To keep your skin moisturised in winter, wash with lukewarm rather than hot water, moisturise straight after every wash or shower, and swap thin summer lotions for a richer cream or balm with urea and vitamin E. Run a humidifier indoors, drink plenty of water, choose a gentle fragrance-free cleanser, and don’t skip sunscreen. For hands, reapply hand cream after each wash and use it as an overnight treatment for faster repair.
Winter can wreak havoc on your skin, and it can feel like there’s no escape. Cold air, dry indoor heat, low humidity levels, and harsh winter wind can all zap your skin of moisture. This can leave your skin looking a lot less radiant than normal. It isn’t only your face that suffers either; your hands and feet are exposed to the elements and tend to dry out first.
Why does skin get so dry in winter?
Your skin relies on water and natural oils to stay soft and to keep its protective barrier working properly. Dry winter skin happens when the skin loses too much of that moisture during the colder months. The biggest culprit is low humidity, which weakens the skin’s natural moisture barrier and leads to flaking and peeling. On top of that, indoor heating and long hot showers strip away the lipid layer that locks moisture in, so skin that is normally healthy and hydrated can turn tight, rough and irritated almost overnight.
Symptoms of dry skin in winter
On your hands, dry winter skin often shows up as:
- Skin looks and feels rough
- Skin feels tight, especially after swimming, bathing or showering
- Slight or even severe peeling, scaling or flaking
- Itching (pruritus)
- Redness
- Small cracks or fine lines
- Deep cracks that may bleed
Dryness rarely stays in one place, though. As the season wears on, you might also notice:
- Dry and flaky patches across the face, ears, hands, feet and elbows that feel tight and uncomfortable
- Winter rash, where dry patches turn red, swollen, bumpy or itchy from constant exposure to cold, dry air
- Winter breakouts, as dehydrated skin produces extra oil while a weakened barrier struggles to keep bacteria out
- Flare-ups of existing conditions like eczema and dermatitis, seasonal allergies and rosacea
How to prevent dry skin in winter
A few small changes to your environment and daily habits go a long way toward keeping moisture in.
Turn down the water temperature
Avoid using hot water when showering and handwashing, as the heat in the water dries the oils out of your skin. This is especially important if your hands tend to be red and itchy, dry skin from exposure to hot water or cool air can trigger an eczema flare-up. Lukewarm water is far kinder to your barrier. After washing, pat your skin dry rather than rubbing, and apply moisturiser while the skin is still slightly damp to trap the water before it evaporates.
Humidify your home
The heating that keeps you warm also dries out the air, and with windows and doors shut all season there is little moisture left for your skin to draw on. A humidifier adds that moisture back and noticeably eases dryness and tightness. No humidifier? Placing bowls of water near your heaters is a simple, low-cost alternative.
Stay hydrated from the inside
You might not feel as thirsty as you do in summer, but indoor heating systems dry out the air and can leave skin dehydrated all the same. Aim for around eight glasses a day, and go easy on coffee and alcohol, which are dehydrating. Eating plenty of vegetables and other water-rich foods helps too, as they are natural sources of water, antioxidants and the vitamins your skin needs to stay supple.
Choose a gentle cleanser
Many soaps contain harsh or irritating ingredients that leave skin dry and itchy. Swap them for a moisturising gel or a nourishing, fragrance-free cleanser that lifts makeup, dirt and impurities without stripping your skin’s natural oils.
How to treat and repair dry winter skin
Moisturise frequently
Handwashing is important when the flu is a threat in winter, but it also strips your skin of its natural oils. To add moisture back to your skin, don’t forget to apply hand cream after each washing.
Formulated with ultra-moisturising urea and skin-repairing vitamin E, this non-greasy, long-lasting hand moisturiser Tough Hands is clinically proven to repair dry, rough and cracked skin with visible effects within 1 day. It works to seal cracks, provide intensive hydration and strengthen the skin’s protective barrier, leaving your hands soft and smooth. Additionally, Tough Hands is also 100% free from parabens, mineral oil or other irritating chemicals, making it suitable for all skin types.
Choose creams over lotions
One of the biggest mistakes people make is sticking with their lightweight summer lotion through winter. Switch to a thicker cream or balm. The richer texture seals moisturising ingredients into dry, cracked, flaking skin and helps them stay put for long-term, intensive healing.
Look for the right ingredients
When skin is very dry, ingredients do the heavy lifting. Urea is a powerful humectant renowned for treating more extreme dryness, from cracked feet and rough hands to scaly eczema and bumpy keratosis pilaris. Vitamin E is the perfect partner, protecting skin from external aggressors and preventing moisture loss. Look for dimethicone too, as it seals in hydration and helps restore the skin’s natural barrier.
Exfoliate gently
Winter leaves hands rough and patchy, and a build-up of dead skin stops your moisturiser absorbing properly. A gentle exfoliant clears that away and helps your hand cream penetrate. Avoid scrubs with harsh ingredients like alcohol or solvents, which strip natural oils and leave skin itchier than before. DU’IT Tough Scrub uses natural walnut shells to lift dirt, grime and grease, with added vitamin E and glycerine to heal and soften as it cleans.
Use an overnight treatment
Overnight treatments are an excellent way to revitalise or prevent dry skin, the active ingredients can replace any moisture lost throughout the night so your skin glows when you wake up. For an easy at-home version, soak your hands in lukewarm water for about five minutes, pat dry, then apply a thick layer of hand cream before bed. You’ll wake up with noticeably softer hands.
