8 Dry Winter Skin Causes and How to Treat Them

For something rich but not-at-all greasy, try CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, a ceramide-packed drugstore favorite that’s a classic for a reason. For the face, we recommend Drunk Elephant La La Retro Whipped Cream. It’s a favorite of Mina Amin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles, who says its “ceramides help restore the skin’s protective barrier, preventing moisture loss and enhancing the skin’s ability to retain hydration.”

We also recommend the Best of Beauty-winning Matter of Fact Maximalist Age-Defying Moisturizer, which our tester, senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor, loves using at night during the colder months. “It comforts my sensitive, itchy skin when the weather is particularly cold,” she says.

You’re moisturizing at the wrong time.

While moisturizing at any ol’ time is better than not moisturizing, there are definitely advantages to a well-timed ritual—especially during the dry winter months, when every drop of moisture counts. “Studies have shown that moisturizing immediately after bathing is significantly better than not applying moisturizer at all or applying it long after showering,” says New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD.

His pro tip: Stash your body moisturizer in (yes, in) your shower so you can apply it directly to damp skin before you step out of the steam. We recommend the Best of Beauty-winning Youth to the People Superberry Firm + Glow Dream Body Butter, a buttery cream that deeply moisturizes with shea and cupuaçu butters.

You’re using the wrong cleanser.

If your skin is flaking during the winter, your cleanser might be too harsh. Dr. Zeichner says, “Avoid true soaps, which usually have an alkaline pH and can irritate the skin, preventing it from being able to retain hydration. Use hydrating skin cleansers instead, which are gentler on the skin barrier.”

The MAC Hyper Real Cream-to-Foam Cleanser (another Best of Beauty winner) is formulated with hyaluronic acid and glycerin for a creamy, gentle cleanse. For the body, we love the niacinamide-packed formula and soothing eucalyptus scent of Necessaire’s The Body Wash.

You’re forgetting about inflammation.

Addressing dryness alone may not get to the bottom of thirsty winter skin. “Severely dry skin can lead to microscopic cracks in the outer skin layer, leading to even more loss of hydration, redness, inflammation, and itching,” says Dr. Zeichner. “Besides improving hydration with moisturizers, you may need to help reduce inflammation with an over-the-counter cortisone cream. It’s like a fire extinguisher that puts out the inflammation so that the skin can return to normal functioning.”

Among the many over-the-counter cortisone options, Scott Paviol, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Charlotte, North Carolina, recommends PCA Skin CliniCalm 1%, which contains moisturizing hyaluronic acid and honey in addition to 1% cortisone.