Is your skin feeling tighter, looking duller or just not feeling as comfortable as it normally does? Your skincare routine might need a seasonal refresh.
As the temperatures drop and we move into the colder months, it's quite common to notice changes in our skin. You might find your usual moisturiser isn't quite enough, your foundation isn't sitting as well, or your skin feels tight and uncomfortable, even shortly after applying your skincare.
Winter can be particularly challenging for our skin. Cold outdoor temperatures, lower humidity, harsh winds and indoor central heating can all contribute to moisture loss, leaving the skin feeling dry, dehydrated and looking less radiant.
The good news is that there are ways to support your skin through the winter months. Sometimes a few changes to your daily skincare routine are all that's needed, while other times introducing targeted aesthetic treatments can help improve hydration, skin quality and overall skin health.
At FAM Clinic in Waterbeach, Cambridge, we believe healthy-looking skin starts with understanding what your skin needs. So let's look at why winter affects our skin and what you can do to keep it hydrated, comfortable and looking its best.
—Why does our skin become drier during winter?
Our skin has a natural protective barrier, known as the skin barrier. One of its most important functions is to help retain moisture and protect the skin from external irritants. During the colder months, several environmental factors can interfere with this process.
1. Cold temperatures and lower humidity
Cold outdoor air generally holds less moisture than warmer air. This means there is less humidity in the environment, making it easier for moisture to escape from the skin.
2. Indoor central heating
We spend much more time indoors with the heating on during winter. Unfortunately, central heating can further reduce humidity levels, creating an environment that contributes to moisture loss.
3. Hot showers and baths
Although a long, hot shower feels lovely on a cold day, hot water can strip away some of the skin's natural oils. These oils are important for maintaining a healthy skin barrier and preventing moisture loss.
4. A compromised skin barrier
When the skin loses too much moisture and its natural lipid balance is disrupted, the protective barrier may become less effective. This can leave skin feeling tight, irritated, sensitive and more prone to dryness. You may also notice that fine lines become more visible and your complexion looks duller or less plump.
—Dry skin vs dehydrated skin – what's the difference?
Although we often use these terms interchangeably, dry and dehydrated skin are not quite the same thing. Dry skin is a skin type, whereas dehydrated skin is a skin condition that can affect any skin type, including oily and combination skin. Understanding the difference is important because your skin may need a slightly different approach depending on what is happening.
Dry skin
Lacks sufficient natural oils (lipids) to maintain its protective barrier. You might notice:
- Rough or flaky patches
- A tight or uncomfortable feeling
- Increased sensitivity or irritation
- A dull, uneven-looking complexion
- Skin that feels dry shortly after cleansing
Dehydrated skin
Lacks water — this can happen to anyone, whatever their skin type. You might notice:
- Fine dehydration lines, particularly around the eyes and cheeks
- Skin that looks tired or lacks radiance
- A tight feeling, even if your skin becomes oily during the day
- Makeup settling into fine lines or looking patchy
- Skin that looks less plump and feels less comfortable
It's also possible to experience both dry and dehydrated skin at the same time. This is why understanding your skin rather than simply choosing products labelled for dry skin is so important.
—Does your skincare routine need to change during winter?
Quite possibly! The skincare products that work beautifully during the summer months might not provide quite enough protection when the weather changes. During winter, we often recommend reviewing your moisturiser and considering whether your skin needs a little extra support.
Switch to a richer moisturiser
One of the simplest changes you can make is to introduce a more nourishing, clinically tested moisturiser. Look for ingredients that help attract moisture, soften the skin and reduce water loss. Your moisturiser should help support the skin barrier, keeping hydration in for longer.
At FAM Clinic, there are three moisturisers we particularly like from our Obagi Medical and Neauvia ranges.
Obagi Hydrate
Obagi Hydrate is a daily facial moisturiser designed to provide long-lasting hydration. It uses Hydromanil technology, which helps retain moisture at the skin's surface and gradually release moisturising compounds. It also contains nourishing ingredients including shea butter, mango butter, avocado oil and glycerin. It's a great option if your skin needs additional daily hydration without moving to a particularly rich cream.
Obagi Hydrate Luxe
If your skin is feeling particularly dry or depleted, Obagi Hydrate Luxe offers a richer, more intensive moisturising option. With its luxurious balm-like texture, it combines Hydromanil technology with nourishing ingredients such as shea butter, mango butter and avocado oil, alongside biomimetic peptides. It is particularly lovely as part of an evening skincare routine, helping to replenish moisture and leave the skin feeling softer, smoother and more comfortable.
Both Obagi moisturisers are designed to support skin hydration and help reduce moisture loss.
