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TZR Beauty Heroes are vetted products out of the dozens that land on our editors’ desks throughout the year. This month, TZR’s beauty team shares its favorite winter skin care buys.
‘Tis the season for frigid temps, blustering winds, and a lackluster complexion that matches the less-than-desirable forecasts of the foreseeable future. Yes, regardless of age, skin type, and specific concerns, you’ll be able to see — and often feel — the effects of winter weather on your skin. Think tightness, flaking, dullness, and redness, to name a few common indicators. The good news is it’s possible to avoid this disastrous scenario by establishing a core routine with the best winter skin care products. Not only do these formulas work to prevent seasonal struggles like dryness, they’ll also address your year-long skin goals, like minimizing breakouts, less obvious pores, and a smoother, firmer texture.
But with so many creams, lotions, and potions hitting virtual and physical beauty aisles, just where do you start when building a cold-weather skin care regimen? Let TZR’s beauty team guide you. With varying skin types and concerns, our editors have tested countless products ahead of the season’s polar vortexes to find the heroes we’ll keep in regular rotation this year.
Ahead, you’ll find everything from a gentle blemish-fighting serum to a rich skin barrier-protecting cream — and every hydrating product you could possibly need in between.
The Hydrating Foaming Cleanser
Purifying Whipped Cleanser
Deinde
Washing your face with a foaming cleanser is all fun and games until it further strips your already dry, irritated skin. If you just can’t give up the bubbles, keep Deinde’s whipped cleanser in your medicine cabinet this season. The pH-friendly formula gets rid of dirt, oil, and other impurities without compromising the skin barrier to prevent any further irritation. It even has the National Eczema Association’s seal of approval, so rest assured it’s gentle enough for the most temperamental complexions.
The Brightening Essence
The Giving Essence
Then I Met You
Harnessing the power of fermented sake, antioxidants from red algae and berries, plus niacinamide, the K-beauty brand’s toner is the anecdote to dull, dehydrated, lifeless skin. Use it after exfoliating and before your serums for optimal results.
The Smoothing Serum
Hyaluronic Filler Serum
GM Collin
Wearing foundation can be extra dicey in the wintertime. Choosing a formula that’s too full coverage or not moisturizing enough can highlight any cold weather-induced dry patches and uneven texture. That’s where GM Collins Hyaluronic Filler Serum comes in. Apply the hydrating serum prior to the other products in your morning routine to create a smooth, plump base for even base makeup application and long-lasting hydration.
The Breakout-Banishing Serum
Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum
Glow Recipe
Yes, hydration is the cornerstone of everyone’s winter skin care routine, but your other concerns don’t magically disappear when the temperatures drop. If you deal with regular breakouts, maintain a clear, blemish-free complexion with Glow Recipe’s Blackberry Retinol Serum. Despite containing three different retinoids to tackle pimples, it’s also soothing thanks to hydrating glycerin, ectoin, and blackberry extract.
The Glow-Inducing Serum
Radiance Refresh Antioxidant Serum
Saint Jane
You’re not imagining it: Your skin is starting to look as dull and dreary as the weather forecast. Revive your winter-worn skin with this antioxidant-stacked serum. On top of boosting radiance, the formula’s blend of rose, winter cherry, and chamomile nourishes and soothes irritation.
The Face-Snatching Moisturizer
Cryo Revitalizing Moisturizer
111Skin
Cryotherapy during a polar vortex probably doesn’t sound like a good time, but trust this gel moisturizer, inspired by the extreme cold treatment, is worth it. The instant cooling effect sculpts, tightens, and awakens skin with the help of the brand’s proprietary NAC Y2 complex, ginseng, polyglutamic and hyaluronic acids.
