5 Easy Ways to Transition Your Skincare Routine for Winter

Guys, we made it.

We’re officially one month into winter, which means there’s only two more to go (!!).

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to love about the cooler season.

For one, we get to pull our favourite coats and knits out from hibernation. Not to mention that the mighty Birkenstock has been reborn as a part slipper, part loafer that’s totally acceptable outside of the house now!?

What I don’t love? The dead skin cell build-up, redness, irritation and overall dullness that comes with the change of season.

If your skin is anything like mine (hint: dry AF), something tells me it’s in dire need of hydration.

Heck, let’s be honest: everybody’s skin could do with some extra TLC right now. These frigid winds and icky indoor heating are no match for our thirsty bodies.

But don’t kick your 10-step summer skincare regime to the curb just yet. Just a few little tweaks and it’ll carry you through winter, flake-free.

Scroll on for my top five tips to transition your skincare routine and keep your sparkle intact from season to season.

1. Goodbye Foaming Cleansers; Hello Gentle Formulas.

First thing first, it’s time to put down the foaming cleanser.

While our bubbly besties are fun to use and effective at getting into the skin and giving it a thorough clean, they can be a bit harsh during cooler months.

Instead, opt for a gentler cleanser like an oil or balm. These nourishing alternatives effectively melt away makeup, dirt and build-up while maintaining hydration and protecting your precious skin barrier.

You can also sub in a thick cream or gel formula for your second cleanse if you still need a little extra help.

Here are my top gentle cleanser picks:

• Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil 150ml - This micellar-infused cleansing oil respects the delicate balance of your skin barrier while gently purifying your skin.

• AB LAB Dewy-C Enzymatic Cleansing Balm 100G - A skin-softening cleanser that melts away makeup, dirt, oil and impurities to leave your complexion bright and refreshed.

• Alpha-H Melting Moment Cleansing Balm with Australian Davidson Plum Extract (Limited Edition) - A balm-to-oil cleanser that melts away everything from makeup to dirt, leaving your skin clean and oh-so-smooth.

2. Hydration, Hydration, Hydration.

As the weather changes, so do the needs of our skin.

Even oily skin types require some extra hydration to combat the moisture loss caused by cool, low-humidity conditions.

Embrace humectants like hyaluronic acid, ceramides and glycerin, and incorporate products with emollients (hello, shea butter) and occlusives (beeswax, we see you) to form a protective layer around the skin and seal moisture in.

These restorative ingredients are most commonly found in lotions, creams and ointments (I’ve listed a few below), but you can also double down on barrier-boosting serums and throw in a lip mask and face mask (or 10) for multiple layers of hydration

P.s. Bonus points for applying your skincare to damp skin (which, if you didn’t already know, increases their efficacy!).

A handful of rich moisturisers for happy, hydrated skin:

• Aspect Phytostat 9 - This emollient anti-aging treatment moisturiser is a game-changer for dry and dehydrated skin, leaving skin youthful and radiant.

• L'Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Face Cream - A luxurious and nourishing cream that is specially formulated to hydrate and protect the delicate skin on your face.

• Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Moisturiser - This cult cream is a hydration powerhouse, enriched with shea butter, beeswax and mineral oil to lock in moisture and protect your skin.

• Weleda Skin Food Light 75ml - A thick, award-winning moisturiser for the face and body containing 100% natural ingredients including soothing chamomile, rosemary, lanolin and sweet almond oil.

3. Facial Oils: Your Skin's BFF.

I’ll never stop shouting about how much I love facial oils.

Why? Well, for starters, they’re packed with vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids that nourish and revitalise skin by strengthening and repairing the skin barrier.

But they also function as emollients AND occlusives, so you’re getting double the hydration in each drop.

(They’re perfect for a restorative facial massage after a long day too, just quietly.)

The main thing to keep in mind when looking for a facial oil is its formula.

Generally speaking, oils with a high percentage of linoleic acid (like argan, rosehip and evening primrose oils) are recommended for oily, combo and acne-prone skin types as they’re less likely to clog your pores.

On the other hand, oils high in oleic acid (like jojoba, apricot kernel and coconut oils) are better suited to dry and dehydrated skin due to their hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties.

For more on facial oil benefits, check out the below video.

Here are a few I’d recommend:

• The Jojoba Company Ultimate Youth Potion - Packed with vitamins A, D, and E, along with omegas 6 and 9, this facial oil restores and maintains youthful-looking skin.

• Habitual Beauty Rejuvenating Facial Oil 30ml - With bakuchiol (a natural alternative to retinol), jojoba seed oil, squalane and vitamin C, this facial oil hydrates and restores your skin's natural moisture barrier.

• Alpha-H Golden Haze Face Oil 25ml - An ultra-nourishing and luxurious blend of botanical oils, including camellia seed, watermelon seed, Australian jojoba and squalane.

4. Tan Drops for a Healthy Radiance.

There’s nothing like half your Insta feed gallivanting around Europe to make our dull, pale skin look even duller.

Luckily, I am a pro when it comes to fake tan.

In fact, it’s the only tan this fair-skinned writer has ever known. (There’s nothing healthy about a real tan, anyway.)

Ditch the harmful UV rays and opt for face tanning drops or a mist to maintain a healthy glow.

Here are three of our tried-and-tested faves:

• Eco Tan Organic Face Tan Water - A lightweight, gradual self-tanner for your face that won't clog your pores and is packed with anti-ageing ingredients.

• Coco & Eve Antioxidant Face Tanning Micromist - Plump, moisturise and protect your skin with this super-fine tanning mist infused with antioxidants.

• Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self Tan Serum - A hyaluronic superfood and self-tan serum in one for a glowy, dewy, plump-looking complexion.

5. Add Vitamin C.

Last but certainly not least, let's talk about the wonder ingredient: vitamin C.

If you’ve been sleeping on this powerful, glow-getting antioxidant, it’s time you added it to your beauty arsenal.

While it’s valuable all year round, vitamin C is especially beneficial in winter to help reverse early signs of ageing and pigmentation from those harsh summertime rays and turn dull, tired skin into a radiant complexion.

It also helps to even out skin tone, fade dark spots and protect the skin from environmental aggressors.

For an extra boost, pair your vitamin C serum with a gentle liquid exfoliant the night before (like the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant) to slough away dead skin cells and prep skin for vitamin C-induced luminosity.

Here are some top vitamin C picks:

• Viviology Vitamin C Serum 30mL - An antioxidant-rich serum that defends the skin against free-radical damage for a brighter, more even complexion.

• Murad Essential-C Firming Radiance Day Cream 50ML - A daily moisturiser that works to brighten the appearance of skin tone and texture while encouraging plumper, healthier-looking skin.

• AB LAB Dewy-C SPF50+ Facial Sun Milk 75mL - A facial sun milk that combines broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection with Vitamin C and Resveratrol, allowing you to get the benefits of skincare and SPF50+ sun protection all in one.

Need more winter skincare tips? Check out these Beauty IQ articles:

• Bargain to Bougie: 4 Hydrating Sheet Masks to Winter-Proof Dry Skin

• It’s Winter So RIP My Skin. Here Are My Dry Skin Non-Negotiables

• Everything You Need to Know About Skin Flooding. TikTok's Latest Skincare Trend