Neauvia Advanced Recovery Cream
Another lovely option, particularly if your skin is feeling dry, sensitive or needs some extra support following aesthetic treatments, is Neauvia Advanced Recovery Cream. This is a nourishing cream designed to support skin regeneration, soothe irritation and restore comfort to the skin. It combines several beneficial ingredients, including:
- Hyaluronic Acid: helps attract and retain moisture, supporting skin hydration and a smoother, more supple appearance.
- Ceramides: important components of the skin barrier that help reinforce its protective function and reduce moisture loss.
- Biomimetic peptides: designed to support the skin's natural repair and regeneration processes.
- Soothing ingredients: including botanical extracts that help calm and comfort the skin.
We particularly like this cream for skin that needs a little extra nourishment, especially during the colder months or following treatments such as microneedling and LaserMe. It is a lovely addition to a winter skincare routine when the focus is on restoring comfort, supporting the skin barrier and maintaining hydration.
The important thing is choosing the right moisturiser for your skin type, its current condition and individual needs. Our Obagi range is available to shop online.
—Can aesthetic treatments and skin boosters help improve skin hydration?
Absolutely. Skincare is an important part of maintaining hydration, but sometimes we need to look beyond our daily skincare routine. This is where skin-quality treatments can play a role. At FAM Clinic, one treatment we particularly recommend for improving skin hydration and supporting skin rejuvenation is Neauvia HydroDeluxe.
HydroDeluxe – more than just hydration
HydroDeluxe is an injectable skin booster combining four key components:
- Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
- Calcium Hydroxyapatite (CaHA)
- Glycine
- L-Proline
Each ingredient has a different role, making this an interesting combination for improving skin quality.
Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in our skin and has an incredible ability to attract and retain water. It plays an important role in maintaining skin hydration, softness and plumpness. As we age, our natural levels of hyaluronic acid gradually change. By introducing HA through a skin booster treatment, we can help improve skin hydration and the appearance of fine lines associated with dehydration.
Calcium Hydroxyapatite (CaHA)
CaHA brings a regenerative dimension to the treatment. It is associated with supporting collagen stimulation and dermal remodelling, helping to support the skin's structure and longer-term skin quality. This makes the combination interesting because we're not simply looking at hydration, but also the quality and support of the skin.
Glycine and L-Proline
These naturally occurring amino acids are important building blocks used by the body in protein synthesis, including collagen production. They are included in Neauvia's formulation to help optimise the hydrogel's properties, including its viscoelastic behaviour and swelling resistance. Together, these ingredients create a formulation designed to support skin hydration and skin quality.
Why do we like HydroDeluxe?
Because healthy skin isn't just about adding moisture. We also want to support the skin's structure, elasticity, texture and overall quality. HydroDeluxe can be a useful option for people noticing dullness, dehydration, fine lines and changes in skin quality.
A personalised consultation is always important to assess whether this treatment is suitable for your skin and what results you can realistically expect. You can see all our skin boosters on our treatment menu.
—What else can you do to improve skin hydration?
Professional treatments and good skincare can make a real difference, but don't forget the everyday habits that support healthy skin.
1. Drink enough water
Maintaining good hydration is important for your overall health and normal skin function, particularly if you're exercising or spending time in heated environments. Drinking excessive amounts of water won't automatically resolve dry skin, though — your skincare routine and skin barrier are equally important.
2. Avoid very hot showers
Keep showers shorter and use warm rather than very hot water to help protect the skin's natural oils.
3. Moisturise while your skin is slightly damp
Applying your moisturiser shortly after cleansing or showering helps trap existing moisture in the skin.
4. Don't over-exfoliate
If your skin is becoming dry, irritated or sensitive, you may need to adjust how often you use exfoliating acids and retinoids. This doesn't necessarily mean stopping your active skincare altogether — it's about finding the right balance and supporting your skin barrier.
5. Continue using SPF
UV exposure still occurs throughout the colder months, so daily broad-spectrum SPF 30–50 remains an important part of your skincare routine.
6. Consider a humidifier
If you're spending a lot of time in centrally heated rooms, a humidifier can help add moisture back into the air and reduce the effects of a particularly dry indoor environment.
—Give your skin a little extra attention this winter
Winter is a great time to reassess your skincare and think about what your skin really needs. Whether that's introducing a richer moisturiser, adjusting your existing routine or considering a professional skin-quality treatment, small changes can help make a noticeable difference to how your skin looks and feels.
At FAM Clinic, we take an individual approach to skin health. We don't believe one product or treatment suits everyone. Every skin consultation includes a detailed skin analysis, allowing us to look at factors such as hydration, skin barrier condition, texture, pores and underlying concerns. From there, we can recommend a personalised skincare and treatment plan to support your skin.