Winter Skincare Routine: My Day & Night Cold Weather Skincare for Dry, Sensitive Skin

 
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Winter Skincare Routine: My Day & Night Cold Weather Skincare for Dry, Sensitive Skin

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Winter Skincare Routine: My Day & Night Cold Weather Skincare for Dry, Sensitive Skin

Winter can be tough on skin. Cold temperatures, wind, indoor heating and lower humidity levels can all lead to dry, tight, dehydrated and reactive skin. Over the years, I’ve refined a simple but effective winter skincare routine that supports the skin barrier, boosts hydration and keeps my skin comfortable all day and night.

This post breaks down my daytime and nighttime winter skincare routines, using gentle, nourishing products that work especially well if your skin is dry, sensitive or prone to dehydration.

Daytime Winter Skincare Routine (Cold Weather AM Routine)

In winter, my daytime skincare routine focuses on hydration, barrier protection and comfort under makeup. I avoid anything stripping or overly active and prioritise layers that keep skin calm throughout the day.

1. Gentle Cleanser (AM)

Winter Skincare Routine: Day Time Cleansers
Winter Skincare Routine: Day Time Cleansers

I start with a gentle, non-foaming cleanser. In cold weather, over-cleansing can worsen dehydration and sensitivity.

Look for:

  • Light cleansing waters
  • Cream or lotion cleansers
  • No strong surfactants
  • Fragrance-free or very low fragrance

My recommendations

  • Dr Sam’s Flawless Cleansing Water* – Effective super-light cleanser that doesn’t strip the skin
  • SISLEY PARIS | Lyslait Cleansing Milk*- Rich yet light. A really effective cleanser that leaves so smooth and hydrated

2. Hydrating Toner or Essence

Winter Skincare Routine: Day Time Toner
Winter Skincare Routine: Day Time Toner

This step adds an immediate hit of hydration and helps prep the skin for serums.

Key ingredients to look for:

  • Glycerin
  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Panthenol
  • Aloe vera

My Recommendation

  • Shiseido Treatment Softener Enriched*

3. Hydrating Serum

Winter Skincare Routine: Day Time Serum
Winter Skincare Routine: Day Time Serum

A hydrating serum is essential in winter. I favour lightweight, water-based formulas that deeply hydrate without feeling heavy under moisturiser or makeup.

Best winter serum ingredients:

  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Polyglutamic acid
  • Beta-glucan
  • Niacinamide (low percentage)

My recommendation

  • ESTÉE LAUDER | Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex* – Gentle and great for all skin types. Deeply hydrating and a skincare classic.

4. Barrier-Repair Moisturiser

Winter Skincare Routine: Day Time Moisturisers
Winter Skincare Routine: Day Time Moisturisers

In cold weather, moisturiser becomes the most important step. I choose a barrier-supporting moisturiser that locks in hydration and protects against environmental stress, but isn’t too heavy

Look for:

  • Ceramides
  • Squalane
  • Shea butter

My Recommendations:

  • MEDIK8 | Advanced Pro-Collagen+ Peptide Cream* – Perfect texture for both day and night. Promotes bouncy firm skin.
  • TATCHA | The Dewy Skin Cream* – Super nourishing and the perfect base for glowing makeup.

5. SPF (Yes, Even in Winter)

Winter Skincare Routine: Day Time SPF
Winter Skincare Routine: Day Time SPF

A broad-spectrum SPF is still essential in winter, especially for everyday protection and preventing sensitivity flare-ups.

My Recommendations

  • Ranavat Brightening Mineral Sunscreen* – High protection and gives the skin an amazing glow.
  • THE ORDINARY | UV Filters SPF 45 Serum* – Easy to blend, super hydrating and moisturing, and gives the skin a gorgeous glow.

Hydrating Primer for Makeup

Winter Skincare Routine: Day Time Primer
Winter Skincare Routine: Day Time Primer

As an extra step, I like to use a glowy, hydrating primer under foundation, particularly if I am using a matte formula. My current favourite trick is to apply a light layer of the Balm from the REESON Highlighter Duo* before starting my makeup.

At night, my winter skincare routine is all about repair, nourishment and recovery. This is when I allow myself slightly richer textures and more comforting formulas.

1. Gentle Cleanse (PM)

Winter Skincare Routine: Night Time Cleansers
Winter Skincare Routine: Night Time Cleansers

In the evening, I cleanse properly to remove makeup, SPF and daily impurities.

  • First cleanse: balm or oil cleanser
  • Second cleanse: gentle cream cleanser

Avoid foaming cleansers if your skin feels dry or reactive.

My Recommendations

  • TATCHA | The Camellia Cleansing Oil* – a beautiful oil that is super effective at removing makeup and breaking down excess oil in the skin, whilst maintaining the skin’s natural moisture and helping to increase hydration.
  • MEDIK8 | Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil* – Melts everything off whilst maintaining and boosting the skin barrier.

