Winter is not a fun season for many reasons, the most common being the chill. Along with the cold temperatures that force us to cover and layer up, the New Zealand winter can have a huge impact on our skin. When tempertaures drop, our hands, elbows, knees and faces are the most commonly affected areas.
Dry skin can be a year-round challenge but it can worsen during winter. but Factors such as changes in humidity, the cold temperatures and the use of heating systems can all add up and lead to dry, flaky skin this season. Additionally, your usual moisturiser may not be the best moisturiser for dry skin, but don’t worry.
There are plenty of moisturisers on the market that can help you and your skin get through this dry period. In this quick guide, we will break down how winter affects your skin, how you can manage these effects and share our choice of winter body moisturisers based on customer popularity, ratings and affordability.
- What causes dry skin in winter
- What to look for in a moisturiser
- The best body moisturisers for dry skin
Dry Skin in Winter: Its Causes and how to Care for it
When your skin cannot retain or hold on to moisture, it starts drying out, and this mainly happens during winter because
- the cold air outside has less moisture for your skin to absorb,
- the warm air inside from heating systems dries out your skin,
- the cold temperatures and winds affect the skin barrier’s ability to keep moisture in,
- and hot baths and showers strip any remaining moisture from your skin.
When your skin starts drying out, some visible signs to look out for include dullness, tightness, a rough or scaly texture, itchiness, sensitivity and dry patches. Once you notice these signs, it means your skin needs hydration and moisture.
While the focus is on moisturising creams and lotions, the question of ‘how to take care of dry skin in winter’ can be addressed in other ways.
Cleanse and exfoliate with caution
When you see your skin flaking, the immediate reaction may be to leave your skin alone altogether, but simplifying your existing routine is often the best first step. During winter, you don’t have to completely stop cleansing and exfoliating your skin; you just have to be gentle.
Avoid harsh and stripping soaps as well as sponges and scrubs that can be hard on your skin. When it comes to exfoliating, gently removing the dry and flaky skin you currently have can help manage overall dryness and dullness during this time.
Keep hot baths and showers to a minimum
While it is cold and there is nothing quite as relaxing as a hot shower or bath, doing so frequently can exacerbate your skin’s loss of moisture and natural oils. This does not mean cutting hot baths and showers out completely, especially on those freezing days.
Simply cut down the time you spend in hot water or use lukewarm water more often.
Use a humidifier
The lack of humidity during winter makes it difficult for your skin to draw in moisture from the air, leading to dehydration. This is worsened by indoor heaters, which further dehydrate the air, leaving no moisture for your skin to absorb. To combat this, try to use a humidifier when indoors.
Reduce the use of fragranced products
While your favourite scented bath and body products can have a soothing effect and are enjoyable to use, they can contribute to the loss of natural oils on your skin. Perfumed and alcohol products such as soaps, shower gels and lotions can be extra drying during this time, so fragrance-free body products are the best option during winter.
Apply moisturiser correctly
This is where moisturisers come in. Whatever moisture and hydration your skin is able to attract needs to be locked in, and moisturising does this. Since water is hydrating, aim to moisturise your skin while it is still rather damp after taking a bath or shower to trap that moisture.
The best practice is to pat yourself dry with a towel as opposed to rubbing to avoid completely drying your skin. If needed, you can also apply an additional layer of a body oil to seal in the moisturiser as well.
What to Look for in a Moisturiser for Winter
Skin moisturisers are a crucial part of your daily winter routine, and whether the goal is to prevent your skin from drying out or to treat dry skin, choosing the right moisturiser is key. The purpose of moisturisers is to add and seal in moisture on your skin.
With so many moisturisers on the market these days offering different benefits, you can be left feeling confused and conflicted on what to choose. Thankfully, it is easy to sort through the sea of moisturisers once you know what to look for.
When choosing a moisturiser for winter, keep the following 3 aspects of moisturisers in mind:
- Humectants- draw water or moisture from the environment to the skin. Common humectants to look for in moisturisers include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol and urea.
- Emollients- soften the skin, working to fill in spaces between skin cells and support the skin barrier to prevent the loss of moisture. Emollients do not add moisture to the skin and are commonly found as oils, butters and waxes. Common types are ceramides and shea butter.
- Occlusives- act as a final barrier or layer on the skin to lock in and prevent the loss of moisture from humectants and emollients (note that they also prevent the absorption of more moisture). They are best used at night after moisturising because of their greasy nature and are commonly found as petroleum jelly, beeswax, mineral oil, balms and ointments.
