Dry skin in winter: a routine for Bangladesh

Why winter dries your skin out

Bangladesh's winter runs from about mid-November to mid-February, coldest in December and January. The air holds far less moisture than in the monsoon, so water evaporates from your skin faster. Hot showers, room heaters and the same foaming face wash you used in summer all make it worse.

The result is skin that feels tight after washing, flakes around the nose and mouth, looks dull, and sometimes itches or stings. Dry skin feels it most, but combination and even oily skin often turn dry in these months. About a third of the people who take our skin test are dry, and most of the rest are combination.

Morning routine

1. Rinse or cleanse gently. In winter, plain lukewarm water is often enough in the morning. If you want a cleanser, use a mild low-pH gel such as COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser.
2. Hydrate while damp. Pat your face, leave it slightly wet, and press in a hydrating essence such as COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence.
3. Moisturise. A cream that holds the water in, such as COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream.
4. Sunscreen. Winter sun is softer, but the UV that causes dark spots is still there. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics is a creamy SPF 50 that sits well on dry skin.

Night routine

1. Remove sunscreen with oil. A cleansing oil like KOSE Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil lifts sunscreen and makeup without stripping. Massage it onto dry skin, add a little water until it turns milky, then rinse. If your skin still feels clean after that, you do not need a second wash.
2. Hydrate. The same essence, again on damp skin.
3. Seal with a richer cream. A barrier cream such as Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream calms tightness and redness overnight. On very dry patches, a second thin layer helps.
4. Lips. Put a thick layer of lip balm or cream on before bed. Do not lick or peel cracked lips.

What to change from your summer routine

• Swap the foaming wash for a gentle gel or an oil cleanser. If your face squeaks after washing, the cleanser is too strong.
• Cut exfoliation to once a week. Acids and scrubs feel good on flaky skin for a day and leave it rawer the next.
• Go one step richer on your moisturiser, or add a second layer at night.
• Keep the sunscreen. Winter is the best season to fade dark spots, but only if you protect them from new sun damage. See our dark spots guide.

Do

• Wash with lukewarm water and keep showers short.
• Moisturise within a minute of washing, while your skin is still damp.
• Drink water, but do not expect it alone to fix dry skin: what you put on matters more.
• Keep a small tube of cream in your bag for hands and face.

Don't

• Don't wash your face with hot water, however good it feels.
• Don't use alcohol toners or harsh scrubs.
• Don't use lemon, toothpaste or undiluted essential oils on dry patches.
• Don't stop sunscreen just because it is cold.

When it is more than dry skin

If dry patches are red, scaly and itchy, keep coming back in the same places, or crack and bleed, it may be eczema or dermatitis rather than ordinary winter dryness. See a dermatologist.