I stepped outside today and was surprised how chilly it was. I immediately regretted not putting on an extra thick layer of moisturizer this morning! Honestly, why I am surprised? It’s coming to the end of fall, and winter is around the corner. It’s the time of year to start stocking up on my favorite hydraters, moisurizers and nourishing toners to keep my skin protected from the harsh winter weather. In honor of all my fellow dry-skin people out there, this list is for you! Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and moist skin barrier this winter season!
Thanks for reading about our favorite finds from across the internet! FYI: We participate in affiliate programs and may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
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As a dry skin individual, I struggle with the cleansing step a lot: I need to wash my skin of all the bacteria, dirt and oils throughout the day, but cleansing can inherently be an extremely drying process for my sensitive skin. And it’s even worse in the winter! Luckily this cheap cleanser fixes that problem: I get a thorough cleanse but never feel stripped, perfectly prepped for my hydrating steps!
This Fluffy Moisturizer That Smells Like Banana Pudding
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I absolutely love the brand Glow Recipe and have tried almost all their products, yet this moisturizer is still my tried and true. This is the perfect moisturizer for that ideal level of hydration but without the stickiness that thick moisturizers often leave. Besides having great results, this moisturizer offers a beautiful sensorial experience with its delightful banana smell and souffle-like texture.
This Peach Flavored Lip Balm
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TONYMOLY is well known for making great skincare products in adorable packaging and this lip balm is no exception! This peachy lip balm is packed in an adorable screw top container that looks like a little peach. Not only is it adorable, but it keeps your lips plumped and hydrated all day long during the winter season!
This Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner
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This is toner of my favorite hydrating products I’ve ever tried. This toner is made with fermented black rice which I thought was super unique since I haven’t seen that ingredient in other skin care products before! I believe that fermentation process helps transforms the ingredients in a manner that enables the skin to more readily absorb them. Either way, I truly enjoy how much hydration this product brings to my skin before moisturizing.
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This is the most unique toner I have ever tried. While it acts like a toner, I find it extremely cool that I can actually act as a moisturizer as well. While I always recommend following up with a real moisturizer, there are just some days that a full skin care routine will not fit in. On those days if I am extremely busy and I just need to run out the door, this toner is really able to fulfill both roles in a pinch.
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If you’re used to regularly using retinol, but can’t use it during the winter, try swapping in this retinol sleeping mask instead. Retinol can really dry out the skin at times so it’s understandable that you might feel wary to use retinol especially during the winter. But this is the ONE retinol formula that I can safely use throughout the winter season, which was a huge shock to me!
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The name of this moisturizer should give a clear explanation of the purpose of this product. It simply delivers a burst of extra hydration for anyone’s skin in need of a little TLC. While I am more into moisturizers that leave a satin-feeling finish, sometimes we need old reliable products like these to drench our skin in that moisturizing goodness, even if it leaves a little bit of a film. I like using this moisturizer on the coldest of the winter days. A favorite with reviewers too: “My favorite moisturizer hands down. Super light yet extremely hydrating which are really important factors with oily skin like mine.” – Kina oddman
A Bottle Of Fast Absorbing Squalane Oil
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Another oil that is really beneficial for all skin types, squalane oil is a great addition to any skin care routine. Squalane is a weightless, hydrating and high-performing oil that provides adequate moisture to the skin without suffocating or breaking out the skin. I find it extremely gentle and compatible with my skin any time of the year.
Drunk Elephant’s Lala Retro Whipped Cream
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With 6 rare African oils and a plant ceramide complex, this moisturizer is perfect for dry skin since it helps reinforce your skins acid mantle. However, it is definitely an expensive moisturizer, so if you’re on a budget, trying something else on this list might be your best bet. However, I can say that this does its job beautifully if you’re willing to pay the price. It does feel like a full rehabilitation for your skin!
This Creamy Sunscreen Perfect For The Winter Months
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Most people have the misconception that you don’t need to wear sunscreen during the winter months and that isn’t quite true! Even in the winter months, you can still protect your skin from the UV rays and if you’re into wearing sunscreen daily, there is no particular reason why you should stop in the winter. However, it’s definitely a good idea to change up sunscreens and get a more moisturizing one if you suffer from dry skin. I recommend using something like Kinship’s sunscreen in these scenarios. This is definitely the most hydrating and creamiest sunscreens I have tried!
A Super Thick Eye Cream As Well
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To be completely fair, most moisturizers can act as an eye cream as well: as long as there isn’t anything super sensitizing that will aggravate the under eye area. However, some eye creams can be particularly beneficial if they have specific or active ingredients that will treat the under eye area such as this eye cream. This eye cream uses fermented black tea which, in theory, can help the under eye area appear less swollen for a time period.