2. Hydrating Toner or Essence

Winter Skincare Routine: Night Time Toners
Winter Skincare Routine: Night Time Toners

I repeat my hydrating toner step at night to replenish moisture lost throughout the day.

My Recommendations

  • TATCHA | The Essence Skincare Boosting Treatment* – A super hydration booster and suitable for sensitive skin
  • SISLEY PARIS | Supremÿa La Lotion* – Super hydrating and makes your entire skincare routine work better. You will notice a difference.
  • THAYERS | Hydrating Milky Toner* – Good affordable hydrator

3. Soothing or Hydrating Serum

Winter Skincare Routine: Night Time Serums
Winter Skincare Routine: Night Time Serums

At night, I choose soothing, barrier-repair serums rather than strong actives.

Great winter night serum ingredients:

  • Ceramides
  • Peptides
  • Centella asiatica
  • Panthenol

My Recommendations

  • KEATS The Hydrating Serum* – A triple weight HA serum with snow mushroom. Effective and affordable.
  • INNBEAUTY PROJECT | Elastic Skin Firming & Plumping Refillable Serum* – Instantly plumping and firming with the most amazing texture
  • SHISEIDO | Future Solution Lx Intensive Firming Brilliance Serum*

4. Rich Night Cream or Moisturiser

Winter Skincare Routine: Night Time Moisturisers
Winter Skincare Routine: Night Time Moisturisers

A richer night cream helps support skin repair while you sleep.

Ideal winter night moisturiser ingredients:

  • Ceramides
  • Shea butter
  • Fatty acids
  • Squalane

My Recommendations

  • La Mer Crème de La Mer Moisturizing Cream* – I can always rely on this to soothe and calm
  • THE ORDINARY | Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides Moisturizer* – Rich and luxurious. Wraps skin in cocooning hydration

5. Facial Oil or Overnight Mask

Winter Skincare Routine: Night Time Mask /Oil
Winter Skincare Routine: Night Time Mask /Oil

On very cold nights or when my skin feels tight and reactive, I add:

  • A few drops of facial oil, or
  • An overnight hydrating mask

This step helps prevent moisture loss overnight and leaves skin feeling calm and comfortable by morning.

My Recommendations

  • SISLEY PARIS | Black Rose Precious Face Oil* – The finest, lightest, yet super hydrating oil.
  • FARMACY | Honey Grail Facial Oil* – Soothing, calming and super hydrating
  • ESTÉE LAUDER | Advanced Night Repair Overnight Treatment* – This effectively locks in all your skincare so you wake up with juicy skin.

Key Tips for Winter Skincare

  • Protect the skin barrier above all else
  • Avoid over-exfoliating in cold weather
  • Use lukewarm water, not hot
  • Layer hydration rather than relying on one heavy product

Final Thoughts

A good winter skincare routine doesn’t need to be complicated. By focusing on hydration, barrier repair and gentle formulas, you can keep skin comfortable, glowing and resilient throughout the colder months.

If your skin feels dry, tight or reactive in winter, simplifying your routine and switching to more nourishing textures can make all the difference.

READ: Skincare Products I Use When My Skin Feels Tight, Dry or Reactive.

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Why Palermo Might Be Your Perfect Holiday Spot

 
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Palermo offers a rare mix of history, culture, and everyday life that feels both rich and unfiltered.

Located between the mountains, and the sea, Palermo blends both grand architecture designs, with busy markets, quiet courtyards and long sunlit streets.

Arab, Normal and Italian influences shape the buildings, food and traditions, from golden beaches to lively neighborhoods fully of character.

Why Palermo Might Be Your Perfect Holiday Spot

Sun Sea and Sand Nearby

Palermo sits close to a beautiful stretch of coast. Mondello is the city’s best known beach, with pale sand, shallow water and a backdrop of beautiful low hills.

Locals swim before work, families gather in the afternoons, and small boats sail slowly across the bay.

Beyond Mondello, quieter coves and rocky edges of coast offer space for snorkeling and sailing.

The shoreline changes character through the day, from bright and busy in the morning to calm as the evening light settles over the sea.

Eating Like a Local

The Palermo local markets are a must-visit, with artichokes, blood oranges and fresh seafood.

Street food is part of everyday life, not a novelty, and dishes like panelle, arancini, and sfincione are bought casually on the way to work or home.

Sit-down meals tend to be simple and generous, often based on long-used recipes that change with the weather.

Coffee Breaks Done Properly

Small bars open early, serving quick espressos to people on their way to work, while others enjoy cappuccinos and pastries at outdoor tables.

Many cafés still feel unchanged, with marble counters, old mirrors, and staff who know regulars by habit.