The Plumping Moisturizer
Firm Belief Smoothing Peptide Cream
Keys Soulcare
Peptides is one of the rare buzzy skin care ingredients that lives up to the hype. Made up of multitasking chains of amino acids that occur naturally in the body, they work wonders to smooth fine lines, plump skin, and boost collagen production. No wonder Keys Soulcare made peptides the hero of its latest moisturizer. The deeply nourishing cream can be used morning and night to hydrate skin and improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
The Do-It-All Moisturizer
Future Solution LX Total Regenerating Cream
Shiseido
With a complex of a proprietary amino acid, enmel herb, vitamin C, and green tea that fights visible signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, and volume loss, future you will be thankful you made Shiseido’s regenerating cream your nighttime moisturizer.
The Skin Barrier Cream
Bora Barrier Repair Cream
Drunk Elephant
The hottest topic in skin care come wintertime? Barrier protection. As the outermost layer of skin, it’s the key to a healthy, hydrated complexion. So a rich moisturizing cream is a must in your routine to prevent dryness and irritation. This one from Drunk Elephant is stacked with an all-star lineup of lipids, zinc and copper gluconates, and alpha glucan to restore, soothe, and hydrate skin. Despite its thick texture, it doesn’t feel heavy or greasy on your face.
The Multitasking Eye Cream
Supremÿa At Night The Supreme Anti-Aging Eye Cream
Sisley Paris
Think of Sisley’s do-it-all eye cream as the skin care equivalent of an end-of-day sweet treat. It comes with a zamac massage tool so applying it feels like an at-home facial treatment. What’s more, despite the product’s lightweight feel, it’s packed with heavy-hitting plant-based extracts and butters that minimize dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles, sagging, and dryness.
The Stylish Lip Balm
Glowing Lip Balm
Sulwhasoo
Every so often, a skin care product comes along that’s as effective as it is aesthetically pleasing. Case in point: Sulwhasoo’s Glowing Lip Balm. The white ribbed tube doubles as a decorative object for your vanity while the formula of ginseng plus plant butters and oils work to keep lips soft and smooth. Choose from clear or petal pink for a soft hint of color.
The Nourishing Lip Mask
Bouncy & Firm Plumping Lip Treatment
LANEIGE
Your regularly scheduled face mask sessions should include your lips, too. Slather on this collagen, ceramide, and peptide-powered treatment before bed to sleep your way to softer, smoother, and plumper lips in the morning. Its soothing, calming scent of orange blossom, rose, and sandalwood turns a simple mask application into a true nighttime self-care moment.
The Overnight Skin Treatment
Advanced Night Repair Overnight Treatment
Estée Lauder
It sounds too good to be true, but you really can sleep your way to better skin — with the right products in your nighttime regimen, like Estée Lauder’s leave-on treatment. The repairing formula replenishes dry skin while simultaneously strengthening the barrier, boosting radiance, and reducing the look of fine lines.
The Skin-Refreshing Face Mask
Silica Mud Mask
Blue Lagoon
Clay masks are notoriously drying. However, this one from Blue Lagoon is an exception because it cleanses and refreshes your skin without leaving your face feeling tight. The credit is due to barrier-strengthening silica derived from the brand’s lagoon in Iceland, along with soothing mineral salts. Apply it and let it marinate on your skin for 10-15 minutes once or twice a week for a much-needed reset.
The Hydrating Body Wash
The Body Wash Concentrate
AKT London
Say goodbye to stripping body washes because AKT London’s The Body Wash Concentrate will give you the most luxurious lather while replenishing your skin. Using a combination of skin-balancing prebiotics, moisture-boosting olive squalane, and regenerating vitamin E, the water-free formula leaves your skin feeling silky smooth, whether you’re dealing with dryness from the cold climate or experience it year-round.
The Skin-Smoothing Scrub
Salts of the Earth Body Scrub
OSEA
Although body scrubs are meant to get rid of dead cells and dry patches, they shouldn’t be disrupting your skin’s barrier. Instead, opt for a moisturizing formula like this one by OSEA. The gentle exfoliant gives you the smooth finish you crave while a combination of gigartina seaweed, mineral salts, and shea butter work together to leave a silky and deeply moisturized finish. The light lavender scent will turn your nighttime shower into a calming wind-down from the day.
