Winter is here and its cold, harsh nature often interrupts your skin’s barrier. As temperatures drop, so does the moisture content in the air, leaving our skin exposed to dryness and dehydration. Combined with indoor heating that further takes away moisture, this seasonal combination can leave our skin feeling parched, tight, and prone to irritation. Understanding how winter affects our skin is the first step in crafting a tailored skincare regimen to combat the dryness and maintain a healthy complexion throughout the chilly months.

Aside from the inherent dryness of winter air, external factors like cold weather and indoor heating systems significantly impact skin hydration. The continuous transition between these extreme temperature differences—cold outdoors and heated indoors—can “confuse” our skin, compromising its ability to maintain proper hydration levels.

Winter skin concerns often revolve around three prevalent issues: dryness, sensitivity, and dullness. The drop in humidity during colder months strips the skin of its natural moisture, leading to dryness. This lack of hydration can manifest as rough patches, flakiness, and an overall feeling of tightness. Additionally, sensitivity tends to increase as the skin's barrier weakens due to dehydration. This heightened sensitivity can result in visible redness, feelings of discomfort, making the skin more reactive to various skincare products or environmental factors. Reduced moisture and decreased cell turnover can cause a lackluster complexion, making skin appear tired and less radiant, or dull.

To support skin that is dry, sensitive, or dull, The Ordinary has products to tie into your Winter Skin Regimen.

In the winter months, skin often experiences a decrease in hydration due to the drop in humidity and heightened exposure to harsh weather conditions, resulting in a parched and less moisturized complexion.

Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is the next generation of our best-selling hydration serum. We’ve reformulated to now feature five forms of Hyaluronic Acid, added ceramides and a new lightweight texture. Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 provides instant plumping hydration to give softer, smoother, healthy-looking skin.

100% Plant-Derived Squalane hydrates your skin while supporting its natural moisture barrier. Squalane is an exceptional hydrator found naturally in the skin, and this formula uses 100% plant-derived squalane derived from sugar cane for a non-comedogenic solution that enhances surface-level hydration.

Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides is our most nourishing moisturizer. It offers a triple-action approach to targeting dryness with the inclusion of skin-identical Natural Moisturizing Factors, PhytoCeramides and skin lipids.

In order to layer these products, we recommend adding them to the Treat stage of your regimen and start with water-based treatment, Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, and then add the Squalane. Then, finish off in the Seal stage with the Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides.

The skin barrier acts as a protective shield, preventing moisture loss and shielding against environmental aggressors; targeted treatments reinforce this barrier, restoring hydration and fortifying the skin against winter-induced dryness and sensitivity.

Soothing & Barrier Support Serum is a multi-active solution designed to help repair skin barrier, soothe discomfort, and reduce the look of redness.

Glycolipid Cream Cleanser effectively cleanses the skin and removes makeup such as foundation, eyeliner, and mascara. This formulation uses a plant-derived glycolipid cleansing agent that cleanses the skin while respecting the skin barrier to maintain hydration. Additionally, this cleanser is formulated to be non-stripping to respect the skin's natural pH.

Including vitamin C in your skincare routine during winter not only boosts radiance but also effectively combats dullness by brightening the complexion and addressing the visible effects of environmental stressors on your skin. Note that at the Ordinary, we offer multiple products with vitamin C as the main ingredient. Here are 2 that you can explore.

Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% offers a lightweight, water-based formula that helps reduce signs of aging by brightening and balancing uneven skin tone. Unlike direct forms of vitamin C, this easy-to-use serum contains a water-soluble vitamin C derivative that converts into vitamin C once applied, giving it less irritation potential.

Note: In its pure form, vitamin C is unstable in water. Ascorbyl Glucoside is a water-soluble derivative of vitamin C. It is much more stable in water but it is less potent than direct L-Ascorbic Acid.

Vitamin C 23% Suspension + HA Spheres 2% uses direct vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to help visibly reduce signs of aging by brightening and balancing uneven skin tone. This water-free formula provides 23% pure L-Ascorbic Acid which remains stable due to the absence of water. What’s more, this water-free formula is supported with spheres of hyaluronic acid for added hydration.

Adding these products to your AM or PM routine, and into your daily skincare regimen, we recommend infusing 1-2 products at a time, and then layering further thereafter. As an example, if you are currently using The Ordinary and you have Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA as your daily moisturizer, we recommend swapping this out for the Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides. If you are completely new to The Ordinary, consider this introductory guide on how to correctly layer our skincare products for maximum effectiveness and building a regimen.