Is your skin feeling a little dry, sore, and weather-worn? Here’s why you need a classic cream as your winter moisturiser right now.
From protecting against colder, windy conditions to providing a luxurious act of self-care, these are the nourishing creams and forward-thinking formulas to pamper your skin this winter and beyond.
Why is my skin so dry, irritated and itchy in the winter?
Colder weather in the winter can cause a host of skin problems, not least because low temperatures and high winds whip moisture off your face, disrupting your skin’s natural barrier. This not only leaves your complexion feeling dry and tight, it can also cause redness and inflammation as irritants can more easily penetrate your skin.
Couple this with the drying effects of central heating (and warmer showers), and your complexion can quickly become flaky, sore and dulled, as its natural oils are stripped away.
Why are classic creams trending right now?
While new hydrating and brightening serums tend to steal the skincare headlines through most of the year, nothing can touch the moisturising and glow-boosting effect of a really good creamy moisturiser during the winter.
With their ability to lock in moisture instantly and keep your skin feeling smooth and plump throughout the day, new whipped textures and encapsulation techniques also mean that these nourishing creams don’t have to feel greasy or heavy.
These are our picks of the best winter moisturisers, including classic creams and new favourites from brands such as Tatcha and Charlotte Tilbury.
The best winter moisturisers
Shiseido's hero plumping cream has had an update and its more nourishing than ever (and in refillable packaging). Perfect for occasions when your skin looks dull and tired this winter, the formula hydrates and firms due to hero ingredient Japanese safflower. Plus, the whipped-textured cream feels suitably indulgent to apply – just the tincture for cold evenings.
With its suitably wintry name, Sunday Riley's Ice moisturiser is a real festive treat for your complexion. The deeply nourishing cream uses ceramides and vitamin F to instantly lock in moisture, while coconut, beetroot extract, pomegranate and red-algae extract all help to reduce redness and irritation. That means your skin is less reactive to winter's changing conditions.
Choosing a nourishing cream that also soothes your complexion will make your skin less reactive to winter’s changing conditions.
Looking to target signs of fine lines and wrinkles but don't want the tell-tale dryness some potent actives can cause? This pillowy-soft vitamin-enriched cream is a favourite of the fashion elite for good reason. It contains a more gentle form of retinoid to smooth away lines, while nourishing your skin with vitamin C, hydrolysed rice protein and vitamin B5 to provide a hydrated lit-from-within glow.
French beauty is all about a laissez-faire approach to makeup – and this social media-darling of a moisturiser is one of the reasons why you never see the Parisian sect having to layer on loads of concealer. The nutrient-rich formula may look understated, but it is especially good for soothing irritation on sensitive skin, and even preps for makeup with ease.
Charlotte Tilbury's award-winning Magic Cream is renowned for its ability to deeply hydrate and revitalise dry, dull skin, making it especially great for the winter. The inclusion of shea butter creates a protective layer that sheilds your skin against cold winds and low humidity, while locking in other nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin C.
Korean beauty brands know how to give your skin an instant glow boost and there’s a reason beauty editors flock to Tatcha.
Korean beauty brands know how to give your skin an instant glow boost and there's a reason beauty editors flock to Tatcha and its classic cream. The hydrating benefits of hyaluronic acid, algae, purple rice and squalane are supercharged by the Japanese superfood Hadasei-3, leaving your skin's moisture barrier supported and your complexion noticeably smooth and radiant.
When the weather gets really cold and windy, keep this reparative balm to hand. Brilliant for skiing holidays as well as for sore, chapped skin, this moisturiser for dry skin is a favourite among dermatologists post-procedure too. That's because the thick texture protects against moisture loss, while hyaluronic acid hydrates and arnica soothes.
One of the original classic creams that aims to balance deep moisturisation with a lightweight, comfortable feel, Kiehl's no-nonsense moisturiser supports your skin barrier with hydrators sourced from Antarctic sea glaciers and olive-derived squalane. We predict it will quickly become a staple in your winter skincare routine. Be warned though – the men in your life are likely to steal a swipe or two.
Kiehl’s classic cream is proof that you don’t have to struggle with a greasy feel to lock in maximum skin moisturisation.
Our beauty editor always takes this Beauty Pie cream on her travels, and it's not just because it is less than £20. It is also a great multitasker – providing lightweight hydration that actually lasts throughout the day (even when popping in and out of central heating), while protecting and brightening your complexion for an instant glow.
If you have skin that tends towards the drier side, this richer version of Skin Rocks' moisturiser is for you. It contains the same nourishing molecules that make up your skin's barrier (namely ceramides and lipid-rich oils) to physically stop moisture loss. Best of all: with a creamy texture that quickly absorbs, it doesn't feel greasy.
This fragrance-free cream is designed to quickly soothe your skin, leaving your complexion less prone to reacting to winter's chilly temperatures over a prolonged period of time. It feels like a hug for your face – and you can thank the multiple weights of hyaluronic acid that hydrate your skin throughout its layers, alongside a barrier-supporting prebiotic peptide.
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