Winter Skincare Routine: Why Your Skin Needs Extra Care in December

December comes with cozy sweaters, holiday lights, and steaming mugs of Glintvein and hot drinks. But it also brings a new set of challenges for your skin. As the temperature drops and indoor heating kicks in, your skin can quickly go from glowing to dry, tight, and irritated.

That’s exactly why having a thoughtful winter skincare routine isn’t a luxury—it’s a seasonal essential.

If you have ever wondered why your skin acts differently once winter rolls in, or which steps truly make a difference, this guide breaks it all down for you.

Why Your Skin Needs Extra Care in December

1. Cold Air Steals Moisture

Outdoor winter air is naturally low in humidity. When you are exposed to cold, dry air—even for a short walk—your skin loses moisture more quickly than it does in warmer months.

This can lead to flakiness, rough texture, and that uncomfortable tight feeling.

2. Indoor Heating Dries Skin Even More

The contrast between chilly outdoor air and indoor heated environments creates a cycle of dehydration.

Heating systems pull moisture from the air and your skin, making dryness almost impossible to avoid without intentional care.

3. Your Skin Barrier Weakens

Harsh weather, hot showers, and overcleansing can damage your skin’s protective barrier.

Once the barrier is compromised, your skin becomes more prone to redness, irritation, and inflammation.

4. Holiday Stress Doesn’t Help

December can feel magical, but it can also be stressful. Travel, lack of sleep, changes in routine, and holiday treats and sweets can all influence your skin, often leading to breakouts or dullness.

How to Build a Nourishing Winter Skincare Routine

A good winter skincare routine isn’t about loading your skin with products. It’s about choosing the right ones and adjusting your habits to better protect your skin from harsh weather.

Here’s what actually helps:

1. Start with a Hydrating Cleanser

Winter is not the time for foaming or stripping cleansers as they can leave your skin dry and tight.

Use a “gentle” and “hydrating” cleanser that helps remove dirt and makeup without upsetting your skin’s natural oils.

It's best to cleanse with lukewarm water—not hot—to avoid unnecessary dryness.

Try BelleCote's Marine Collagen Anti-Aging Cleanser— a luxurious milk for normal to dry skin. It’s a nourishing cleanser enriched with marine collagen and peptides which thoroughly removes impurities and makeup. It provides a daily detox while improving your skin’s hydration and elasticity.

Tip: If you wear foundation or heavy makeup, massage your skin with this cleanser and leave it on for about 1 minute to let it absorb. It helps remove makeup, debris, and impurities from your skin.

2. Add a Hydrating Serum

Serums rich in hyaluronic acid, vegetable glycerin, and peptides provide hydration. With the humidity drop in December, this step becomes incredibly important.

Bonus tip: Press a few drops of serum onto slightly damp skin to boost absorption. 

Try BelleCôte’s Vitamin C-3 Serum with Ferulic acid to boost collagen and refresh hydration. It repairs skin protective barrier, reduces aging spots, and supports skin healing—our #1 bestselling and award-winning product for a reason! 

You can also try our Wrinkle Erasing Serum—aka “Hydrating Healer”—powered by Hyaluronic Complex and Laminaria Extract. 

It’s a great pick for a smoother, firmer, and brighter skin. It deeply hydrates, plumps, and restores radiance while minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.

3. Switch to a Richer Moisturizer

This is often the most crucial winter skincare change. That light moisturizer you were using in summer might not be enough for the colder weather.

Look for richer textures like creams and butters. They usually contain more oils and fats that help lock in moisture and prevent water loss.

A thicker moisturizer hydrates your skin and protects your natural moisture barrier.

Look for moisturizing ingredients like:

• Hyaluronic acid
• Ceramides
• Marine Collagen & Elastin 
• Peptides
• Niacinamide
• Shea butter
• Jojoba oil

If your skin is oily, look for a moisturizer that’s non-comedogenic.

Learn more about when and why you should switch to richer moisturizers.

Give BelleCôte’s Day Light Moisturizer a try! It’s a light but super-concentrated cream enriched with Phyto Stem Cells Complex, Marine Collagen, Bilberry Extract, and Hyaluronic Acid. 

It provides long-lasting hydration, rejuvenates your skin, and soothes redness—making it perfect for daily hydration and protection.

Professional Tip: For best results, we recommend using BelleCôte’s Fermented Marine Collagen Anti-Aging Toner underneath the cream.

4. Don’t Skip SPF (Even in December!)

Many people stop using sunscreen once the winter hits, but UV rays don’t take a holiday. Snow is highly reflective and it can actually intensify your exposure to UV rays. 

Snow can reflect up to 80% of UV rays, increasing your exposure during winter activities.

Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and apply it every day—whether you’re running errands or headed to work.

BelleCôte’s Mineral Double Sun Protection Cream is an excellent option. This lightweight mineral sunscreen is enriched with marine peptides, collagen, and marine sun filters with chlorella and spirulina. It hydrates and protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays, while leaving a shine-free matte finish.

5. Treat Yourself to a Weekly Hydrating Mask

You can use a hydrating mask to give your skin a much needed moisture reset.

Give your skin a boost with BelleCôte’s DNA CAVIAR Regenerating Mask. It contains precious black caviar extract and is formulated to mineralize, deeply hydrate, and nourish your skin while giving it a luminescent glow.

6. Protect Your Lips and Hands

Hands and lips often show winter damage first because the skin in this area is thinner.

Protect your lips and hands in colder weather by:

• Using a lip balm (with ingredients like petroleum jelly, shea butter, and ceramides)
• Applying a hand cream after washing your hands
• Wearing gloves outdoors to protect from windburn

7. Use a Humidifier at Night

A humidifier helps add moisture back to the indoor dry air and allows your skin to stay hydrated naturally while you sleep.

The best humidity level for homes in winter is somewhere between 30% to 40%.

8. Be Gentle with Exfoliation

Your skin still needs exfoliation in winters to remove dead, dull skin cells. But overdoing it can worsen dryness. 

You should use gentle exfoliators not the harsh ones as your skin is already more sensitive in winters.

If your skin feels tight or irritated after exfoliation, scale back.

BelleCôte’s Organic Seaweed Exfoliator is a gentle organic exfoliant suitable for all skin types. It contains Mandelic, Lactic, and Salicylic acids which work together to effectively remove dead cells, reduce wrinkles, and unclog and refine pores. 

Laminaria Extract brightens and hydrates, leaving the skin refreshed.

9. Stay Hydrated

It’s easy to forget drinking water in winters, but hydration supports your skin from the inside as well as outside.

Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water everyday or more if you are physically active. 

Other than plain water, you can keep yourself hydrated by having drinks like herbal teas, soups, and infused water.

Signs Your Skin is Struggling in December

If you notice these issues, your skin routine likely needs a boost:

• Persistent flaking
• Redness or irritation
• Stinging when applying products
• Makeup looking patchy
• Tightness even after moisturizing

Small adjustments like richer products or adding a humidifier can make a big difference.

When to See a Dermatologist 

If dryness becomes painful, or if you develop eczema flare-ups, deep cracks, or persistent redness, a dermatologist can help tailor a routine or prescribe treatment to soothe your skin.

The Bottomline

December is a beautiful month but winter can be tough on your skin. A well-rounded winter skin-care routine is about protection, hydration, and barrier-support. With just a few thoughtful changes like switching to gentle cleansers, using richer moisturizers, and keeping humidity levels up, you can maintain soft, healthy, and comfortable skin all winter long.

Disclaimer:

This information is for general skincare guidance and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have a diagnosed skin condition, severe irritation, or allergies, consult a dermatologist before trying new products.