By: Thanhvy Phan, a UC Davis Biotech grad obsessed with science-backed, effortless beauty.

 

The weather’s changing — and so is our skin. When the air gets colder and drier, that dewy glow can start feeling more like tightness, flakiness, and irritation. Not the cutest combo. But don’t worry — here’s what’s actually happening beneath the surface, and how to keep your skin hydrated all season long.

 

Humidity, Heaters, and Why You’re Flaky

Dry skin happens when your skin can’t retain enough moisture. On a molecular level, the amount of water in the outermost level of your skin mirrors the humidity around you. When humidity drops in winter, so does your skin’s hydration. 

Some daily habits that make this worse:

• Long, steamy showers

• Harsh soaps and cleansers

• Blasting indoor heaters

… all of which strip away your skin’s natural oils and weaken its barrier, leaving it tight and dry.

 

Cracking the Code (Not Your Skin)

Here’s how to make it through winter with your glow fully intact:

1. Keep showers short and warm - NOT hot.

As amazing as hot showers feel, hot water strips away natural oils that help lock in hydration. Stick to warm water instead, and keep your shower time under 10 minutes. When you can, layer up with cozy clothes instead of cranking the heater — your skin barrier will thank you. 

 

2. Hydrate, then lock it in.

Think of hydration and moisturization as two separate steps:

1. Hydration = pulling water into the skin with humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

2. Moisturization = sealing in that hydration with occlusives and emollients - like squalane and ceramides — which fill in the gaps between skin cells and strengthen the barrier to prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Many rich creams rely on emollients and occlusives (like shea butter or mineral oil) to seal in moisture - which work well, but can be too heavy for some sensitive or acne-prone skin types. If that’s you, try layering lighter, non-comedogenic serums and moisturizers instead. 

 

Our favorite winter hydration go-tos:

• BiotechBeauty® BiomeBounce®
• Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum  
• Experiment Beauty Super Saturated Serum

 

3. Quick fixes - at home or on the go.

• Use a humidifier to add moisture back into your environment (helps with sinuses, too).

• Use a facial steamer before applying skincare to help your products absorb better.

• Keep hydration on hand — literally. A travel-size hand cream or hydrating mist makes it easy to reapply throughout the day. 

Some crowd favorites: Trader Joe’s Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream and Rhode Glazing Mist. 

 

Seal it and Forget it

Dry skin happens to all of us, but with the right balance of hydration, moisture, and barrier support, your skin can stay healthy and glowing — even in the coldest months. And if you need a boost, BiomeBeam® highlighter’s got your back (and your cheekbones).

Goodbye dry patches, hello radiant skin.

 

XO,

BiotechBeauty®