Your 4-Step Winter Skincare Routine for 2026

December 18, 2025

By: Lauren Sindel

The best winter skincare routine prioritizes hydration, brightening, and skin barrier support. 

When the temperature drops, dry air, indoor heating, and hot showers all leech moisture from your skin. That’s why you often feel dry, itchy, and more irritated in the winter months.

Your skin barrier (the body’s frontline defense) becomes compromised. Meaning: it’s less effective at keeping water in and environmental stressors like UV rays and pollutants out.

Ahead, explore our expert guide to skincare in winter and our top recommendations for strengthening your skin barrier for healthy, hydrated skin this season.

Best Winter Skincare Routine 2026

Your winter skincare routine should include:

• A gentle, non-stripping cleanser like Truly Skin Smoothie Facial Cleanser 
• A brightening serum to address dullness and discoloration like Truly The Brightening Face Serum
• A hydrating serum with humectants and barrier-supporting ingredients like Truly The Hydrating Serum
• A moisturizing cream to seal in hydration and prevent water loss like Truly Cloud Cream Pro-Peptide Moisturizer

What is the Best Skincare Routine for Winter?

To keep your skin looking soft and dewy this season, your 2026 winter skincare routine should focus on supporting and strengthening your skin barrier. We know how precious your barrier is, which is why our serums contain Truly’s proprietary Tru-Barrier Complex™.

Whether you choose the full routine or just want to try something new, we know you’ll be impressed with the visible results our clean, vegan, cruelty-free products provide.

Step 1: Gentle Cleanser

To avoid that tight, dry feeling, you want a winter cleanser that removes daily impurities without stripping skin of its natural oils. Look for a cleanser with hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. They lock in moisture to stop your skin from drying out.

Skin Smoothie Gentle Facial Cleanser

Daily Hydrating Cleanser

Añadir a la bolsa $15

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Both are in the Truly Skin Smoothie Cleanser. A hydrating cleanser that removes SPF, makeup, and impurities while preserving natural oils and supporting the barrier. Your skin will feel soft and quenched after every use.

Step 2: Brightening Serum

Skin can get a little dull in the winter months. And if you’re seeing dark spots and discoloration from the summer, shaving, or insect bites, a good brightening product can help even your skin tone.

SAVE 24%

El suero iluminador facial

Desvanecer manchas oscuras e hiperpigmentación

Añadir a la bolsa $29-$87

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Brighten your skin and fade dark spots with our dermatologist-tested Brightening Serum. Packed with vitamin C and tranexamic acid, it visibly reduces the look of hyperpigmentation and dullness for a beautiful radiant glow. Plus, it’s infused with our Tru-Barrier Complex™ to help keep all the goodness in and the bad stuff out.

Step 3: Hydrating Serum

No winter skincare routine would be complete without a high-performing hydrator. Choose a water-based serum with hyaluronic acid to draw in moisture, and antioxidants like niacinamide for instant glow.

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El suero hidratante facial

Suaviza la piel seca y áspera

Añadir a la bolsa $29-$87

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Truly The Hydrating Serum contains both of these actives along with ceramides and Tru-Barrier Complex™ for maximum hydration and protection. It’s also dermatologist-tested and fragrance-free, making it perfect for dry skin and sensitive skin types.

From the first use, you’ll notice less dryness and flakiness. It leaves skin feeling immediately softer and more supple.

Step 4: Moisturizing Cream

You’ve just hydrated your skin. Why do you need a moisturizer too? Here’s some fun skincare science for you. The previous step focused on hydration with humectants which draw water into the skin cells using ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid.

Now you want to seal that moisture in. And a moisturizer (emollient) does exactly that. It creates a protective barrier to seal in moisture and prevent water loss so that your skin stays hydrated all day.

