As January ushers in dark days, freezing temperatures, and Arctic winds, combined with drying central heating, your skin and hair can feel thoroughly out of sorts. Adding a few extra steps to your routine to hydrate and repair can make a significant difference, along with some carefully chosen product swaps if your skin is particularly parched or irritated.
The Best Cold-Weather Beauty Products
Whatever your winter beauty gripe, here are 24 products, tried and loved by beauty experts, including many relied on daily. Most are affordable; if not, they are worth their weight in gold to warrant the splurge.
Skincare
Keats Moisturising Cream, 50ml – £29 at Keats Beauty. Founded by Lucinda Hart, this ceramide and phyto-lipid moisturiser packs a punch while being gentle for sensitive skin. Its rich, silky texture is comforting yet easily absorbed.
Alpha-H Vitamin B Serum with 5% Niacinamide, 25ml – £49.99 at Cult Beauty. This bright blue serum is hydrating and supports barrier function with niacinamide and panthenol, requiring only a drop or two.
Mimétique Skin Cloud Cleansing Balm, 100ml – £44 at Space NK. Praised for its thorough makeup removal without residue, this balm-to-milk formula is ideal for sensitive skin in winter.
Herbar the Sun Shield SPF30 – €42 (about £36) at Herbar. Essential for UVA protection, this light mineral formula sits well under makeup with no white cast.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5, 40ml – £8.80 at Lookfantastic. Recommended by dermatologists, it soothes irritation with panthenol and centella, acting like a liquid plaster for healing.
CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment, 50ml – £11.50 at Boots. Perfect for dry, flaky skin, it creates a protective shield with hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
Weleda Skin Food, 30ml – £7.13 at Lookfantastic. A low-cost moisturiser with sunflower seed oil and calendula, great for irritated skin but avoid on spot-prone faces.
Byoma Brightening Toner, 150ml – £11.99 at Boots. Contains lactic acid, glycerine, and ceramides to comfort dull skin without irritation.
The Inkey List Plumping Tripeptide Lip Balm, 10ml – £8.80 at Lookfantastic. A smooth, clear formula that imparts moisture and plumping without stickiness.
Shark CryoGlow LED Mask – £299.99 at John Lewis. With 160 LED bulbs, it offers red, blue, and infrared light to combat dry skin and boost radiance.
The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream, 15ml – £6.95 at Lookfantastic. Provides caffeine and hydration for puffy eyes and dark circles, ideal for disrupted sleep routines.
Makeup
Nars the Multiple, 14g – £28.05 at Lookfantastic. A cream blush that is hydrating, long-lasting, and easy to blend, perfect for adding colour to dull skin.
Chantecaille Lip Sheer, 2g – £34 at John Lewis. A glossy, hydrating balm-lipstick hybrid in subtle shades that does not cling to dryness.
Erborian CC Creme, 40ml – £38 at Lookfantastic. A hydrating, SPF 30 formula that is creamy yet light, buildable for an even finish on sensitive skin.
Bath and Body Care
Naturium the Smoother Body Wash, 500ml – £19 at Boots. Creamy and conditioning with AHAs and glycolic acid to exfoliate and smooth skin, ideal for keratosis pilaris.
Jones Road Body Scrub, 118ml – £36 at Jones Road. A silky, fine-textured exfoliator that nourishes while sloughing away dead skin.
Three Warriors Exfoliating Glove – £11.99 at Face the Future. Gentle on parched skin, it pairs well with scrubs and maintains a clean appearance.
Akt the Everyday Encore Body Oil, 100ml – £35 at Akt. A dry oil with bergamot and neroli that is easily absorbed, giving skin an instant glow.
Hair Care
Gisou Honey Gloss Ceramide Therapy Hair Mask, 75ml – £22 at Gisou. A rich mask with ceramides and hyaluronic acid for major moisture, without feeling heavy.
Larry King Clean As a Whistle Scalp Scrub, 50ml – £14.40 at Cult Beauty. Gentle with pink Himalayan salt and coconut oil, it detoxifies and leaves hair shiny.
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, 200ml – £27 at Lookfantastic. A heat protectant that creates a shield against elements, keeping hair sleek.
Dyson Airwrap id Multi-Styler – £399 at John Lewis. Uses app programming and lightweight attachments to dry hair while protecting shine and moisture.
Nails & Feet
Manicurist Active Glow Polish, 15ml – £16 at Lookfantastic. Moisturises and strengthens nails with a sheer coat of colour, perfect for weak nails.
Dr Glycolic Soft Feet Peel Socks – £3.90 for members at Beauty Pie. Contains glycolic and lactic acid to remove dead skin, leaving feet baby-soft.
What You Need to Know
How to Create a Winter Skincare Routine
Look for ingredients that mimic your skin's protective barrier. Ceramides are essential, as they act as mortar holding skin cells together and are often depleted by cold wind. Squalane is also excellent, preventing moisture loss without feeling heavy. Vitamin B5 and niacinamide can help calm inflammation. If your barrier is compromised, stop using harsh actives like retinoids and BHAs, and strip back to basics. Hyaluronic acid can evaporate in dry rooms, so lock it in with an occlusive layer or try glycerine, which is more robust in low humidity.
How to Look After Your Hair in Winter
Hats can press oil against the scalp, making hair greasy due to lack of ventilation. Cold air and dry heating can dehydrate the scalp, leading to more sebum production. Focus on deep cleaning the scalp, restoring moisture, and creating a barrier from the elements when styling.
