SOS dry skin: a short guide to boosting hydration Tips, products, and mistakes to avoid (especially now that the cold season is approaching)

There’s a time of year when even the most zen skin loses its cool. It starts to feel tight, tingly, dull, like a wool sweater that’s too snug, but you keep wearing it because it looks cute. That’s the sign: dry skin is knocking, and it’s not knocking softly. Blame it on the cold, dry air, the heaters turned up high, and the wind whipping your cheeks. The result? The skin’s barrier, that invisible, saintly protector, starts losing water, up to 400 ml a day. Yes, you read that right: it’s like your skin is drinking half a bottle of water without asking permission. But don’t panic. With the right habits, a bit of consistency, and a handful of well-chosen products, we can bring back comfort, glow, and softness. Promise, no complicated alchemy rituals. Just small acts of hydrating love.

Dry skin on face and body: creams and tips for the cold season

The foundation of everything: gentle cleansing (preferably double)

Double cleansing isn’t a Korean whim, it’s our winter life raft. It’s that gesture that says to your skin, “Relax, I get you.” The first step, with an oil-based cleanser, melts away makeup, SPF, and all the day’s grime without stripping away good lipids. The second, with a creamy or milky cleanser, pampers your skin and leaves it soft as velvet. A perfect example? Face Time Everyday Cleanser by 2sqm, formulated with hyper-fermented ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. It cleanses without stress, balances the skin’s microbiome, and lets your skin breathe and relax. Forget foaming cleansers with sulfates (sodium lauryl sulfate, I’m looking at you), they’re basically dish soap for your face, and no, we don’t want that “squeaky clean” tightness. Better to go for plant oils like jojoba or argan, gentle, nourishing, true friends of the skin barrier. And right after cleansing, don’t wait: apply toner or serum while your skin is still damp. That’s when hydration locks in best.

The heart of the routine: hydrating serums and ingredients that make a difference

A serum is like a triple espresso for your skin, concentrated, straight to the point, and does exactly what it promises. The star ingredients never change: hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, ceramides, niacinamide. The secret? Finding the right mix, one that speaks to your skin like an empathetic friend. If you want a serum that rebuilds the barrier and leaves your face calm and glowing even on days when it feels raw and irritated, try Barrier Defense Serum by Super You. It’s lightweight but powerful, with niacinamide, ceramides, and their proprietary BBC® complex that rebalances the skin microbiome. Think of it as group therapy for stressed-out cells, they find harmony again and stop screaming. Or there’s Snail Bee High Content Lotion by Benton, a green, ultra-gentle Korean brand that combines snail mucin and bee venom (don’t worry, no bees were harmed). It boosts cell renewal and leaves skin soft and radiant. If you love that “silky skin that won’t give in to winter” effect, this is your serum soulmate.

Hydrate, nourish, protect: the perfect trio for your face cream

Now that your skin is clean and quenched, it needs a hug. And the right one comes in the form of a moisturizer. It should be rich enough to nourish but not so dense it feels like a thermal blanket. The ideal formula? A velvety texture balanced between humectants (which attract water), emollients (which soften), and light occlusives (which lock moisture in). Super Hydrating 24/7 Cream by Super You is one of those that truly make a difference: peptides, squalane, and antioxidant superfoods that strengthen the skin barrier and keep it radiant all day. If you prefer something more natural and comforting, Goovi’s Biopeptide Face Cream is a small anti-aging miracle: cranberry Peptilium®, triple-weight hyaluronic acid, and a texture that sinks in instantly. And at night, when your skin enters its zen regeneration phase, pamper it with Goovi’s Be My Berrynol Overnight Treatment, with plant peptides and Regenight™ active, working while you sleep, dream, and renew. Oh, and if you want to seal all that hydration like an invisible top coat, add a few drops of a light oil, think squalane or rosehip. 

Mistakes to avoid 

Some habits seem harmless but actually sabotage months of good skincare. Like taking steaming-hot showers thinking, “At least I’ll relax.” Spoiler: no, you’re destroying your skin barrier. Or exfoliating every other day “to feel dolphin-smooth.” In reality, you’re just stripping away precious lipids. And yes, skipping moisturizer “because my skin is combination” is a hydration own goal of cosmic proportions. Don’t forget sunscreen, even in autumn. A great option? REFY’s Hydration Collection, a multitasking gem: a 3-in-1 mineral serum with SPF 50, moisturizer, and brightener, with a soft peach tint that evens skin tone and wakes up your face, even at 8 a.m. For toner lovers, Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner feels like a hydrating milk, soothing and revitalizing sensitive skin with antioxidants, plant oils, and instant comfort.

Extra care: masks, lips, and eyes

Weekends are made for beauty rituals. Time to slow down, care for ourselves, and indulge in a small moment of renewal. Start with a hydrating mask, or, if you’re craving a five-minute wow effect, try Chanel’s Le Lift Flash Eye patches. With low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, they smooth, firm, and make you look like you’ve had eight hours of sleep (even if your late-night The Buccaneers marathon says otherwise). For lips, try CityLab’s Milk Lip Mask with ceramides, silky, repairing, and deliciously scented. Or go for Lávika’s Lovely Lip Set, perfect for every mood: neutral, berry, cherry, or apricot. A mini set for every version of you, with nourishing oils and a Sicilian date aroma that’s pure addiction.

Body and the little gestures that matter

Dry skin doesn’t stop at the face. Your body, and even your tattoos, need love too. After your shower, while skin is still slightly damp, spritz on Etoo Tattoo’s Hydrating Body Cream, a spray-on cream with Endocalmine and Lutein-Q that nourishes, soothes, and keeps tattoos vibrant. If you love light, silky textures, VeraLab’s Aquafull Body Cream feels like a hydrating sorbet: hyaluronic acid, instant comfort, zero stickiness. And while you moisturize, remember the basics: drink water, limit hot showers, and take five minutes just for yourself. It’s the simplest gesture, and the most revolutionary.

Routine recap

What have we learned? Cleanse gently, hydrate consistently, protect daily. You don’t need a 20-step skincare routine, just listen to your skin and give it what it asks for. And if this winter your skin seems to rebel, remember, it’s not against you. It just wants a little attention. Treat it kindly, and even under three layers of wool and an XXL coat, it’ll shine again.