Photo courtesy of Lorenzo Mazzega/The Licensing Project

Skin does not love winter—it’s cold, dry, and often windy outside and hot, dry, and, even more than other times of year, stressful inside. But a great routine leaves your skin dewy, fresh, and glowing, no matter your skin type, your age, or (really) the weather. Here, our best tips for creating your ultimate regimen: We chose from only-clean skin-care products (goop has some of the toughest standards in the industry), then tested them rigorously (the goop beauty department is made up of women of varied ages, races, and tastes). Bonus: We’ve added routines by age, too.

Best Dry-Skin Strategies for Winter

1

Counterintuitively, exfoliating helps.

Dull winter skin—no matter what skin type—benefits from regular gentle exfoliation. Exfoliating helps active serums and moisturizers melt right in, so skin looks instantly brighter and more luminous.

1. Every Morning

   
   

   goop Beauty
   GOOPGLOW 20% Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Glow Serum
   goop, $125/$112 with subscription

   SHOP NOW

2. In the Shower

   
   

   goop Beauty
   GOOPGLOW Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator
   goop, $125/$112 with subscription

   SHOP NOW

3. Overnight

   
   

   goop Beauty
   GOOPGLOW Dark Spot Exfoliating Sleep Milk
   goop, $98/$89 with subscription

   SHOP NOW

2

Cleanse and nourish at the same time.

The aim is to dissolve grime and pore-clogging residue while lavishing your skin’s moisture barrier with hydration and nourishment; even sensitive skin needs this step.

1. Balm

   
   

   True Botanicals
   Ginger Turmeric Cleansing Balm
   goop, $48

   SHOP NOW

   
   

2. Whipped Cold Cream

   
   

   Alpyn Beauty
   Juneberry & Collagen Hydrating Cream Cleanser
   goop, $39

   SHOP NOW

3. Oil

   
   

   Tata Harper
   Nourishing Oil Cleanser
   goop, $88

   SHOP NOW

   
   

3

Active treatments can also fight dryness.

Nourish skin with powerful ingredients that can really move the needle in terms of how your complexion looks, feels, and holds up against harsh weather.

1. Peptides and Ceramides

   
   

   goop Beauty
   GOOPGENES All-in-One Nourishing Face Cream
   goop, $98/$86 with subscription

   SHOP NOW

2. Antioxidant Resveratrol and Algae

   
   

   MACRENE actives
   High Performance Face Serum
   goop, $195

   SHOP NOW

   
   

3. Fatty Acids and Bader’s Proprietary TFC8 Complex

   
   

   Augustinus Bader
   The Rich Cream
   goop, $280

   SHOP NOW

   
   

4

Bring in the heavy artillery.

Sometimes you really need a full-on moisture bomb.

1. Rich

   
   

   Monastery Made
   Attar Floral Concentrate Balm
   goop, $168

   SHOP NOW

2. Richer

   
   

   Tammy Fender
   Celestial Rose Crème
   goop, $155

   SHOP NOW

3. Almost an Ointment

   
   

   Surya
   Balancing Collagen Cream
   goop, $195

   SHOP NOW

5

Oil seals everything else in.

Massage it on as the last layer or blend two or three drops into face cream before applying—either way, oil helps fortify skin against the elements.

1. Clinically Proven

   
   

   goop Beauty
   GOOPGENES All-in-One Super Nutrient Face Oil
   goop, $98/$89 with subscription

   SHOP NOW

2. Made Just for Winter

   
   

   de Mamiel
   Winter Facial Oil
   goop, $135

   SHOP NOW

   
   

3. Oil-Meets-Balm

   
   

   Furtuna Skin
   Rinascita Delle Olive Replenishing Balm
   goop, $225

   SHOP NOW

A Humidifier Really Helps

How do we test clean beauty products at goop? First they have to pass our standards for clean (goop has some of the toughest standards in the industry). Only then do they make it to our editors’ showers, bathroom counters, and makeup bags, where they are rigorously hand-tested (and road-tested, if we happen to be going on a trip). The goop beauty department is made up of women of varied ages, races, and tastes—if we really love something, we’re pretty confident you’re going to love it, too.