You made it through the holiday hustle, and now the name of the winter game is simply survive and advance. From way-too-early sunsets to frigid temps, the season’s not for the faint of heart—but you’re no rookie, and you’ve established a fair number of hacks to get you through.
To keep your toes cozy, you’ve got your go-to slippers at the ready. For hibernation-level sleep, you top your bed with a weighted blanket. To steer clear of a scratchy throat, you dust off your humidifier. And to save your skin from every type of winter weather (plus all the dry indoor heating and extra-hot showers)? You call in the experts.
According to board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD, taking care of your skin during the winter is critical for your overall health—and just like your other seasonal hacks, it doesn’t have to be complicated. “Skincare can be simple and smart. It doesn’t take a lot of effort or time to take care of your skin,” she says—it’s all about understanding which are the best winter skincare products to use and which ones to avoid. Hydrating with cleansers, serums, balms, and creams is essential all year round, but especially during the winter when cold, dry air pulls moisture from your skin. “Your skin is your first line of defense against everything on the outside,” she says.
To help strengthen that line of defense and boost your skin barrier this season, Dr. Nazarian is recommending five of the very best winter skincare products—and in the spirit of finding hacks, they’re all available at QVC. Here’s what she has to say about them, and why you should consider adding them to your lineup of winter essentials.
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Dr. Nazarian’s first step when it comes to supporting your skin this winter? “Choose the right cleanser!” Made with calming green tea extract, glycerin, and a chemical exfoliant beta-hydroxy called salicylic acid, this gel-to-foam formula is a welcome addition to any daily routine.
Once the cleanser box is checked, Dr. Nazarian turns to the MVP of winter skincare: a hydrating moisturizer. “As the air has less moisture during the cold seasons, it pulls the moisture out of our skin to compensate,” she says. “Even heaters and radiators can dry the air and decrease skin hydration.”
Made with cocoa seed butter, Dr. Nazarian says this thick moisturizer is effective in sealing in hydration and recommends it specifically for normal to dry skin types. Massage your cleansed face with a pea-size amount every morning for all-day hydration.
“Dry skin requires both humectants and emollients,” Dr. Nazarian says. “A good humectant is hyaluronic acid, which draws water into the skin. Barrier-repair creams such as those that contain ceramides can be applied afterwards.”
This lightweight and absorbent serum is formulated with both hyaluronic acid and ceramides—which makes it a good choice for cold-weather season, she says. Apply a pump to your face and neck twice daily, and say hello to winter glow.
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From your eyelids to your chin, the winter elements have an unfriendly way of finding your most sensitive spots. With squalane and green tea extract, this serum stick offers targeted hydration wherever you need it most. Bonus: The stick applicator makes it great for on-the-go hydration, all winter long.
The colloidal oatmeal in this super-hydrating moisturizer is a “fabulous ingredient” that’s been used for years to help soothe dry and sensitive skin, Dr. Nazarian says. Combined with squalane, allantoin, ceramides, and glycerin, this soothing head-to-toe cream hits all her marks when it comes to improving dry skin. “Overall, my favorite of the bunch,” she says. So stock up, lather up, and consider your face saved this winter.