When winter rolls around, your skin often feels the change before you do. Cold temperatures, dry air, and indoor heating can leave the skin feeling tight, flaky and dry - don’t worry, it happens to the best of us!

That's why, as a skin expert, I always remind my clients that as the seasons and our environments change, our skincare routines should also evolve.

That lightweight moisturiser that felt perfect in summer might suddenly struggle to do the heavy lifting your skin needs once the colder months roll in.

The good news? This doesn’t need to be complicated; it’s the minor adjustments that can make all the difference.

The key is to focus on supporting your skin's natural barrier, boosting hydration levels, and ensuring your products are working with your skin rather than against it.

That’s why I’m here to share exactly how I would suggest building a winter-friendly skincare routine that is sure to keep your skin feeling comfortable, balanced and glowing all winter long.

While deeply purifying formulas can be great during the warmer months, they can sometimes leave the skin feeling even drier when temperatures drop in winter. That's why I recommend switching to a creamy, non-stripping cleanser that effectively removes dirt, oil, and impurities without compromising your skin's natural moisture barrier. Look for gentle, hydrating ingredients such as glycerin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or squalane, which help attract and retain moisture while cleansing.

My pick: The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser - A cult-favourite for a reason. Packed with nourishing squalane, this cleanser melts effortlessly into a silky oil to gently dissolve makeup, SPF and daily grime, all while keeping skin soft, comfy and never stripped.

One of the most common winter skincare mistakes I see is people skipping exfoliation altogether, thinking their skin needs to be left alone when it’s dry or sensitive.

While over-exfoliating can certainly be an issue in colder months, avoiding it completely can lead to a build-up of dead skin cells. This can leave skin looking dull, feeling rough, and struggling to properly absorb hydration - especially in winter when cell turnover naturally slows. The key is not to stop exfoliating, but to adjust how you do it - either by reducing frequency or switching to a gentler option.

Lactic acid or Polyhydroxy Acids are a great choice, as they offer mild exfoliation while also helping to draw moisture into the skin, making them especially winter-friendly.

Your exfoliation step should sit right after cleansing and before your serums.

My pick: Medik8 Press & Glow - A glow-boosting toner loved for its gentle PHA formula, which helps smooth and refine the skin’s surface without any harshness. It refreshes dull, tired-looking skin and leaves your complexion looking brighter, fresher and naturally radiant.

Immediately after cleansing (or exfoliating if it’s exfoliation night!), apply a hydrating serum or essence to help replenish moisture before it has a chance to escape in cold, dry air. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and panthenol can help draw water into the skin, leaving it looking plumper, healthier, and more radiant.

My pick: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Suractivated Serum - A hydration hero that delivers a fresh, dewy boost to thirsty skin in just a few drops. Lightweight yet deeply nourishing, it sinks in effortlessly to plump and replenish, leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth and beautifully refreshed - like a big drink of water for your skin.

I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but this is the one message I’ll happily repeat: during winter, your skin barrier needs all the love and attention!

Cold weather and dry air can weaken your skin’s natural defence, making it more prone to irritation and losing moisture. Products containing ceramides, niacinamide, squalane and essential fatty acids can help reinforce the barrier and improve overall skin resilience.

My pick: Alpha-H Vitamin E Serum with 1% Ceramide Complex - The one product I’ll never stop cheering for. Packed with barrier-loving ingredients like vitamin E, ceramides, squalane and essential fatty acids, it’s designed to comfort, repair and deeply nourish skin that’s feeling the effects of winter. It’s my go-to when skin feels tight, reactive or just a little out of balance - a true cold-weather staple on my shelf. There’s also something undeniably luxe about the way Alpha-H serums glide onto the skin, like butter melting in.

Time to lock everything in! Once your serums have had a chance to absorb, apply a deeply hydrating moisturiser to help seal in moisture and support a healthy skin barrier when outdoor temperatures drop and indoor heating increases dryness.

During the cooler months, skin can lose hydration more quickly, which is why a richer formula can be key to maintaining comfort and balance. Look for formulas enriched with ingredients such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which help replenish moisture levels and protect against environmental stressors.

Applied morning and night, a deeply hydrating moisturiser wraps your skin in a blanket of moisture, helping it stay plump, supple and comfortable throughout the day. Dry patches? Not here.

My pick: Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream 100ml - A winter skin saviour for dry or compromised complexions, helping to soothe, protect and deeply nourish a weakened skin barrier when it needs extra TLC. Its rich, comforting texture forms a protective layer over the skin, locking in moisture and calming areas of dryness, irritation and sensitivity. However, oily/combo skin types be warned: this cream may feel a bit heavy or occlusive on the skin due to its balm-like consistency. For those skin types, a lighter alternative like Alpha-H High Tide Water Cream with Australian River Mint is a perfect swap, delivering a refreshing surge of hydration without the weight - keeping skin soft, balanced and comfortably dewy rather than coated.

Of course, no AM skincare routine is ever complete without a final layer of your favourite SPF. While winter skies may look a little gloomier, UV rays are still present and can contribute to premature ageing and skin damage year-round. Think of your SPF as a non-negotiable; rain, hail or shine!

If your summer sunscreen is feeling a little too lightweight, consider swapping to a more nourishing SPF formula with added hydrating ingredients to help keep skin comfortable, protected and glowing throughout the colder months.

My pick: Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF50+ 50ml Luminising SKINSCREEN™A glow-boosting SPF that feels more like skincare than sunscreen, delivering a hit of hydration while leaving skin with a soft, radiant finish.

It melts in beautifully and helps even out the complexion, making it perfect for that fresh, dewy winter glow without any chalkiness or drag.

Winter skincare is all about balance: gentle cleansing, consistent hydration and barrier support.

With a few intentional swaps, your routine can keep skin calm, comfortable and glowing all season long. The weather will inevitably change, but your glow doesn’t have to.