The bad news? Parched winter skin is hard to avoid. The good news? There are affordable, effective fixes. (Amazon)
Winter can do a number on us non-hibernating mammals, wreaking havoc on our immune systems, emotions and, perhaps most painfully, our skin. In January, a parched, itchy, flaky (dare I say scaly?) dermis is par for the course in colder climates. "Cooler temperatures, lower humidity and increased exposure to indoor heating can all lead to skin dryness and irritation," Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, told me when I interviewed her about the best moisturizers for fall and winter. "During these months, the skin requires extra hydration, protection and nourishment to maintain its moisture barrier."
Winter skin needs can be extreme, but they're also blessedly temporary. Instead of trendy potions with slick marketing, you need skin-care workhorses guaranteed to get the job done. I test hundreds of beauty products a year, and I've found that you don't need to shell out major coin for winter skin-care staples. In fact, most of the under-$10 items below are more effective than even the priciest luxury brands.
Related: The secrets to preventing dry skin, according to dermatologists
Sandal season may still be a few weeks (er, months) away, but it's always a good idea to show your tootsies some TLC. If you're experiencing dryness and cracking, it's time to invest in this top-rated cream that one shopper said, "works very well on rough feet."
Another added, "Excellent product! Easy to apply and has no scent. After a week the cracks in my heels are gone."
In 2022, Regimen Lab, a peer-reviewed skin-care brand, shared a video comparing Nivea Creme with the ultra-pricey luxury brand La Mer and found that the two products use the exact same base ingredients. The biggest difference? La Mer costs hundreds of dollars, and Nivea is just $9.99. This is perhaps my greatest skin-care secret! It's the ideal everyday face moisturizer for winter, and it makes an excellent night cream too.
Though you can find loads of pricier "lip sleeping masks" that will set you back 30 bones, this dermatologist-recommended lip repair balm will quickly resolve all your winter-pucker woes for a mere $5. It's clinically proven to rapidly relieve dryness and soothe even the most chapped, cracked lips. Bonus: It's also a sunscreen that protects lips with broad-spectrum SPF 30.
This natural colloidal oatmeal bath soak is a game-changer when it comes to treating excessively dry skin. It's fragrance-free, comes in individually packaged packets for easy use and is formulated to soothe not only parched skin but irritation caused by eczema, sunburn, poison ivy/oak/sumac, chicken pox and even regular old hives. It's a high-quality skin-care staple for winter — and a good product to have in your arsenal all year 'round.
Dry winter hands are often accompanied by dry, peeling cuticles, which not only look gross but are extremely, irritatingly painful. If you find yourself in this hand hell, Cuccio's milk and honey cuticle moisturizer is a must-have. You simply rub a single drop into each cuticle before bed, and wake up with softer cuticles that are miraculously healed overnight. Best of all is the incredible scent — it smells like a luxurious Balinese spa.
This dermatologist-favorite moisturizer is a great option if you have sensitive skin. It's free of dyes, fragrances, lanolin, parabens and more, reducing the potential for irritation. It's also versatile, as you can use it on both your face and body, and it won't clog your pores. Best of all, it's seriously hydrating — among the best products I've found to instantly quench extra-dry skin.
If the mark of a good lip product is leaving your mouth pillowy soft AND tasting so good you could eat it, this Handmade Heroes scrub should win all the awards. I used this after a day in the whipping wind followed by a night in the dry heat, and I could not believe how quickly its hydrating, smoothing effect took hold. The coconut-flavored scrub is all-natural, vegan, delicious and effective. The cherry on top? It's ultra-affordable.
If you're not keen on coconut or need extra lip support, there's a more flavor-neutral matcha and avocado oil version and one made with nourishing bakuchiol too.
Outside of moisturizing, gently sloughing off flakes and removing dead cells is one of the best things you can do for dry skin. These exfoliating gloves — an upgrade from your moldy '90s loofah — work for all skin types to promote healthy skin and increased blood circulation. For best results, use them with a moisturizing body wash like this one from CeraVe. Or, for a more luxe option, I am obsessed with this incredible, sexily-scented Salt & Stone wash.
Every once in a while, an internet-famous product comes along that I think will never in 100 years work — and then I am pleasantly surprised (okay, more like shocked) when it does. Such was the case with this strange little tube of a TikTok-famous collagen and protein hair mask from Elizavecca.
It's a repairing treatment that's meant to render even the driest, most straw-like hair into silky strands. You work it into your hair after shampooing and, after 5-15 minutes, the before-and-after is seriously profound. My thin, dry, longtime dyed-blonde mane was bouncy, soft and smooth as a satin sheet and, best of all, didn't feel weighed down. Though it does make your hair slightly greasier than normal, the conditioning impact is worth it — my results lasted for weeks.
Albolene's inconspicuous, no-frills moisturizing face cleanser is one of those in-the-know beauty secrets, a product you'd never think to buy for yourself until a friend said, "YOU MUST GET THIS. IT'S CHANGED MY LIFE." Well, I am that friend, telling you this lush, velvety, mild, no-fragrance cream is about to transform your entire nighttime skin-care routine and make your face a whole lot softer and happier in the process.
The gentle, century-old cleansing product removes makeup effortlessly, without water (though you can choose to take it off by using a damp washcloth or cotton pad). It's particularly effective for older women concerned with damaging delicate under-eye areas and causing fine lines by scrubbing away mascara and eyeliner. It's also safe for all skin types. Trust me, if you buy it now (for just $10!) it will become a can't-live-without beauty staple on your bathroom shelves and — if you're a good friend — those of every woman you know.
Retinol is a must for preventing and treating issues like wrinkles, but it can be a bit harsh on dry winter faces. But this gentle, beginner's retinol cream contains both retinol and bakuchiol. While both ingredients help increase collagen production, bakuchiol has fewer side effects and tends to be less irritating. Bakuchiol and retinol work well together — really well. In fact, research shows that bakuchiol can enhance the effectiveness of retinol while helping stabilize it.
At a .1% retinol concentration, and with the addition of high-quality skin-nourishing ingredients like grape seed oil, this affordable cream is an ideal skin-firming agent for the cold-weather months.
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