Winter skin care is a gentle routine that gives your skin hydration and nourishment when cold and wind dry it out outdoors and dry air from the heating does the same at home. You can start with a light hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid and seal it in the evening with Štramanda rosehip night cream. If you are not sure what to look for, let our Advisor guide you.
What happens to your skin in winter?
In winter your skin moves between changing environments: in the morning a cold wind blows over it, during the day the heating warms it, and in the evening the dry indoor air dries it out. Such constant change is a strain for it, which is why it more often becomes tight, dull or rougher to the touch. This is not a flaw, just a natural response to the environment. It helps to pay a little more attention to your skin at this time of year than in summer and to adapt your routine to its needs. Winter skin care usually means a richer cream texture, gentler cleansing and more layers that together create a protective film. There is no need to change everything at once. Just add one step, for example a hydrating serum or a more nourishing night cream, and notice for a few weeks how your skin feels.
What does a gentle winter skin care routine look like?
A routine does not have to be complicated, but the order of the steps matters. Light water-based products such as serum go on first, and only then richer creams and oils, which seal them onto the skin with a protective film. In the morning, gentle cleansing with lukewarm water, a serum and a lighter cream are enough. In the evening you gently remove your make-up, apply a serum and finish with a richer cream or balm. The water should be lukewarm rather than hot, because hot water dries the skin. If your skin feels tight in the cold, do not apply lots of new products at once; your skin needs time to adjust. The table shows what a simple winter skin care ritual can look like, and you can adapt it to suit you.
| Step | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cleansing | Lukewarm water or a gentle toner | Gentle make-up removal, lukewarm water |
| 2. Hydration | Serum with hyaluronic acid | Serum with hyaluronic acid |
| 3. Nourishment | Lighter cream | Richer cream or balm, for example a rosehip night cream |
| 4. Extra | Lip balm before going outside | Hand cream after washing |
What to look for in the ingredients of winter products
When choosing winter products, it is worth looking at the ingredients. The hydrating HYA CICA serum starts with rose water, cucumber water and glycerin and contains hyaluronic acid (Sodium Hyaluronate) and Centella Asiatica extract. Štramanda rosehip night cream, on the other hand, is water-free: it consists of shea butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter), rose seed oil (Rosa Moschata Seed Oil), squalane, rosehip extract (Rosa Canina Fruit Extract) and ubiquinone. So it is a balm, a solid oil that melts with the warmth of the skin and forms a protective film on it. The pair therefore makes sense together: the serum brings water, the balm seals it in. If you have sensitive skin, check the fragrance too, and follow the instructions on the label.
- Apply a water-based serum before a rich cream, not after it.
- Give your skin a balm or water-free cream in the evening, when you have time.
- Keep the water in the bathroom and when washing lukewarm, not hot.
- If a product stings or burns your skin, stop using it.
How to care for your lips and hands in the cold
Lips and hands are on the front line in winter, because wind and frequent washing dry them out first. Lips have thin skin and almost no sebaceous glands, so a balm that forms a protective film on them helps. According to its ingredients, Štramanda balm is made of cocoa and mango butter, beeswax, macadamia and almond oil and lanolin, complemented by rosehip extract and a vanilla scent; you can find it here: Štramanda lip balm. For your hands, choose a cream that absorbs easily so you can use it after every wash. The Panakeia hand cream is water-based with oat flour (Avena Sativa Kernel Flour), rose water and hyaluronic acid, and contains fragrance.
Why it is worth slowing down in winter
Winter is a natural time to slow down. Instead of hurried steps, give yourself a short ritual in the evening: wash your face with lukewarm water, apply a serum, let it absorb for a moment, then warm a balm in your palms and gently massage it into your skin. A few minutes without your phone turn skin care into a pleasant habit that later becomes your own small moment of rest. If you would like to learn how to prepare your skin for winter even before the first frosts, and what is better avoided, also read the article how to prepare your skin for winter. This text focuses on the everyday routine during winter, the other one on preparation and the mistakes worth avoiding.
Where to find more information
If you are curious about what scientists have written about skin hydration in the cold season, open studies on winter skin hydration in the PubMed database. Scientific texts will give you a picture of what has been researched, but they do not replace a conversation with a doctor. Cosmetics are for caring for the look and feel of the skin, not for solving health problems. If your skin has been troubling you for a longer time, itches, cracks or its condition is getting worse, talk to a doctor or pharmacist rather than guessing on your own what it lacks. For winter skin care a simple rule applies: gentleness, regularity and time.
Did you know…
Light water-based products, such as serums, are applied before a rich cream or balm, which seals them onto the skin with a protective film.