A Salve For Those SOS Situations
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Okay, I get it, salves can feel a bit thick and overwhelming, but trust me, you need one when the hands get to that irreversiblly cracked state where they just burn. In these scenarios, it’s just great to have a little salve like this that can act as a great occlusive to the top of your skin barrier.
A Tried And True Cheap Body Cream
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I know it’s a drugstore moisturizer, but people don’t realize how many skin care products in the drugstar are extremely affordable and do their job. If you are on a budget, buying this CeraVe moisturizing cream is a great option and can be used all over the body and face during the winter season.
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I really wish this night cream wasn’t so expensive because I’m absolutely in love with this. A YouTube channel I watch recommended this and I’ve been hooked ever since! I try to buy this whenever it goes on sale because I absolutely wish this could be a staple in my routine. I also find that this cream is a really good job at nightly repair.
This Affordable Marula Oil That Is Extremely Nourishing
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Oils are a great way to moisturize and a provide a occlusive to the skin. Marula oil is a wonderful, and luxurious oil for dry skin types. The best part about marula oil is that it does not leave a heavy and sticky finish on the skin as it just sinks in. I especially love how cheap this marula oil from the terrarium is. I keep coming back to this brand for affordable high quality products like this one.
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Another drugstore favorite, this Nivea creme is it a wonderful choice for those wanting to spend under $10. While it is not the fanciest cream ever, it is extremely thick and does the job with ease. It is harder to spread than most creams but it’s the sacrifice you must take for an extremely occlusive moisturizer. However, I am not sure I would recommend this to oily skin types.
This Hyaluronic Acid Serum That You Can Add To Any Skincare Routine
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I like using this Neutrogena Hydro Boost hyaluronic acid serum as a way to supplement my skincare routine at anytime. Depending on what I want to use, I don’t always know if I’m going to have enough hydration in my skincare routine that day. In those scenarios, it’s great that I can have this little serum I can take with me anywhere I go, or to just squirt into my moisturizer when I’m finishing up my routine as an extra hydration boost.
This Intensive Hydrating Sheet Mask From MediHeal
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This sheet mask is a cult favorite because of how drenched your skin feels after using it with all its humectants, lipids, amino acids, sugars, minerals, peptides, and more. I have never personally had the chance to use this myself, but I hear from all my friends how amazing it is. One of my friends says that she uses this every single time her skin is really irritated during the winter months and says it’s her life saver.
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The sensorial experience of this toner is so satisfying. I absolutely I love how it comes out as almost a cream but then when you rub it in your hands it becomes a liquid that is easily spreadable. This makes hand application so much easier than any liquid toner I’ve ever tried. Plus, avocado is a great ingredient for dry skin types and therefore is amazing at moisturizing.
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I like this moisturizer because it acts like a dupe for a lot of other high-quality expensive moisturizers. This moisturizer isn’t the cheapest ever but compared to the ones it competes with, its definitely a lot more affordable. I love the fluffy whipped texture of the formula, and absolutely love the pump that comes with the container.
A Skincare Set For The Whole Winter Season
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For only $35, this Jack Black Skin saviors set comes with everything you need to last the harsh winter. This comes with a facial cleanser, a face scrub, a face moisturizer, and their amazing lip balm with SPF 25 . I love recommending convenient and affordable skincare sets, so make sure you get your hands on this one. It really give you a bang for your buck.
This Hydrating Exfoliating Toner That Can Be Used Even In The Winter
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Exfoliating in the winter can be really rough for some people like me. When you have dry skin sometimes it can be really tricky to pull off in a routine without over drying your skin. Especially in the winter time, that becomes an even bigger problem. Luckily this Glow Recipe Watermelon BHA/PHA toner does an amazing job at keeping me able to exfoliate without drying me out ever. This is made with watermelon and cactus water and those really replenish the moisture in your skin, combatting the exfoliating from the BHAs and PHAs in the formula.
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If you want to be super conservative about the cleansing step in your skin care routine, be sure to pick a milkly or creamy cleanser like this one that will guarantee your skin will not be stripped. For only $9, I find this cleanser quite a steal and I’ve never felt irritated when using this. It is so creamy and almost feels like a moisturizer, and when I rinse it off I still feel a mild, moisturized feeling on my skin as if it had lotion on it.
This Body Oil Mist For Easy Full Body Application
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If you’re in need to moisturize your whole body during the winter season, but feel it is difficult to hand moisturize every part of your body, try this oil mist instead! I find this product an extremely easy way to moisturize the whole body with little effort. With oat and jojoba oil in the formula, this is sure to please all sensitive and dry skin types.
Hand Masks Because We Can’t Forget Out Poor Hands
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Whenever I think of my skincare routine, I often forget how parched and cracked my hands get during the winter as well! Especially since we wash our hands so much these days, I don’t know how my hands ever got through the winter. Sometimes they just need a little TLC, so why not get these specifically made hand masks to bring our dry hands back to life?
