Winter is basically an experiment designed to see how quickly you can get water out of human skin.
Cold air outside.
Heated dry air inside.
Wind.
Hot showers because you're freezing.
Heavy clothing rubbing against everything.
And then we wonder why our skin changes.
Cold air holds less moisture
As temperatures drop, outdoor humidity often drops with it.
Then we heat that air indoors.
Now it becomes even relatively drier.
Your skin spends months sitting in an environment that encourages water to leave it.
Indoor heat matters enormously
People blame winter entirely on cold.
But you may spend most of the season inside.
Forced-air heating can make indoor air extremely dry.
Your environment is pulling moisture from your skin all day and night.
Then we take hotter showers
Because cold.
Completely understandable.
But long hot water exposure can remove surface lipids and increase dryness.
So winter gives you:
dryer air
plus hotter showers
plus more time indoors
Excellent.
Wind is another layer
Exposed skin loses heat and moisture quickly in cold wind.
Cheeks.
Lips.
Hands.
This is one of those times where I absolutely want a substantial layer between my skin and the environment.
Your summer moisturizer may simply not be enough
This is normal.
A light lotion in July.
A thick tallow cream in January.
That isn't inconsistency.
It's seasonal skincare.
Your clothing changes.
Your food changes.
Daylight changes.
Temperature changes.
Why would your moisturizer need to remain identical?
Think environment first
When winter skin starts freaking out, I look at:
humidity
shower temperature
soap
frequency of washing
wind exposure
before deciding I have developed an entirely new skin disorder.
Season matters.
Your skin knows what month it is.
What winter looks like here in Calgary: Why Your Skin Suddenly Needs More Help in Winter