18 Winter Beauty Buys That Actually Make a Difference, According to Experts

You've probably already swapped your light layers for knitwear, invested in a new pair of winter boots, and hauled your coat collection out of storage. But have you thought much about your winter beauty essentials? With cold season officially in full swing, don't wait for the new year to refine your winter beauty routine.

Thanks to more fluctuations in temperatures, reduced humidity, and increased time spent indoors, the colder months can call for a more hands-on approach to your beauty routine—especially if your skin and hair are already prone to sensitivity and dryness.

Winter skincare (and bodycare, and haircare) is all about ditching the lightweight layers for richer, thicker ones that offer more nourishing hydration, cleansing gently, exfoliating regularly, and leaning into 2023's biggest beauty buzzword—'the skin barrier'. Your winter beauty routine calls for rich cream, balm, and oil textures, products that keep your skin and hair protected from the elements, and active ingredients that will help you to address concerns like uneven skin tone and texture.

Below, I've curated the ultimate list of winter beauty essentials to keep you hydrated and protected from top to toe. Your winter beauty routine just got a whole lot easier.

As an esthetician, I see first hand the dramatic change that happens in my clients' skin from the start of November. The impact of winter upon skin doesn't always manifest in the obvious ways—dry and flaky skin. Increased redness, sensitivity, and texture, a feeling of tightness, dull skin, and deeper-looking lines and wrinkles are all signs that skin is suffering from seasonal changes. 

"Adding hydrators in the drier winter months to plump skin and lock in moisture, whilst protecting and improving the skin barrier is essential," says facial aesthetics doctor, Maryam Zamani. If you're not already clued up on exactly what the skin barrier is, think of it as the wall that protects your skin, keeping moisture in and irritants like bacteria and pollutants out. Layering hydrating toners and serums will help to pack moisture into the skin, but it's important to use an occlusive such as a thick cream or oil to support the skin barrier and keep them locked in. When choosing winter skincare products, look out for ingredients like ceramides (which strengthen the skin barrier) as well as popular hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

"Winter is the perfect time to help diminish pigmentation and uneven skin tone, address photo-damage caused from UVA/B rays and shed old skin for a beautiful, wintery glow," adds Zamani. "This is the time to introduce retinol into the routine to gently peel the skin and eradicate damage caused during the summer." Many experts advocate this approach of using active ingredients like retinoids and exfoliating acids during the winter. It's the perfect time of year to focus on exfoliation or to book a chemical peel so you can work on treating conditions like hyperpigmentation, which may have been worsened by sun exposure during the summer.

Just as we show TLC to our facial skin during the winter months, it's important to take the same approach when it comes to winter body care. Whether you're prone to dryness or oily skin, the skin of our bodies usually follows suit of our facial skin, and as most people experience an increase in dryness during the winter months, now is the time of year to amp up your bodycare routine.

Start in shower, with gentle non-stripping body washes, and with scrubs or acid-based exfoliants that will help to smooth and soften areas of dry, rough skin. Post-shower, focus on moisture—again, look out for ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, as well as plant oils and squalane to nourish. Whether you opt for a body serum, cream, or oil (or all of the above), pack the moisture on as soon as you're out of the shower to prevent that uncomfortable feeling of tight skin.

You might not think that your haircare routine needs changing seasonally, but it does—the changes in temperature and humidity play just as much havoc with our hair and scalp. "if your hair care has stopped working, your hair needs may well have changed," says hair stylist, Sam McKnight. "In winter, hair needs more moisture and your focus will be on fighting frizz." Hair that feels dry, coarse, and brittle, and a dry, flaky scalp are all signs that you may need to switch up your haircare routine.

"“If hair is fragile or brittle, or you want to prevent frizz, avoid rubbing the hair—when it’s wet, it’s at its most fragile so always towel dry gently," McKnight advises. "Squeeze hair lightly with a towel, as close to the head as possible, and move down towards the ends. Then, detangle with a wide tooth comb or detangling brush with flexible wide teeth. And finally, bear in mind that changes in clothing – coats, jumpers, scarves and hats – cause friction and can lead to frizz.”

Next Up: Dry, Sensitive Skin? These Are the 13 Moisturisers That Will Suit You Best