Skin care
Oct 21, 2026
2 min read
Colder air, drier rooms. Our clinicians on the few small swaps that keep skin calm through the season.
Hana Sato
Medical facials
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Iris Calloway
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Most winter skin problems start indoors. Heating pulls water out of the air, and your skin barrier loses it faster than it can replace it.
In short
Change your cleanser before you change anything else.
Keep your sunscreen and slow your retinoid down.
Redness that lasts over two weeks deserves a look.
Why skin changes in winter
Indoor heating can drop the humidity in a room below 30 percent. Cold air outside holds little water too, so your skin moves between two dry places all day. The outer layer loses water, tightens and starts to react to products it used to tolerate.
This is why a routine that worked in September can sting in January. The products did not change. The barrier did.
What to change
Start with the steps that touch your skin the most.
Swap a foaming cleanser for a cream one.
Apply a plain moisturiser on damp skin, morning and night.
Keep showers short and a little cooler.
Run a humidifier in the room where you sleep.
Tightness after cleansing is usually the first sign.
What to leave alone
Keep your sunscreen. Winter sun still reaches your skin through the window, and it still drives pigment.
Keep your retinoid if your skin tolerates it, but use it every second night. Skip new acids until spring. If a product you have used for years starts to sting, the barrier is the issue, not the product.
Most people come in asking what to add. In winter, the better question is what to take away.
Hana Sato, medical facials
We compare your skin with your last visit before changing anything.
What we do in clinic
A winter visit is usually simple. We look at your skin under the same light as your last visit, check what you use at home and change one step at a time. If the barrier needs more support, a clinical facial or a course of skin boosters can help.
When to come in
Redness that lasts more than two weeks, or patches that crack, deserve a look. Often we only change one step at home.
General information, not medical advice. Your clinician will confirm what suits your skin.
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