What does winter mean to you? Dry, cracked and irritated skin? Not anymore. These cold-weather saviours will leave your skin feeling healthy, calm and comforted, whatever the temperature.

Whether you’re dreaming of warmer weather or you relish the prospect of chilly days, fortifying your skin’s defences during the winter months is vital. So, we’re shining a spotlight on the ingredients you need in your cold-weather routine, as well as the best products for dry skin in winter.

5 Essential Winter Skincare Ingredients

Aloe Vera

As Nina Goad from the British Association of Dermatologists notes, “prolonged wet weather can strip the skin’s barrier function.” This means we tend to lose more water during winter, leaving skin feeling dry, tight and flaky.

However, aloe vera’s hydrating, antioxidant and soothing abilities make it a routine essential. Rehydrating skin and maintaining its oh-so-coveted bounce, it’s an ingredient we can’t get enough of.

Vitamin E

Cold air can leave our skin feeling irritated and dry, but vitamin E is a natural anti-inflammatory and works hard to soothe and calm our skin. Its antioxidant benefits are also even more of a necessity in winter, as cold air has been shown to lead to higher pollution levels.

Vitamin E works to protect our skin from these increased pollution levels and free radicals but neutralising them.

Most recommended: Tamanu Cream Sensitive Skin Saviour

This nourishing cream treats sensitive skin with a host of natural ingredients (including vitamin E) to help speed up cellular repair, hydrate and reduce redness and inflammation.

Coconut Oil

A rich source of fatty acids, coconut oil has occlusive benefits for our skin and traps moisture – something we need more of in cooler temperatures.

As Harvard Medical School reports, “winter poses a special problem because humidity is low both outdoors and indoors, and the water content of the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin) tends to reflect the level of humidity around it.’

That’s why we often experience dryness or the ‘winter itch’ during long periods of cold temperatures. Coconut oil assists our epidermis by reducing transepidermal water loss to keep our skin nice and hydrated.

Most recommended: Body Love Firming Buttercream

Blended with coconut oil, shea butter, and lemon essential oils, you won’t have to worry about dryness or dullness with this nourishing buttercream.

Vitamin C

Like vitamin E, vitamin C also has powerful antioxidant benefits. Aside from its ability to protect our skin from free radical and pollution damage, there are a fair few reasons why this ingredient has become a beauty buzzword and made its way onto our list of sub-zero heroes.

Skin can look duller during the winter, caused by the dryness and moisture loss we’ve already talked about, but vitamin C has been proven to effectively brighten and even skin tone.

Most recommended: Glow Berry Brightening Serum.

Bursting with super-brightening vitamin C to lift lacklustre complexions, and kangaroo paw flower extract to target visible signs of ageing, this game-changing serum provides unrivalled skin confidence with every drop.

Light pink tiled background with leaves and pomengrante cut in half. In the middl is Elixir facial oil with the pipette to the left.

Rosehip Oil

This golden oil looks like summer in a bottle, making it a perfect pick-me-up for when the sun sets just a few hours after lunchtime. It’s extracted from rosehip seeds, and comes packed full of omega oils to moisturise and soothe skin, and antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E, to brighten and protect in equal measure.

It’s also effective at soothing the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis, two conditions the winter can play havoc with due to a more rapid change in temperature between inside and outside

Most recommended: Elixir Radiance-Boosting Omega Oil.

One of our original Tropic products, this organic golden oil replenishes the skin’s stores of essential fatty acids, deeply nourishes and veils skin in an unrivalled glow.

Keep Your Skincare Fresh This Winter

There you have it. With these must-use ingredients and winter skincare picks, you’ll be ready to rescue lacklustre skin in a pinch.

Want to learn more about these winter skin essentials? Check out our ingredient glossary.