Winter Dryness: 3 Best Ingredients![]()
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Hydrated Skin
Dark afternoons, icy windscreens, and the hum of central heating – winter has officially arrived. But along with cosy knits and hot chocolate moments comes something far less welcome: a noticeable change in our skin.
Even when maintaining your skincare ritual faithfully, winter has a way of making its presence felt – tight skin, unexpected fine lines crinkling around the eyes and new dry patches begin to creep in. Redness flares up and suddenly our once glowing complexion is dull and dehydrated.
The good news? Cooler weather doesn’t have to mean skin struggles. By establishing an effective winter skincare routine for dry skin, you can protect against dehydration and sensitivity. With the right ingredients, a little TLC, and an understanding of how to lock in moisture, your skin can stay soft and nourished all season long.
Looking for expert advice? Visit our Skin School for winter skincare tips or explore our full range of Ella and Jo to keep your skin happy this season.
Why Does Skin Get Dry in Winter?
Several contributing factors make us more susceptible to dry and dehydrated skin in winter. First, cold air holds less moisture than warm air, which means your skin is exposed to much drier conditions. Low humidity outside combined with central heating indoors exacerbates this issue, removing moisture from the air and causing that tight, itchy skin feeling. This combination weakens your skin’s natural barrier, making it even harder to retain hydration and leaving it more vulnerable to redness, irritation, and flaking.
When you step outside into the cold weather, your blood vessels contract to conserve heat, reducing circulation and oxygen flow to the skin. The result? That classic winter blotchy, flushed look (hello red nose and cheeks!) and a duller, fatigued complexion.
And let’s not forget the harsh winter wind. The combination of dry air, wind, and indoor heating can leave your skin craving extra moisture and protection throughout the season.
To help your skin transition through winter smoothly, check out our blog on winter skincare tips and learn how to keep your skin soft, hydrated, and healthy all season long.
Common Winter Skincare Mistakes
It’s easy to be caught out by the cold season; here are the winter skincare mistakes to avoid:
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Not updating your summer skincare routine
The products that kept your skin glowing in June aren’t going to cut it in December. As soon as the cold weather hits, you need to up your skincare game. Start by swapping foaming or gel cleansers for rich balms or oil-based cleansers that won’t strip your skin. Next, supplement your regular creams with a serum like our Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum or a nourishing facial oil to keep dryness at bay.
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Skipping SPF
It may be overcast and cold, but don’t forget your sunscreen! 80% of UV rays can penetrate clouds and your skin is still vulnerable to premature ageing and pigmentation. Make SPF – 30 part of your daily ritual, no matter the season.
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Not drinking enough water
It’s easy to forget to drink water when it’s freezing outside, but internal hydration is just as important in winter as it is in summer. If your body is dehydrated, it will show up on your skin, making it look dull and dry. Drinking water is important to keep your skin hydrated all year round.
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Forgetting about your lips
The skin on your lips is thin and lacks oil glands, making it prone to cracking and peeling in winter. You need to use a hydrating lip balm like our Love Your Lips Luxury Lip Treatment every day as part of your skincare ritual in winter.
So, when it comes to the best winter dryness remedy, it’s all about hydration, protection and replenishing lost moisture. Ready to take your skincare to the next level? Here are three powerhouse hydrating skincare ingredients you need to have in your routine as soon as winter hits.
3 Best Hydrating Ingredients for Winter Skin
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Hyaluronic Acid – Moisture Magnet
It’s probably no surprise that we recommend hyaluronic acid for dry and dehydrated skin. This naturally occurring molecule acts as a humectant, meaning it attracts and retains water. In fact, it can hold 1,000 times its weight in water, making it one of the most effective hydrating ingredients on the market. By pulling moisture from the environment or deeper layers of skin, it helps maintain hydration on the surface and protects the skin’s barrier from becoming dry and flaky.
In skincare, hyaluronic acid is celebrated for its incredible hydrating and anti-ageing
benefits. It keeps skin smooth and soft while plumping fine lines and wrinkles and boosting skin firmness and elasticity, giving the complexion a fresh, youthful glow.
This superstar ingredient is also soothing and non-irritating, making it perfect for all skin types, especially sensitive. A great way to include hyaluronic acid in your routine is with the Brighten & Glow Hydrating Exfoliating Cleanser, which gently exfoliates while keeping your skin hydrated and leaving it fresh and glowing.
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Glycerine – Deep Hydration for Dry Skin
Glycerine is a powerful humectant that draws moisture from its surroundings into the outer layer of the skin, keeping it hydrated and soft. It also strengthens the skin’s natural barrier, making it more resilient to environmental damage like harsh winter weather.
The best way to use glycerine in your winter skincare routine is by incorporating hydrating products like cleansers, serums, and moisturisers. For an instant boost of hydration, try The Miracle Mask, which transforms dull, dry skin into a glowing, plump complexion.
Glycerine is also a key ingredient in our Wide - Awake Eye Gel, helping to hydrate and refresh the delicate eye area, making it a must-have for your daily and nightly rituals during the colder months.
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Ceramides – Strengthening the Skin Barrier
Ceramides are naturally occurring lipids that make up over 50% of your skin’s composition. Acting like ‘glue,’ they hold skin cells together, creating a protective barrier that locks in moisture and keeps irritants out.
In winter, harsh temperatures and indoor heating can strip the skin of its natural ceramides, leaving it dry, sensitive, and prone to irritation. Replenishing ceramides with the right products helps restore and maintain the skin barrier, preventing moisture loss and keeping your skin soft, smooth, and supple.
For the best results, try Plump & Protect Day Cream with SPF 30. It’s rich in ceramides and perfect for keeping your skin hydrated and protected throughout winter. Use it in both your morning and evening routines to strengthen your skin’s barrier and lock in hydration.
Our top tip? Use all three! These powerful ingredients work beautifully together to supercharge your skincare ritual, leaving your skin hydrated and healthy.
Ready to boost your skin’s barrier and lock in moisture? Explore Ella & Jo’s and keep your skin healthy and glowing all season long.