Cloud Cream Pro-Peptide Facial Moisturizer

Plumping Gel Cream

Añadir a la bolsa $36

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We recommend our newest innovation - Truly Cloud Cream Pro-Peptide Facial Moisturizer. A lightweight gel cream that infuses skin with shea butter, hexapeptide, and soybean ferment extract for a plumper, smoother, more youthful looking complexion. 

Winter Skincare Tips

• Lower the water temperature. Hot showers feel amazing in winter, but they strip your skin of natural oils. Opt for lukewarm water to protect your moisture barrier.
• Apply products on damp skin. This helps humectants like hyaluronic acid pull water into the skin more effectively.
• Don’t skip SPF. UV rays are present year-round, even on cloudy winter days. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen every day to prevent barrier damage and discoloration.
• Use a humidifier indoors. Indoor heating dries out the air—and your skin. A humidifier helps restore moisture levels while you sleep.
• Avoid over-exfoliating. Too much exfoliation in winter can weaken the skin barrier and worsen dryness and irritation.
• Layer strategically. Apply products from lightest to richest to maximize absorption and lock in hydration.
• Seal in moisture at night. Winter is the perfect time to lean into richer creams to support overnight skin repair.

Save 10% on Winter Skincare Routines

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The Face Serum Duo

Brighten & Hydrate

Añadir a la bolsa $58 $52.20

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The Hydrating Face Routine

Hydrate & Plump

Añadir a la bolsa $65 $58.50

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Winter Skincare Routine FAQs

What Causes Dry Skin in Winter?

Dry winter skin is caused by a combination of cold outdoor temperatures, low humidity, indoor heating, and hot showers. These factors strip moisture from the skin and weaken the skin barrier, making it harder for your skin to retain hydration and protect itself from environmental stressors.

Do I Need to Change My Skincare Routine in the Winter?

Yes. Your summer routine likely focuses on oil control and lightweight hydration, while winter skin needs more barrier support and moisture. Switching to gentler cleansers, hydrating serums, and richer moisturizers helps prevent dryness, flakiness, and irritation.

How Can I Best Combat Winter Skin Dehydration and Irritation?

The key is layered hydration plus barrier repair. Use humectant-rich serums to attract moisture, follow with ceramides and peptides to strengthen the skin barrier, and finish with a moisturizer to lock everything in. Consistency is what delivers visible results.

What Ingredients Should I Look for in Winter Skincare Products to Keep My Skin Hydrated?

Look for ingredients that hydrate and protect the skin barrier, including:

• Hyaluronic acid to draw moisture into the skin
• Glycerin for long-lasting hydration
• Ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier
• Niacinamide to soothe irritation and boost glow
• Peptides to support skin repair and elasticity
• Barrier-focused formulas help skin stay hydrated even in harsh winter conditions

What Moisturizers Are Recommended for Dry Winter Skin?

The best winter moisturizers are rich enough to prevent moisture loss without feeling heavy or greasy. Gel creams and barrier-repair moisturizers with shea butter, peptides, and ceramides are ideal for daily use. They lock in hydration, smooth texture, and help skin look plumper and healthier throughout the cold months.

How Do I Treat Winter Skin Conditions, Flare-Ups, and Flakiness?

Cold weather can trigger common skin conditions like dryness, sensitivity, and even eczema flare-ups. Low humidity slows natural exfoliation, allowing dead skin cells to build up and cause visible flakes and irritation.

To help calm winter flare-ups, use gentle cleansers and avoid harsh exfoliation. Then, apply a rich moisturizer, ointment, or barrier cream to seal in hydration. Continue daily sun protection, even in winter, to prevent irritation and premature aging.

If you use retinol, reduce frequency during winter and always follow with a nourishing moisturizer to minimize dryness and sensitivity while still addressing fine lines and texture.

The best winter skincare regimen for 2026 should focus on nurturing and nourishing your skin. Cold weather, dry air, and indoor heating all challenge your skin barrier, making hydration and protection essential.

By following our simple 4-step winter skincare routine, you can keep your skin soft, smooth, and glowing all season long.

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