In winter, many people notice that their skin feels tighter, looks duller, or reacts more quickly — even though their routine hasn’t changed. That’s no coincidence. What you’re experiencing is the skin’s natural response to cold temperatures, dry air, and seasonal change. To understand this, it helps to briefly look at what’s happening beneath the skin’s surface.

Dry vs. Dehydrated: An Important Difference

Many winter skin concerns are not actually about dry skin, but dehydrated skin — a difference that’s often underestimated.

Dry skin lacks oil (lipids).
The skin produces less sebum and often feels rough or flaky.

Dehydrated skin lacks water (moisture).
Even normal or oily skin can become dehydrated when moisture evaporates faster than it’s replenished.

In winter, moisture evaporates more quickly due to cold outdoor air and dry indoor heating. At the same time, blood circulation to the skin decreases, reducing hydration from within. The result is skin that feels tight, looks dull, and can even appear oily — while actually lacking moisture.

This is exactly why some winter routines backfire: oil is added, while the skin primarily needs water.

What Happens to the Skin Barrier in Winter

The skin barrier consists of skin cells and lipids that work together to provide protection, retain moisture, and maintain calm. When we talk about “balance,” we mean that this structure is intact and functioning steadily.

In winter, that balance is disrupted more easily:

• cold and wind weaken the lipid layer

• overly hot water washes away protective oils

• excessive exfoliation thins the barrier

When the barrier is compromised, the skin can no longer perform its protective role effectively. Micro-inflammation develops — small, often invisible inflammatory responses that make the skin more reactive.

In melanin-rich skin, melanocytes respond more sensitively to these signals. As a result, the skin may look duller, feel uneven, or appear unsettled. Not because the skin is weak, but because it’s working hard to stabilize and protect itself.

What Your Skin Truly Needs in Winter

Winter doesn’t call for working harder — it calls for smarter support:

1. Cleanse with care
Cleansing twice a day is fine, as long as you use lukewarm water. Hot water removes not only dirt, but also essential lipids that protect the skin barrier. Lukewarm water cleans effectively without stripping the skin.

2. Exfoliate mindfully
Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, but in winter natural cell turnover slows. We recommend exfoliating every three days with our Natural Face Scrub. If you notice increased sensitivity, reduce exfoliation to once a week for two to three weeks to allow the skin barrier to recover.

3. Nighttime nourishment is essential
At night, the skin does most of its repairing. A good evening serum supports this process by delivering moisture and active ingredients deep into the skin. Skipping this step means the skin has to do the repair work without support.

4. Extra comfort for drier skin
If your skin feels drier, mix one drop of serum with our SPF 30 Day Cream. This helps retain moisture without weighing the skin down.

5. Water, water, water
Hydration starts from within. Drinking enough water supports circulation and helps skin cells maintain their volume and function. Without internal hydration, even the best cream works only on the surface. Two liters per day is a must.

Winter as a Moment of Awareness

Winter shows us how dependent the skin is on balance, protection, and calm. Learning to listen to these signals helps prevent temporary winter reactions from turning into long-term skin concerns.

In the next Melanin Moment, we’ll take a deeper look at cold weather, skin stress, and pigment reactions — and why pigmentation isn’t just a summer issue.

Keep learning, keep glowing — until the next Melanin Moment 💛
With love,
Angela