As the season shifts and cool, dry air starts to take hold, and our skin often tells the story before we do. Subtle tightness, a sudden dullness, that slightly parched feeling, it’s your skin whispering (or shouting) for a little more care, a little more comfort. However, instead of simply layering on heavier creams and calling it a day, the transition to winter skincare is an opportunity to deeply nourish and reset. Here, Vitaderm provides helpful tips for building a nourishing winter skincare routine.
Just like you’d swap linen for wool in your wardrobe, your skincare needs to adapt too. Colder weather brings lower humidity, which translates to less moisture in the air and, consequently, less moisture in your skin. Heating systems don’t help either, further zapping hydration levels and often leading to increased sensitivity.
“Winter is the time to support the skin’s barrier function in a more intentional way,” says Ruan Winter, from Vitaderm. “People tend to focus only on hydration, but it’s also about locking that moisture in, replenishing what the skin has lost, and reinforcing its natural defences.”
But the goal isn’t simply to coat the skin in thick products. “Nourishment goes beyond hydration,” explains Winter. “It’s about feeding the skin with essential nutrients, lipids, and actives that help it function optimally even in challenging conditions.”
The building blocks of a nourishing winter routine
Start with your cleanser. This first step matters. A cream-based cleanser, such as Vitaderm’s Nourishing Cream Cleanser, gently removes impurities without disrupting the skin’s delicate moisture balance.
Then, it’s about layering strategically. Introducing a skin oil, such as a nutrient-dense complex enriched with vitamins, can deliver antioxidants and fatty acids that act like a winter coat for your face, sealing in hydration while softening and smoothing.
Follow with a ceramide-rich treatment to reinforce the barrier. Ceramides, lipids naturally found in the skin, tend to deplete in colder weather. Vitaderm’s Ceramide Treatment Cream can help replenish what’s missing, reducing trans-epidermal water loss and calming any inflammation. “If there’s one thing to add in winter, it’s a nourishing treatment masque,” says Winter. “Using something like the Vitality Booster Masque once or twice a week gives the skin that extra support when it’s under seasonal stress.”
Don’t forget the details
The thinner skin around the eyes often suffers first in the cold. Vitaderm’s Anti-Ageing Eye Cream helps maintain firmness and suppleness in this delicate area. For daytime defence, their Protective Cream acts like a buffer between your skin and the elements, this is especially important if you’re facing wind, cold air, or indoor heating.
It’s not only what you use, but also how you use it
“In winter, slow down your routine,” advises Winter. “Take time to massage in your products, boost circulation, and allow actives to properly absorb. Your skin will respond not to the product alone, but the care behind it.”
So, as the seasons shift let your skincare routine do the same. It’s not about aggressive fixes or overloading on product, it’s about supporting your skin where it’s at, giving it what it needs, and allowing it to thrive.
