Winter has always been a challenging season for my skin, especially since it’s both dry and acne-prone. The combination of cold weather, low humidity, and indoor heating tends to strip my skin of moisture, leading to irritated dry skin, and breakouts.
Before I actually took time to learn my skin, I would think. Oh, I am starting to get some dry skin, better go add the most hydrating moisturizers I can find! Only to find that it would cause the worst acne breakout, and stop my routine. Get new products, and starting the cycle all over again.
Over time, I’ve learned that with the right routine and products, I can keep my skin hydrated, calm, and clear all season long. Here’s what works for me:
Step 1: Gentle Cleansing
In winter, I always start with a gentle cleanser that doesn’t strip my skin of its natural oils. I opt for a hydrating, non-comedogenic cleanser such as Beauty of Joseon Gel Cleanser that removes impurities without leaving my skin feeling tight or dry. I look for ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid. I tend to stick with gel cleansers regularly as this helps clean my skin, but does not clog my pores
What I’ve Learned: Avoiding foaming cleansers with harsh sulfates has made a huge difference in reducing dryness.
Step 2: Hydrating Toner or Essence
After cleansing, I always use a hydrating toner or essence to replenish moisture and prep my skin for the next steps. My go to is Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water Hydrating Face Toner. I make sure to choose alcohol-free formulations with soothing and hydrating ingredients such as aloe vera, witch hazel, rose water, or panthenol.
Step 3: Targeted Treatment
Treating acne in winter can be tricky, so I stick to treatments that are gentle and hydrating. Here are my go-to options:
Salicylic Acid: Helps unclog my pores and reduce inflammation. I have a salicylic acid serum that I love using on he daily.
Try: Pure Salicylic Acid
Niacinamide: Reduces redness and strengthens my skin barrier.
Try: Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum Propolis and Niacinamide
Azelaic Acid: Combats acne-causing bacteria and improves my skin texture.
Try: Netwik.
I apply these treatments sparingly, focusing only on areas prone to breakouts.
Step 4: Hydrating Serum
A hydrating serum is a must for me during winter to combat dryness. I love using serums with hyaluronic acid (Asterwood Hyaloric Acid Serum) to boost hydration without oils, glycerin to draw moisture into the skin without clogging pores, or panthenol to draw moisture into my skin and keep it plump.
What Works Best: Applying the serum on damp skin has really improved its absorption. I tend to do this right after I apply my toner
Step 5: Moisturizer
A good moisturizer is the cornerstone of my winter skincare routine. I look for a lightweight yet deeply hydrating moisturizer that won’t clog my pores. My favorites contain ceramides, squalane. I tend to avoid ones with seed oils as I find ones with these ingredients break me out the most. I like to stick with gel moisturizers on the regular.
If my skin feels extremely dry, I will do a heavier moisturizer, but I typically do it as a SOS for my skin. As using it regularly causes a acne flare up.
Try: Cetaphil Face Moisturizer, Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer With 0.5% Salicylic Acid
Step 6: Sunscreen
Sunscreen isn’t just for summer—I’ve learned the hard way that even in winter, UV rays can damage my skin and worsen acne. I use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 daily. For my sensitive skin, I prefer mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Try: Beauty of Joseon Daily Relief Sunscreen
Step 7: Weekly Exfoliation
Exfoliation helps me remove dead skin cells and prevent clogged pores, but I’ve found it’s important not to overdo it during winter. As it can extremely irritate my skin. I stick to gentle chemical exfoliants like lactic acid or mandelic acid once or twice a week. These are milder options that hydrate while exfoliating.
What I Avoid: Physical scrubs—they caused more harm than good by irritating my skin.
Try: QRxLabs Glycolic Acid 20% Resurfacing Pads for Face & Body
Additional Tips for Winter Skin Care
Humidifier: I use a humidifier in my home to counteract the drying effects of indoor heating.
Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water has helped hydrate my skin from within.
Gentle Products: I steer clear of products with alcohol, fragrance, or other potential irritants.
Pat Dry: After washing my face, I pat it dry gently instead of rubbing.
By following these steps and tailoring my routine to my specific skin needs, I’ve managed to keep my dry, acne-prone skin healthy and glowing all winter long. Consistency has been key, and I always remind myself that it’s okay to seek advice from a dermatologist for personalized tips if I am really struggling.