Choosing the right moisturiser does not end at only considering what is in it, but also considering what type of moisturiser it is. The two most common types are lotions and creams, and while people don’t put much thought into differentiating between the two, knowing the difference when dealing with dry skin is important.
Both creams and lotions serve the purpose of hydrating and moisturising your skin, however, they tend to differ in texture, formulation and skin suitability.
Body lotions are usually lightweight and have a liquid consistency as they have a higher water content ratio. They are more suitable for use in summer or warmer weather conditions due to being lightweight. Those with normal to slightly dry skin or with acne-prone and oily skin would benefit more from lotions that won’t clog their pores or feel heavy on their skin.
Body creams have a richer, thicker and heavier consistency than lotions. They mainly consist of oils and are not as easily absorbed as lotions but provide longer-lasting and more intense moisturisation. Body creams are the go-to during winter and are suitable for those with very dry or sensitive skin that requires intense moisture.
Our Choice of the Best Body Moisturisers for Dry Skin
Now to the moisturisers! “Taking into consideration customer ratings and popularity, ingredients and most importantly, pricing, we have chosen a mix of body lotions and creams that can help combat dry skin,” says Marylyn Ncube, Love Coupons’ deal and product curator.
CeraVe Moisturising Cream
- Size and price (Option 1): 340g for $19.99
- Size and price (Option 2): 454g for $23.99
- Savings deal: Chemist Warehouse voucher code
- Standout ingredients: Ceramides and hyaluronic acid
- Best for: Dry to very dry skin
Why we chose this cream
- Rich and creamy consistency while being non-greasy and non-sticky
- Easy application
- Non-comedogenic (suitable for acne-prone skin)
- Fragrance-free (suitable for sensitive skin)
- Provides up to 48 hours of moisture
- Reasonably priced option for those who require gentle skin care
For those who need a lighter option, there is a lotion version available starting from $11.99 at the Chemist Warehouse.
The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + Inulin Body Lotion
- Size and price: 240ml for $30.00
- Savings deal: Sephora promo code
- Standout ingredients: Glycerin, glycolic acid
- Best for: Dry and dull skin
Why we chose this lotion
- Lightweight and non-greasy (suitable for oily skin)
- Fast absorption and up to 24 hours of hydration
- Supports the skin’s microbiome and promotes hydration
- Softens dry and flaky skin
- Safe for sensitive and irritated skin
Vaseline Advanced Repair Body Lotion
- Size and price (Option 1): 295.735 ml for $14.97
- Size and price (Option 2): 600.342 ml for $28.65
- Savings deal: iHerb discount code
- Standout ingredients: Vaseline jelly, glycerin, lipids, mineral oil
- Best for: Very dry and rough skin
Why we chose this lotion
- Provides up to 72 hours of moisture
- Non-greasy and non-sticky
- Easy application and absorption
- Rich yet lightweight
- Soothes dry and irritated skin
- Fragrance-free
For those with skin that can tolerate fragranced products, a cocoa butter variant of this lotion is available at the same price.
Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream
- Size and price (Option 1): 76 g for $16.85
- Size and price (Option 2): 226 g for $27.69
- Size and price (Option 3): 435 g for $53.74
- Savings deal: iHerb discount code
- Standout ingredients: Glycerin, urea, ceramides
- Best for: Dry to very dry skin
Why we chose this cream/lotion
- Fragrance-free (suitable for sensitive skin)
- Rich yet lightweight consistency
- Provides up to 48 hours of hydration
- Fast absorbing
- Suitable for sensitive and irritated skin
The lotion variant (500 ml) is also available for purchase for $45.07 from iHerb.
Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume Barrier-replenishing Moisturiser
- Size and price: 500ml for $55.07
- Savings deal: Adore Beauty coupon code
- Standout ingredients: Ceramides, glycerin
- Best for: Very dry skin
Why we chose this moisturiser
- Paraben and sulfate-free
- Relieves dryness, discomfort and itchiness
- Hypoallergenic (safe for eczema)
- Rich and creamy texture that provides hydration
- Suitable for full-body use
- Non-greasy
Find and Save on the Best Moisturiser for Dry Skin with Skincare Promo Codes
Winter in New Zealand can be hard on your skin and your best protection from its effects is finding the best moisturiser for dry skin. A fix that may seem complicated at first can be quite simple, especially with some guidance on spotting the right ingredients for your skin. Plus, we have an offering of Skincare promo codes that will keep your wallet from drying out this winter as well.