Our Tough Hands for Her hand cream is a dermatologist-approved anti-ageing hand cream that contains a unique complex of peptides, niacinamide and panthenol. These actives work to plump the skin, restore skin elasticity and keep the hands smooth, radiant and tight. Its non-greasy texture quickly sinks in and deeply nourishes the skin. Its intensive formulation means only a pea-sized amount will keep the skin hydrated for a long time. Cover your hands with gloves after applying Tough Hands for Her to lock in the moisture, allowing the active ingredients to work on the skin, leaving your hands replenished and radiant.
Protect your hands with gloves
Prolonged contact with water and detergents washes away natural oils and weakens the skin barrier, so wear protective gloves for washing up and cleaning. Outdoors, gloves shield your hands from cold air and harsh winter wind that pull moisture straight out of the skin. It’s a simple habit that prevents a lot of damage.
Don’t skip sunscreen
UV rays may feel less intense in winter, but sunburn still happens and can leave skin dry, red and irritated, so keep protecting your skin from the sun year-round. Sun exposure also dulls and roughens the hands over time, which is where an anti-ageing hand cream like Tough Hands for Her helps, working to reverse the look of sun damage while it hydrates.
Adjust your skincare routine
If your skin seems to be especially sensitive or irritated due to the dry winter air, you may want to consider simplifying your skincare routine for the time being and switching to gentler products suitable for sensitive skin.
Designed specifically for relieving dry skin and soothing sensitive skin, DU’IT Tough Hands Fragrance-Free is one of the best hand creams on the market. Containing a potent blend of rich Urea, Vitamin E and Dimethicone that works to seal cracks, restore skin protective barriers and soothe irritated skin. The texture of this hand cream is a pure delight: It feels moisturised and protected upon application, then sinks immediately into the skin without any oily film. 100% free from fragrances, parabens, mineral oil or other irritants, it hydrates skin and will leave your hands soft, supple and smooth in just 1 day!
DU’IT Tough Hands 150g
DU’IT Tough Hands is a clinically proven, intensive strength hand cream for dry hands that works to seal cracks, replace lost oils, condition the skin and form a protective barrier to keep hands in top condition.
It’s Australia’s No.1 hand cream* (Circana data, AU Grocery & Pharmacy, Data on File).
Repairs dry, rough, cracked, irritated and calloused hands, with visible effects in 1 day. It’s non-greasy, made in Australia and contains no nasties.
What to look for in a winter hand cream
Not all hand creams are built for winter, so think of this as adjusting your winter skin care routine with better-suited products rather than replacing everything at once; the best ones do five things, and these winter skincare tips help you choose well:
- Add moisture and attract water. Humectants like glycerin, urea and sodium PCA give skin a moisture boost and pull water from the air into the skin like a sponge.
- Absorb easily. A good cream penetrates rather than sitting on top of the skin, so it nourishes deeply and won’t wash straight off.
- Prevent moisture loss. Ingredients such as dimethicone seal in hydration and help rebuild the skin’s protective barrier.
- Heal and soothe. Antimicrobials like tea tree extract and lemon myrtle calm irritated skin and help cracks and minor cuts heal.
- Contain no nasties. Skip formulas with parabens or lanolin, which can trigger sensitivity.
DU’IT Tough Hands for Her 75g
DU’IT Tough Hands for Her hand cream and moisturiser is a clinically tested anti-aging dry skin hand cream for tired, overworked hands. Repairs, brightens and softens dry hands with visible effects in 1 day. It contains a powerful peptide complex that supports natural collagen and softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, panthenol for firming and improving skin elasticity and niacinamide for increased skin radiance.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my skin still dry in winter even though I moisturise?
Often it comes down to the product and the timing. A thin summer lotion may not be rich enough for winter, so switch to a cream or balm with urea and vitamin E. Apply it within a couple of minutes of washing while skin is still damp, and address the drivers too: lukewarm water, a humidifier and good hydration all help your moisturiser work.
Is a cream or a lotion better for winter?
A cream or balm is better in winter. Its thicker texture seals active ingredients into dry, cracked skin and holds moisture in for longer, whereas lighter lotions tend to evaporate faster and offer less barrier protection.
How often should I apply hand cream in winter?
Apply after every hand wash, before bed, and any time your hands feel tight. Because winter involves frequent washing, reapplying throughout the day is the single most effective habit for keeping hands soft. Keep a tube by the sink and a travel-size in your bag.
Do I really need sunscreen in winter?
Yes. UV exposure continues year-round and can still leave skin dry, red and irritated, as well as causing long-term damage to the hands and face. Keep sunscreen in your routine through the colder months.
Can winter weather trigger eczema?
It can. Cold, dry air and hot water both weaken the skin barrier, which can trigger eczema flare-ups, rashes and other sensitivities. Use lukewarm water and a gentle moisturiser. If you’re prone to flare-ups, a fragrance-free formula recommended by the Eczema Association of Australia is a safer choice.
DU’IT Tough Hands Fragrance Free 150g
DU’IT Tough Hands Fragrance Free intensive hand cream is a clinically proven, intensive strength hand cream for dry hands that works to seal cracks, replace lost oils, condition the skin and form a protective barrier to keep hands in top condition. It repairs dry, rough, cracked, irritated and calloused hands, with visible effects in 1 day. Especially designed for sensitive skin, it contains no nasties and is Australian made and owned.
