Listening to Your Skin Through Winter

Winter is often the most challenging season for our skin. The sharp contrast between cold outdoor air and centrally heated indoor spaces can be particularly drying, drawing moisture out of the skin and leaving it feeling tight, sensitive, and uncomfortable.

I know this first-hand. In my early twenties, I struggled with dry, sensitive skin, and it was this experience that led me to begin making my own skincare. When the skin barrier is compromised, dryness is rarely just dryness. It can also mean irritation, reactivity, and a persistent feeling of discomfort as the epidermis struggles to protect itself.

When skin starts to change

For some, winter skin issues return every year like clockwork. For others, changes seem to arrive more unexpectedly. As we move through our mid-thirties, our natural production of collagen and elastin begins to slow, and skin can become less resilient to environmental stressors. This is often when seasonal changes start to feel more pronounced.

Including small but thoughtful adjustments to skincare routines during seasonal transitions can make a meaningful difference, particularly when combined with good sleep, nourishment, and overall wellbeing.

Just as we instinctively adjust what we wear and what we eat throughout the year, our skincare deserves the same consideration. In winter, we tend to crave warming, nourishing foods rather than light salads, and this is simply us listening to our bodies.

The same principle applies to skin. Richer, more nourishing formulations can help replenish moisture and support the skin barrier during colder months. Many people find that using more hydrating products in winter, then returning to lighter options in summer, helps their skin feel balanced year-round.

Supporting skin from within

Hydration plays a central role in skin health. If the body is dehydrated, the skin will be too. Dehydration reduces the skin’s ability to retain moisture, making dryness and irritation more likely.

Diet is equally important. Foods rich in healthy fats, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids support the structure and function of the skin. Oily fish, flax seeds, walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, and hemp are all valuable additions. Cooking with pure olive oil is another simple but powerful choice, as it is one of the most stable and beneficial oils for everyday use.

Bone broths, along with chicken and fish cooked with the skin on, provide collagen, which is broken down into amino acids that support our own collagen production. Eating a wide variety of colourful fruits and vegetables supplies essential nutrients and antioxidants, helping protect existing collagen and support new synthesis.

Rest, repair, and gentle balance

Sleep is often overlooked, yet it is during rest that the body carries out much of its repair and renewal, including skin regeneration. Creating a calming evening routine can be particularly supportive if sleep does not come easily.

There are also certain habits skin rarely responds well to, especially in winter. Excess alcohol, lack of sleep, highly processed foods, and high sugar intake can all place additional stress on the skin. As with most things, moderation is key.

Winter does not have to mean uncomfortable skin. With seasonal awareness and gentle adjustments, it can become a time to protect, nourish, and support skin as it adapts to the colder months.

Charli x