5 Drying Skincare Ingredients To Avoid In Winter

With every changing season, your skincare needs an upgrade too. While summer time skincare is all about robust sun protection, winter skincare should consist of barrier protection and hydration. During winter, low humidity can make your skin dry. And as is well known, dry skin looks dull and lifeless. That’s even more reason to amp up your winter skincare routine with the right ingredients and products. So, if you are interested to know all about the skincare ingredients that you should and should not add into your regime in winter, then this article is for you.

To get a better understanding of this, we reached out to our experts, Dr Ramesh Surianarayanan - Head R&D, Foxtale and Deeksha Rajani, CEO, Be. Read ahead.

Best Skincare Ingredients For Dry Skin In Winter

Combating dry skin woes in winter needs more than just homemade remedies. It’s important to add the right skincare products into your regime too. We ask our experts to recommend some skincare ingredients, which is the best when it comes to keeping dry skin at bay.

“In winter, external humidity drops. To maintain balance with the environment, the skin tends to lose its internal moisture, which leads to dryness. The key to winter skincare is to seal moisture into the skin and strengthen its ability to retain hydration,” says Dr Surianarayanan.

He continues, “Ingredients such as ceramides and ceramide-building moieties like polyunsaturated fatty acids help restore the skin’s natural barrier by holding moisture and thus reduce moisture loss. Natural butters like shea butter and kokum butter, along with light emollients such as squalane, form a protective, occlusive layer that locks in moisture. Additionally, ingredients like hyaluronic acid continuously replenish moisture to the skin and help to keep the skin plump and hydrated.”

Adding to this, Rajani shares, “If I had to choose one, it would be collagen, specifically ingestible hydrolysed collagen peptides. Unlike topical hydrators that work only on the surface, collagen peptides support dermal regeneration from within, improving elasticity, strengthening the moisture barrier, and enhancing the skin’s natural ability to stay hydrated throughout winter. Consistent intake increases amino acid availability, directly supporting collagen synthesis during a season when the skin is under stress.”

Also Read: Why Skinimalism Isn’t Lazy — It’s Smart: Dermatologist On Streamlined Skincare

5 Drying Skincare Ingredients To Avoid In Winter

Certain skincare ingredients may strip your skin off moisture during winter. Dr Surianarayanan lists down 5 such ingredients for us:

• Excessive use of soaps - Harsh soaps alters the skin pH and affect acid mantle results into the
• Exposure to harsh detergents - Harsh surfactants can remove the skin's protective oils, leaving it vulnerable to dryness and irritation.
• Use of alcohol-based products – This can cause skin dryness and disrupts skin barrier.
• Use of physical exfoliants - Physical abrasives strip essential oils, creating micro-tears and leaving skin vulnerable to water loss and making dryness worse.
• Overusing active ingredients- Excessive use of ingredients like Retinols, Glycolic acid, or Salicylic acid are great for cell renewal. But in winter, they can be too drying if excessively used. We should reduce frequency or use milder versions during winter and maintain SPF application to avoid irritation and UV damage.

How To Stop Your Skin From Drying Out In Winter

Prevention is always better than cure. You can take care of your skin during winter to prevent it from getting dry. “To prevent skin from drying out in the winter, it is important to focus on strengthening the skin barrier and minimising moisture loss,” says Dr Surianarayanan. He shares some key steps to keep skin soft and hydrated:

• Use a gentle, pH-balanced, soap-free cleanser to avoid stripping the skin of its natural oils.
• Choose a winter moisturiser that contains a balanced combination of -
• Ingredients such as ceramides to repair and strengthen the skin barrier.
• Occlusives like shea butter and kokum butter to lock in moisture and prevent water loss.
• Humectants and Natural Moisturising Factors (NMFs) such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin to attract and replenish moisture within the skin.

Rajani shares, “Focus on barrier preservation. This means switching to gentler, low-foaming cleansers, incorporating occlusive and lipid-rich moisturisers, reducing over-exfoliation, and using humidifiers indoors.”

Tips To Keep Skin Hydrated During Winter

On this note, Dr Surianarayanan shares tips to keep your skin hydrated in winter:

● Opt for lukewarm showers and immediate post-shower moisturising for better retention.

● Keep skin moisturised with winter creams and lotions.

● If your skin is sensitive, do not over-exfoliate using physical exfoliants.

● Continue using sunscreen daily because UV exposure still contributes to barrier damage in

winter.

● Take care of your lips, hands, and body as part of your routine for comprehensive protection.

● Use a humidifier in extreme cold weather, especially at night, to restore environmental moisture.

Winter AM And PM Skincare Routine For Overall Skin Health

Is there a winter skincare routine which can take good care of your overall skin health? Yes, it does exist. Rajani breaks it down for us:

AM Routine (Hydration + Protection)

1. Gentle, non-foaming cleanser.

2. Hydrating serum.

3. Barrier-boosting moisturiser.

4. Broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 50), preferably with moisturising properties.

5. Collagen is a must every day for true cellular-level repair and protection.

PM Routine (Repair + Replenish)

1. Cream, gel-based cleanser or a cleansing balm (depending on your skin type & tolerance).

2. A toner best suited for your skin type.

3. A serum for barrier support.

4. Deep hydration moisturiser.

5. Collagen or HA-infused sleep mask and a collagen-infused lip balm.

Also Read: What Is The ‘Sandwich Method’ In Skincare? Here’s How It Helps In Hydration

The Final Word

Winter skincare needs extra attention. One needs to prevent their skin from drying out by using the right skincare ingredients. The key to winter skincare is to seal moisture into the skin and strengthen its ability to retain hydration. To prevent skin from drying out in the winter, it is important to focus on strengthening the skin barrier and minimising moisture loss.