This Tatcha Water Cream Because Oily Skin People Need Hydration As Well
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This moisturizer is definitely on the expensive side, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless it was that nice of a product. I love how it feels like a splash of water on the face. This moisturizer is really best for oily skin types. Some people think that oily skin types don’t need hydration, fearing that it will make them more oily, but the truth is actually the opposite. Sure, you might not need the heaviest cream under the sun, but a light form of hydration will really benefit the skin and help regulate your oil production in some cases. This gel cream is the perfect amount of hydration to do just that.
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Cica is one of those extremely skin calming ingredients that also has wound-healing properties: a perfect choice for the winter. I put this sleeping pack on top of my skincare routine at night to seal it all in and I wake up with soft and supple skin ready to take on the day! It also has other great ingredients such as squalane and ceramide NP.
This Clay Mask That Actually Isn’t Drying
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I understand that a lot of clay masks are inherently drying, but fear not, this clay mask is actually quite gentle and leaves the skin moist after use. I love that I can clean my pores deeply without stripping my skin of all its natural oils and hydration. I have way too many bad experiences with clay masks that do just the opposite.
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This serum is great for the days when your skin is feeling and looking a little lackluster and is dehydrated. I love the jelly-like consistency and with ingredients such as sea buckthorn and propolis extract, you’re sure to diminish redness and irritation. It also has a lot of great antioxidant ingredients to help prevent signs of aging!
A Luxurious Night Cream From Sioris
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I personally love the amount of beneficial ingredients that are in this night cream. This super luxurious yet fast absorbing moisturizer contains a lot of nourishing oils including tamanu and macadamia nut oil which contain omega-fatty acids to help support the skin barrier. Plus, tamanu oil is great for reducing and healing hyperpigmentation.
This Honey Mask For That Little Extra TLC
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This silky honey mask contains is all your need to bring a healthy glow to your face. Honey is a great humectant and draws lots of moisture to the skin which makes this a perfect choice for the cold months. In as little as 15 minutes, you can completely renew your face with plump and bouncy skin.
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Sometimes it can get so cold in the winter that our skin actually burns. I find this serum amazing since it aids in complete dermal repair. I always feel like the discomfort, irritation and redness in my face calms down when using this. Okay, fair warning, the color of this serum is an odd mustard color, but I promise you that despite its looks, it does its job.
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This mildly exfoliating cleanser is the perfect amount of exfoliation for those winter months where skin is more easily irritated. With papain enzymes and green tea powder this cleanser gently polishes the skin and brightens the complexion in one easy step. This is a great product for beginners in chemical exfoliants because of how gentle it is.
A Cleansing Balm That Doesn’t Overdo The Double Cleanse
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There are many awesome cleansing balms, but this one is great for dry skin in particular. This sorbet textured balm formula is made from rice bran water which happens to be rich in amino acids and wonderful at hydrating the skin. If you are a fan of the double cleansing method, make sure to try this one out and always follow up with a water based cleanser.
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If you have irritated skin, this serum could be your holy grail! Niacinamide and panthenol work together to heal the skin and bring relief while calming redness. Absorbing quickly, this serum leaves no icky trace behind and keeps your skin feeling silky upon first use.
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The probiotics in this moisturizer help strengthen the skin barrier while bringing a cooling sensation to the skin to reduce itchiness and irritation. This cream has 11 different peptides as well as jojoba oil, all ready to plump and nourish skin throughout the day.
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With colloidal oatmeal and shea butter, you can’y say this lip balm wasn’t sent to banish your chapped lips. A cult favorite, this lip balm is ready to take on the harshest of seasons with a surplus of its beneficial ingredients. You’ll be sighing with relief when you apply this on your lips.
A Blemish Cream That Blasts Away Acne And Irritation
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Sometimes, the cold weather and dry skin can actually irritate and activate acne as well. In those scenarios, I like to keep this handy blemish cream to combat the aftermath of breakouts. I don’t know why, but this formula works miracles for me at least. I notice noticeable blemishes and redness reduce significantly with only a day of use. It won’t solve my acne but it does help the healing process a lot!
A Cleanser With A Skin Friendly pH
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Here’s another extremely gentle cleanser that is perfect for the winter season. With a comfortable pH of 5.5 which is extremely similar to your skin’s natural pH level, you’ll be comforted knowing that this cleanser will keep your skin nice and hydrated. Don’t fear that it foams up, I promise the foam is quite moisturizing despite many foaming cleansers being drying.
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For some people, Vitamin C can leave a bit of a sting to the skin. Luckily, this cream combats that problem with the soothing aloe in the formula. I love that this cream is specifically made for dry skin and it makes the process of using vitamin C a lot easier and more comfortable in general.
