
If you’ve been searching for winter skincare tips that are easy to stick with, this is your sign to simplify and upgrade your textures. Choose a cream cleanser. Make hyaluronic acid a habit. Use a richer cream at night. Exfoliate lightly but regularly. Moisturize your body while your skin is still damp. Keep a hand cream within reach.
Your skin doesn’t have to feel like sandpaper from November to March. With the right skin care products, a gentle rhythm, and a few strategic habits, your winter routine can be as cozy as your favorite sweater, just a lot less itchy.
Shop the full routine from Eight Saints. Bundle what you love, skip what you don’t, and make sure that this season your skin stays calm, comfortable, and soft, no matter how cold it gets.