You’re not imagining it.
Every winter, your skin seems to change overnight. That cleanser that worked great in July? Now it leaves you with tight, dry skin. Your makeup? Now it just doesn’t sit right no matter how carefully you apply it.
Winter skin care is tricky. And if your routine isn’t working, your skin will tell you.
Here’s the good news: You don’t need a whole new routine. You just need a few smart tweaks to help your skin adjust to winter.
#1: Your Skin Feels Tight After Cleansing
If your skin feels tight, almost stiff, after cleansing—especially when you splash it with water—it’s a sign your cleanser is working against you. This can leave your skin feeling dry or uncomfortable.
Why this happens in winter:
- Cold outdoor air significantly reduces humidity
- Indoor heating creates an even drier environment that pulls moisture from your skin
- A harsh, stripping cleanser compounds these effects, leading to dehydration and discomfort
What to do instead:
- Choose a gentle, hydrating cleanser that removes impurities without stripping your skin’s moisture barrier
- Look for soothing ingredients like aloe that help maintain moisture balance as you cleanse
- Always follow cleansing with a freshener and moisturizer to seal in hydration before it evaporates
Our recommendation:
L’BRI’s Vita C Brightening Cleanser is formulated with Vitamin C and aloe to effectively cleanse while protecting your skin’s moisture barrier. The aloe-based formula soothes and hydrates as it cleanses, so your skin feels refreshed and comfortable.
After cleansing, immediately apply L’BRI’s Vita C Brightening Freshener to refresh skin after cleansing and prep it for the next steps in your routine.
#2: Your Skin Looks Dull and Tired
Winter has a way of making everyone’s complexion look a little dull. Even when you’re getting enough sleep, your skin appears tired, flat, and gray.
Dullness signals that your skin is dehydrated or experiencing more stress from environmental factors.
Why this happens in winter:
- Reduced sunlight exposure leaves skin looking tired and less vibrant
- Cold, dry air strips moisture from the skin’s surface, creating a dull appearance
- Winter often leads to a buildup of dead surface skin cells, which can make the skin look dull
What to do instead:
- Add Vita C products to your routine to brighten dull skin and help visibly refresh tired, dull skin
- Incorporate Vita C serum that visibly brightens uneven tone
- Layer hydrating products to restore your skin’s natural radiance
Our recommendation:
Start with L’BRI’s Vita C Brightening Freshener after cleansing to refresh your skin after cleansing and prepare it for the next products in your routine.
Layer on L’BRI’s Vita C Tripeptides + Ferulic Acid Anti-Aging Serum—a concentrated treatment that helps brighten dullness and uneven tone. This serum is formulated with Vitamin C, peptides, and ferulic acid to help improve the appearance of uneven-looking skin tone.
Finish with L’BRI’s Vita C Tripeptides + Hyaluronic Acid Anti-Aging Moisturizer. This moisturizer combines brightening Vitamin C with deeply hydrating Hyaluronic Acid to address both dullness and dehydration.
#3: Your Makeup Isn’t Sitting Right
Your foundation clings to dry patches you didn’t even know existed. Your concealer settles into fine lines by mid-morning. You’ve tried different application techniques, different tools, and even different products. But the problem persists.
It’s not your makeup. It’s your skin. When your skin is dehydrated, makeup has no smooth canvas to adhere to. It clings to texture, emphasizes dryness, and settles into every imperfection.
But when your skin is properly hydrated, your makeup may apply more smoothly and feel more comfortable throughout the day.
Why this happens in winter:
- Winter often leads to a buildup of dead surface skin cells, which can affect how makeup sits on skin
- Indoor heating increases moisture loss, which emphasizes fine lines and rough patches
- Without proper exfoliation, dead surface cells can make skin feel rough or uneven
What to do instead:
- Gently exfoliate 2–3 times per week to remove the buildup of dead surface cells
- Use a facial exfoliator for the delicate skin on your face and neck
- Follow exfoliation with hydrating products to replenish hydration and smooth texture
Our recommendation:
L’BRI’s Renew Facial Exfoliator gently buffs away dull, dead surface cells without irritating winter-stressed skin. It’s specifically formulated for the delicate tissue on your face and neck, providing gentle and effective exfoliation that allows skincare to apply more smoothly.
Follow with your Vita C routine (Cleanser → Freshener → Serum → Moisturizer) to flood your skin with hydration and radiance.
Note: Facial exfoliators like L’BRI’s Renew Facial Exfoliator are designed for the delicate skin on your face and neck. For exfoliating the body (from the neck down), use L’BRI’s Renew Body Exfoliator, which is formulated specifically for the skin on your arms, legs, and torso.
The Bottom Line
Winter skin needs more than your usual routine can provide. The good news: you don’t need to start over. You just need a few strategic adjustments.
This winter, start with this different approach:
- Gentle, hydrating cleansers that protect your skin’s moisture barrier
- Vitamin C products that brighten dull skin and restore radiance
- Concentrated serums that address dehydration and uneven tone
- Gentle exfoliation that smooths texture
- Hydrating moisturizers that lock in moisture
With just a few tweaks to your routine, you can help improve the look of dry, dull winter skin for a healthy, radiant complexion all season long.