A Huge Bottle of Eucerin For Flaky Skin
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There’s a reason why this bottle of Eucerin has over fourteen thousand stellar reviews. It’s really just that good of a moisturizer. And the best part is, it really can be used anywhere on the body. I use this formula when I was washing my hands too much, and in only a few days I was able to renew my hands to their previous state. With ingredients like urea and glycerin, how could this formula not be great?
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This rovectin water cream popped up into my skincare radar recently and I was pleasantly surprised with the results. Especially since it comes in such a huge bottle. I’m so tired of facial moisturizers being packed in such a small tube, but this one comes with a surprising amount of product. It’s a wonderful middle-ground moisturizer for those who want a lot of hydration but don’t want the heavy feel. What I find super cool about this moisturizer is that it has literally no water in it! The first ingredient is lotus water!
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I’ve heard about this lip sleeping mask for years and I don’t know why it took me this long to actually try it but it’s actually so worth it. I’m not a huge fan of the smell, but honestly it doesn’t even matter because when I wake up my lips are so incredibly soft. And because it’s so sticky, I don’t think I would wear this in the daytime but, 100{5c5ba01e4f28b4dd64874166358f62106ea5bcda869a94e59d702fa1c9707720}, I am definitely putting this on at night!
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If you’re looking for that ideal powerful anti-wrinkle moisturizer, look no further. with retinal and peptides, this moisturizer is sure to help combat the fine lines and wrinkle that start to show up around your eyes and neck. Especially during the winter time where the dryness in your skin can sometimes exasperate the look of those signs of aging; it’s great to use whatever you can to help your skin around these times of the year.
A BB Cream With Hyaluronic Acid And SPF
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This all-in-one BB cream packs a full punch with its multi-purpose abilities. A foundation, a moisturizer and a sunscreen, this formula ticks all the boxes for your morning routine. The best part about this is it also contains hyaluronic acid, which adds to the moisturizing components of this formula. A day starting off easy in my opinion!
This Watery Sunscreen Without The White Sticky Residue
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This chemical sunscreen is like a splash of water to the face. When the sunscreen comes out of a bottle, its an extremely light and watery texture that just melts into the skin. Since it’s a chemical sunscreen, it doesn’t leave a white cast and it blends into the skin quite seamlessly and gives you enough of a subtle glow. Like the name suggests, this sunscreen is hydrating and great for the winter time.
A Hyaluronic Ampoule For Those Days That Need That Extra Punch
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This ampoule contains an extra high level of hyaluronic acid, which we all know is a perfect hydrating supplement for dry skin. Because of how highly concentrated this formula is, this ampoule is best used for those worst days where your skin just needs every ounce of moisture it can possibly get.
Daily Sheet Masks For Every Day Of December
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Using a sheet mask everyday can be excessive, but hey, sometimes you just need to do it if your skins in that much need of support. Luckily, this container of sheet masks contains 33 sheet masks to last you more than every day of the month. I doubt that you’re going to use one every single day, but if you wanted to, you literally have the option.
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Sometimes our feet feel the wrath of winter as well! With all the calluses our feet can experience, we got to give a little love to them as well, especially when the winter comes around. With over 17,000 amazing reviews, it is obvious that this foot cream fits the bill. One reviewer even said, ” I’ve struggled for years with dry feet. I don’t mean slightly dry. I mean dragon scales dry. So bad I have to wear socks at night or I accidentally scratch myself in my sleep. It was so dry it felt like overgrown toenails. But, this is a magic formula”
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This cream has 60{5c5ba01e4f28b4dd64874166358f62106ea5bcda869a94e59d702fa1c9707720} of houttuynia cordata extract which is anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant and known to improve damage from UV rays. This is honestly just a wonderfully balanced moisturizer to help support the skin all year round and helps reduce the damage skin might encounter during the winter months.
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These eye patches great for when you wake up to give your under eye area that extra boost and brightening effect. One reviewer explains their morning routine with this product as such, “Especially working from home, love to start my morning out with these. They’re in my fridge to stay cool, so I grab a cup of coffee, pop them on, and start going through morning emails! The fridge isn’t necessary, but they are so refreshing when they are chilled, and they really do make my undereye area feel much more moisturized. Great value for the number you get.”
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This cream is created with 60{5c5ba01e4f28b4dd64874166358f62106ea5bcda869a94e59d702fa1c9707720} of deep ocean water which is super effective in replenishing very dehydrated skin. It also happens to include marine ingredients to help keep the skin hydrated and give the skin a little extra glow after application. Although being mostly a gel moisturizer, this cream packs a surprising amount of hydration.
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If you’re looking for a great, simple and natural brand, try this essence! This formula only has 7 ingredients, so its perfect for sensitive skin. For those who love minimalistic beauty, you’ll be a fan of how effectively hydrating this simple, down to earth essence is!
