Transitioning Your Skin Into Winter: What Your Skin Needs (and Why)

When the seasons shift in Alberta, your skin feels it before anything else. The crisp air, the indoor heat, the wind, all of it pulls moisture from the skin and disrupts the delicate balance of lipids, hydration, and barrier function.

This is the time of year when even “normal” skin types start to feel tight, flaky, irritated, or suddenly breakout-prone. Winter skin isn’t just “dry skin”, it’s dehydrated skin with a compromised barrier, which makes it more reactive, dull, and harder to manage.

The good news? With the right seasonal adjustments, your skin can stay calm, glowy, and balanced all winter long. Here’s how to transition properly and what we recommend at Sweet Skin.

1. Strengthen the Barrier: Your Winter Non-Negotiable

Your barrier (the outer layer of your skin) is what keeps moisture in and irritants out. Cold air + indoor heating weakens it quickly.

Our Sweet Skin Recommendations:

• Epicutis Lipid Serum – Strengthens, calms inflammation, and fortifies the barrier at a cellular level. Perfect under any moisturizer.

• Biologique Recherche Creme VG Derm or Creme Dermo-RL – Lipid-rich formulas that restore protective oils your skin loses in winter.

When your barrier is strong, everything you apply works better and your skin stays resilient.

2. Switch to Creamier Cleansers

Gel or foaming cleansers can become too stripping this time of year, even if they’re normally fine.

Try instead:

• Biologique Recherche Lait EV– A milky cleanser that removes makeup and debris without tightening or drying the skin.

• Epicutis Oil Cleanser- an award winning deep cleanse that’s suitable for all skin, even acne prone, yet is extremely nourishing. Massaging it in for 2mins allows the ingredients to really work their magic!

3. Boost Hydration from Two Angles: Water + Oil

Hydration = water.

Moisture = oil.

You need both in winter.

Water-based hydration:

• Hydrinity Renew HA Serum – with medical-grade hyaluronic acid that doesn’t just sit on the surface. Great for dehydrated and sensitive skin. 

• Biologique Recherche Amniotique Serum- a lightweight quintessential serum that is all skin type friendly. Soothing and hydrating- but not heavy.

Oil-based moisture:

• IS Clinical Sheald Balm  – A luxurious occlusive balm that seals in hydration and prevents moisture loss. Can be used day or night or simply as needed. Amazing for eczema and kids can use this too!

• Biologique Recherche Serum T.E.W.L – For reactive, sensitized, or chronically dry skin. This is a sea buckthorn rich serum that you can add a couple drops into your current moisturizer to amp up the moisture OR, apply as the last step of your routine. 

4. Gentle Exfoliation — Not More Exfoliation

Winter is not the time for over-exfoliating.

But gentle, consistent exfoliation helps serums penetrate and prevents dullness.

Our winter-safe options:

• Biologique Recherche P50 PIGM 400 Lotion– The gentler versions of the iconic P50. Promotes cell turnover without stripping. Pat it into skin every other night. Follow with a quintessential serum and moisturizer. Avoid the eye area. 

• IS Clinical Warming Honey Cleanser– Not meant to be used daily; 1-2X a week is plenty. This enzymatic and honey rich cleanser will remove buildup, increase circulation, and reset the skin in a very gentle way. 

5. Small Switches Make a Big Difference

Most people don’t need a completely new routine for winter—just a few intentional adjustments:

✔ Swap to a gentler cleanser

✔ Add a hydrating serum

✔ Choose a richer cream

✔ Reduce exfoliation

Your skin will thank you all season long.

Need Personalized Guidance?

Come into Sweet Skin for a customized skin analysis, or better her book a Custom Facial. We’ll look at your climate, your skin type, your routine, and your goals—then help you transition into a winter-proof plan that keeps your skin glowing, calm, and hydrated.

Winter skin doesn’t have to be dry skin.

With the right support, you’ll glow all the way to spring.