Alongside classic espresso, you will find granita with brioche, especially in warmer months, and strong iced coffee sweetened with almond milk.

Street Life You Cannot Ignore

Markets spill into narrow lanes, with vendors calling out prices and passing traffic slowing to fit around them.

Music drifts from doorways, small squares, and passing radios, while conversations overlap in every direction.

Religious processions, local celebrations, and informal gatherings appear regularly, changing the feel of a street from one day to the next.

Historic buildings form a steady backdrop, but it is the people who give the city its changing rhythm.

Quiet Corners Among the Chaos

Even as Palermo surges around you, the city always offers a place to exhale. You slip into peaceful neighborhoods just a few streets away from the markets and feel the noise fall behind you.

Nearby, serene parks like the Villa Giulia invite you to sit under palm trees and watch locals stroll by.

You’ll find hidden gems in quiet cafés tucked into side alleys, where elderly owners pour strong espresso and let you linger.

Courtyards shaded by citrus trees turn into tranquil retreats for reading or planning your next walk.

In these softer corners, church bells replace car horns, conversations drop to a murmur, and you suddenly realize Palermo’s intensity makes its calm moments feel even more precious.

Coconut Oil Vs Jojoba Oil – Which Is Best For Your Hair?

 
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There are many different oils you can use on your hair, from pure natural oils to blended oils from brands like MoroccanOil, which is my personal favorite hair oil.

If you’re looking to try a pure natural oil, coconut oil and jojoba oil are both super popular hair oils, but which oil is the best of the two? I’ll give you a comparison of the two oils, to help you decide which oil is best for your hair and scalp.

Coconut Oil Vs Jojoba Oil - Which Is Best For Your Hair?

Why Should You Consider Pure Natural Oils For Your Hair?

Pure natural oils are a simple way to care for your hair, without having to worry about heavy and synthetic filler ingredients.

With regular use, natural oils gently condition your hair, to keep it soft, flexible and healthy-looking. Hair oils work by sealing in moisture into your hair, after washing, to give you extra hydration, as well as reducing dryness, frizz and the appearance of split ends.

You can also oils as a pre-shampoo treatment, to loosen any build-up within the hair, so your shampoo can deeply cleanse your hair of impurities.

When it comes to choosing which hair oil is best, it depends on your natural hair type, as you don’t want the oil to be too heavy or greasy for your hairstyle, whilst the oil can reduce dryness or flakiness.

Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Your Hair and Scalp

Coconut oil smells amazing as a start, and it works well for both your hair and scalp.

It coats each individual hair strand, slowing down moisture loss, and boosting your hair’s mositure retention between your hairwash days.

When you apply coconut oil, start with a small amount, and smooth a small amount over your damp mid-lengths to ends, for softer ends, and damage from daily heat styling. I like how coconut oil makes split ends look less noticeable, and works wonder on smoothing frizz.

Coconut oil gives extra “slip” to the hair, allowing you to detangle knots easily, with fewer snags and split ends. Plus, you can use it as a pre-wash treatment, for an extra shine boost. If you don’t have oily roots, you can also apply it to your scalp for reducing dryness, and helping to keep dry flakes from building up.

Benefits Of Jojoba Oil For Your Hair and Scalp

Jojoba oil closely mimics your scalp’s natural sebum, it absorbs quickly, so you can balance moisture without leaving your hair and roots looking and feeling greasy.

The faster oil absorption helps to soften dry lengths, while keeping your hair’s roots lightweight, allowing you to use in between wash days.

Jojoba oil offers better scalp hydration, as it seals in water, reducing the tight flaking feeling you can get from using harsh shampoos like deep cleansing shampoos, like the Bumble and Bumble Surf Shampoo.

It massages into the hair and scalp easily, and jojoba oil’s waxy esters can loose up product build-up, improving manageability and reducing itching.

If you have dandruff or a flaky scalp, jojoba oil calms dryness-related flaking, supporting the scalp’s barrier.

Just like coconut oil, jojoba oil smooths rough hair cuticles, reduces frizz and can be used as a pre-shampoo treatment.

It’ll come down to personal choice, but it’s mostly down to your hair type and scalp issues.

If your hair is more coarse, thick or very dry, coconut oil can reduce protein loss, and give a heavier moisture seal.

Although, if your hair is fine, and easily weighed down, or prone to product build-up, jojoba oil is lighter, and mimics the scalp’s natural sebum.

For scalp health, jojoba oil is potentially the better choice, as it softens flakes without leaving a greasy residue. Coconut oil may be best if your scalp is super dry, but it can be too heavy and clogging for some hair types.

For product layering, use jojoba oil after watery leave-ins, like lamellar water treatments, to lock in moisture, without smothering the hair in product, and use coconut oil sparingly as a pre-shampoo treatment or on ends.