Winter weather can be harsh on your skin, leaving it dry, dull, and sometimes irritated. When temperatures drop and the air becomes drier, your skincare routine needs to be adjusted to keep your skin hydrated, protected, and glowing, especially before applying make-up. A well-prepped skin base is crucial for ensuring your make-up applies smoothly and lasts throughout the day, even in winter conditions. Here’s your ultimate guide to creating the perfect skincare base for winter before you reach for your foundation, concealer, and blush.

Why Winter Skincare Is Different

Winter brings cold air, indoor heating, and often, lower humidity levels, which can strip the skin of its natural moisture. This can lead to dry patches, flakiness, redness, and irritation. When the skin is dry or irritated, it’s more difficult for make-up to sit well, causing it to look cakey or uneven. In winter, the goal is to focus on hydration, barrier protection, and creating a smooth, plump canvas for flawless make-up application.

Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Your Skin for Winter Make-up

1. Start with a Gentle Cleanser

The first step in any skincare routine is cleansing, but in winter, it’s important to choose a cleanser that won’t strip your skin of essential moisture. My favourite cleanser is the One Two Free cleanser, it is very affordable and good for every skin type.

Why it’s important: Harsh cleansers with strong detergents can leave your skin feeling tight and dry, which isn’t ideal before applying make-up. Instead, opt for a gentle, hydrating cleanser that can remove impurities while maintaining your skin’s moisture balance.

Tip: Look for cleansers that contain nourishing ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or ceramides. These ingredients help maintain hydration while cleansing.

Recommendation: Try a cream-based or oil-based cleanser, like CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser or Tatcha The Rice Wash, which are designed to replenish the skin’s natural moisture while cleansing.

2. Exfoliate (But Don’t Overdo It)

Exfoliation is key to removing dead skin cells that can make your skin look dull and cause make-up to cling to dry patches. However, in winter, over-exfoliating can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to more dryness.

Why it’s important: Exfoliating helps create a smooth surface for make-up to adhere to. But in the colder months, it’s important to use a mild exfoliant to avoid irritation.

Tip: Use a gentle exfoliating product with lactic acid or fruit enzymes rather than abrasive physical scrubs, which can damage the skin.

Recommendation: Consider Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant for a chemical exfoliant or The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA for a mild, hydrating exfoliation.

3. Hydrate with a Rich Moisturizer

Moisturizing is the most important step in preparing your skin for make-up in winter. The colder, drier air can leave skin feeling parched, so it’s crucial to use a moisturizer that locks in moisture and provides long-lasting hydration. I use the Clarins essential face cream, this also has a SPF in it, which is important even during winter.

Why it’s important: A well-hydrated skin base creates a smooth canvas for your foundation and prevents your make-up from looking flaky or uneven. Look for moisturizers that contain humectants (like hyaluronic acid), emollients (like squalane or shea butter), and occlusives (like petrolatum or beeswax), which help seal moisture into the skin.

Tip: Opt for a thicker, richer moisturizer than you would use in other seasons. This ensures that your skin stays hydrated throughout the day, even in dry, winter conditions.

Recommendation: Try Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel for lightweight hydration or CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for intense moisture with ceramides to support your skin’s natural barrier.

4. Add a Hydrating Serum

In the winter, you might want to layer your skincare to boost hydration. A hydrating serum can provide an extra layer of moisture, giving your skin that dewy, plump look.

Why it’s important: Serums are typically more concentrated and can deeply penetrate the skin, offering intense hydration without feeling heavy or greasy.

Tip: Look for serums that feature hyaluronic acid or glycerin to deeply hydrate and plump the skin. These ingredients help your skin hold onto moisture, ensuring that your skin stays hydrated throughout the day.

Recommendation: Consider The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 for intense hydration or Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum for a nourishing, lightweight formula.

5. Use an Eye Cream

The skin around your eyes is thinner and more sensitive, and winter can be particularly harsh in this area, leading to dryness and irritation. To ensure a smooth make-up application, especially for under-eye concealer, hydrate this delicate area with an eye cream.

Why it’s important: An eye cream will help reduce dryness, puffiness, and dark circles, creating a hydrated and refreshed look that makes your make-up go on seamlessly.

Tip: Look for eye creams with caffeine (for puffiness) and hyaluronic acid (for hydration). Additionally, eye creams with peptides or vitamin C can brighten and smooth the under-eye area.

Recommendation: Try Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Cream for intense hydration or Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème for a brightening effect.

6. Don’t Forget Sunscreen

Like I said before, even in winter, your skin is exposed to harmful UV rays, especially if you’re spending time outdoors. Sunscreen is crucial to protecting your skin from premature aging, and it helps your skin retain moisture. If you don’t have an SPF in your daily moisturizer, apply a separate product.

Why it’s important: Sunscreen acts as a protective barrier, preventing UV damage that can weaken the skin’s barrier and increase moisture loss.

Tip: Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and consider using a sunscreen that also provides hydration or works as a primer.

Recommendation: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Sunscreen Milk SPF 60 is great for sensitive skin and provides hydration, or EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 offers both sun protection and moisture.

7. Finish with a Hydrating Primer

A good primer is essential in winter to help your make-up stay put, but it also adds another layer of hydration. Choose a primer that is hydrating and provides a smooth surface for foundation application.

Why it’s important: A hydrating primer will ensure your skin stays moisturized throughout the day while creating a flawless, even surface for your foundation.

Tip: Look for a primer that includes ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, or glycerin to lock in moisture while smoothing your skin.

Recommendation: Try Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water or Too Faced Hangover Primer, both of which hydrate and create a dewy, smooth base.

Winter can be tough on your skin, but with the right skincare routine, you can create a perfectly hydrated and smooth base for your make-up. By starting with a gentle cleanser, exfoliating carefully, hydrating deeply with a rich moisturizer, and finishing with a hydrating primer, you’ll ensure that your skin stays radiant and your make-up stays flawless all day long. Remember, the key is layering hydration, and a little extra care will help your skin weather the cold while looking glowing and fresh.

Looking for tips on how to do your make-up during Holiday season? Visit and our other blog article!