The skincare routine to adopt to face winter in the right way From tight skin to cracked makeup: all the products you need

As punctual as Mariah Carey's annual Christmas announcement on November 1st, search bars across every platform start filling up again with familiar queries: "remedies for tight skin" or "how to keep skin hydrated in winter." It feels almost like a seasonal ritual, a search that never truly ends because winter always comes around, inevitably demanding a switch in our skincare routine. Katia Tenore, founder of Almëra, speaks of a true winter reset: streamlining and rethinking our product lineup strategically to repair summer damage and shield the skin from sudden temperature swings caused by biting wind and dry air. The expert breaks down 5 golden rules to face the cold season, debunking popular myths and sharing practical advice.

How to protect skin from the cold: Winter 2026 skincare edition

Cold-weather product guide: body, face, and lips

First on the list is letting go of scalding hot showers: a counterproductive habit, given that excessive heat melts away the skin’s natural lipids, unlike lukewarm water, which actively preserves the skin barrier. She then advises taking advantage of Damp Skin: applying hydrating formulas while the skin is still slightly damp to lock in moisture right from the start. Rule number three is to skip overly heavy textures in favor of fast-absorbing creams, such as the daily moisturizer derived from fresh Podolica cow milk, the hero product of Tenore’s brand. Even if sun-drenched beach days feel like a distant memory, UVA rays (the main culprits behind premature aging) certainly don’t disappear, meaning sunscreen must remain a non-negotiable ally. Lastly, there's one habit we definitely need to ditch: the "indoor sauna" effect. From radiators to heaters, indoor air becomes increasingly dry, and our complexion pays the price. The expert suggests running a humidifier in the bedroom instead and spritzing a hydrating mist throughout the day. Now that the rules are set, here is our curated shortlist of cold-weather essentials to keep on your radar this winter season.

MIAMO - Essential Lipids Serum

Biting winter weather often leaves the complexion with an uncomfortable, cracked texture. Environmental stressors speed up transepidermal water loss, weakening the skin barrier. The Essential Lipids serum by MIAMO steps in precisely to counteract this by building an invisible protective shield. Since low temperatures deplete natural lipids, its blend of ceramides, cholesterol, and glycolipids rebuilds the intercellular lipid matrix, sealing in hydration. What's more, ceramides soothe micro-irritations and redness triggered by thermal shock, restoring the hydrolipidic film to boost skin suppleness and soften fine dry lines.

OMIA - Nourishing Lip Treatment

One of the most stubborn winter beauty grievances is without a doubt chapped lips. Quite often, standard lip balms fail to provide lasting relief. Many formulas simply create a superficial film: if your lips are already parched, they trap that dryness underneath without delivering real hydration or nourishment. Part of the Alimenta line, OMIA's treatment is formulated to nourish and restore thanks to a comforting, cocooning formula that preserves lip softness and keeps lips shielded for up to 24 hours.

SkinCeuticals - P-TIOX Cream

If you're looking to invest in a hardworking moisturizer, SkinCeuticals' P-TIOX boasts an ingredient profile ideally suited to counteract harsh winter conditions. The inclusion of Niacinamide stimulates the natural production of ceramides, reinforcing the protective barrier. The formula delivers instant hydration while unlocking that coveted Glass Skin glow. What really earned this cream its cult status, however, is its comprehensive anti-aging action: the Myrixin peptide and Tripeptide complex target loss of firmness and expression lines—imperfections that tend to become more pronounced when dehydrated skin is exposed to cold winds.

Darling - Multi-Biotics Body Butter

Who says only facial skin requires extra care in winter? Our body deserves just as much attention. Made-in-Italy brand Darling understands this all too well, delivering a curated range dedicated to 360-degree skin wellness. A standout is the Nourishing & Restoring Body Butter, an exceptional ally against plummeting temperatures, especially when smoothed on post-shower to prevent and treat dry, parched skin. Part of the Multi-Biotics collection, it is infused with Prebiotics and Postbiotics that keep the skin microbiome balanced, soothing winter-induced tightness and redness.

Goovi - Splash Me Baby Tonic Mist

The hydrating, refreshing formula of Goovi's "Splash Me Baby" tonic mist (formulated with 99.13% natural-origin ingredients) is tailor-made for dehydrated skin. Delivering an instant boost of lightweight hydration, spritzing it right before your skincare routine primes the complexion to better absorb upcoming actives. Paired with a rich moisturizer that acts as a barrier seal, you can officially say goodbye to cakey, flaky makeup.

Dermovitamina - Calmilene Sensigel Cleanser

Traditional foaming cleansers can easily over-strip the skin in cold weather, worsening itching and flakiness. Dermovitamina's Sensigel does the exact opposite, protecting the cutaneous barrier right from the cleansing stage. The entire Calmilene range is developed for the daily care of very dry, sensitive, irritated, or atopic-prone skin. This specific cleansing gel works with a clear mission: supporting the skin microbiome to reinforce its natural defenses against winter elements.

CLIOMAKEUP - BACI8 Lip Balm

When beauty meets skincare science, the result is high-performing products that deliver seamless wear while remaining strictly functional and practical. The BACI8 lip balm by CLIOMAKEUP, designed to nourish and repair lips exposed to freezing winds, staves off dryness and cracking. Instrumental clinical tests on 20 subjects confirm that the balm boosts hydration by +56.1% at 8 hours: an increase of this scale in such a short window proves that the formula effectively locks moisture into the lip mucosa for most of the day, shielding it from winter dehydration.

LABS911 - B&B Silk Double Cleansing Kit

If you're searching for the ultimate duo for your AM and PM winter routines, the B&B Silk double cleansing kit by LABS911 is a smart addition to your shelf. It pairs the nourishing comfort of a lipid base with the gentleness of plant-based surfactants to counter environmental dryness. Step one features Butter Silk, packed with skin-compatible botanical oils and butters: a cleansing balm that melts away makeup without feeling heavy, replenishing natural lipids and keeping dryness at bay. Following up, the Bubble Silk mousse, enriched with panthenol and glycerin, completes the cleanse by lifting water-based impurities while delivering deep hydration that calms and prevents post-wash tightness.