The Brightening Body Serum
Body Reform Treatment Serum
Shani Darden
This multifarious body treatment smooths rough bumps, firms wrinkles, brightens hyperpigmentation, and dissolves the appearance of stretch marks using a formula inspired by the celebrity esthetician’s cult-favorite retinol serum. The hero of the formula is 2% granactive retinoid, which diminishes the look of fine lines while also firming and brightening skin. Playing a supporting role, hydronesis smooths texture and moisturizes, vitamin C minimizes dark spots, and amino acids improve firmness.
The Travel-Friendly Body Bar
Vanilla & Vetiver Body Stone
Kate McLeod
Nothing is more annoying than having to consolidate all your liquids into TSA-approved travel-sized bottles, but with the Kate McLeod Vanilla & Vetiver Body Stone, you have one less product to transfer. This sweet vanilla and earthy vetiver-scented lotion bar becomes an oil as it melts into the skin. For use, slide it across your limbs with gentle massaging motions, and the concentrated cocoa butter formula will deeply nourish and restore moisture. Your skin will be glowing and you’ll feel soft to the touch.
The Silky Body Lotion
Natural Moisturizing Factors + Inulin Body Lotion
The Ordinary
Who knew soft and supple skin was just $15 away? The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Inulin Body Lotion targets dryness with a formula that is lightweight and non-greasy, but still offers top-tier hydration. A mixture of urea, PCA, and amino acids act as humectants that latch onto water and ensure that your skin is remarkably moisturized. Plus, the addition of the prebiotic inulin assists the microbiome, which helps maintain the moisture barrier. Immediately, you’ll notice that your skin feels smoother, softer, and reinvigorated.
The TikTok-Favorite Body Cream
Crème de You Body Butter
Glossier
If you’re so in love with the viral Glossier You fragrance, you wish you could slather yourself in it, the Crème de You Dry-Touch Body Butter was made for you. This fast-absorbing cream gives you the intense moisturization you’re craving without a greasy finish that stains your favorite pajama sets and linen sheets. Infused with nourishing ingredients like shea butter and jojoba oil, your skin will be smooth and radiant.
The Firming Body Oil
Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil
Sol de Janeiro
Not only does this firming body oil smell like the beloved salted caramel and pistachio notes of the brand’s beloved Cheirosa ’62 body mist, but it also reduces puffiness and promotes blood circulation. Brazilian olive oil deeply moisturizes without leaving a greasy residue while the proprietary Guaraná Caffeine + Complex tightens skin. For heightened results, apply the oil while copying the brand’s lymphatic drainage massage techniques they outline on its website.
The Nighttime Body Oil
Night Body Serum
Moroccanoil
Moroccanoil might be known for its hydrating collection of hair products, but the brand’s body care products shouldn’t be overlooked. Taking beauty sleep to a whole new level, the Night Body Serum is a powerful overnight product that uses a concoction of vitamin C, holy basil extract, and argan and tsubaki oil to make your skin more firm and smooth as you sleep. Not to mention, you’ll wake up with a lustrous, youthful glow.
The Tech Neck-Fighting Cream
The SCULPT Neck + Décolleté Concentrate
U Beauty
It’s time to stop neglecting your neck, and U Beauty’s The SCULPT Neck + Décolleté Concentrate is the product to treat this delicate area of skin. Using ectoin, 4D hyaluronic acid, hexapeptide, and biomimetic plant extracts, the hydrating concentrate visibly tightens, lifts, and contours the neck, chest, and jawline.
The Hand Care Treatment
Youth Glove Protocol Hand Care Trio
Orveda
ICYMI: Your hands need their own skin care routine, too. It’s exactly why Orveda created the Youth Glove Protocol Hand Care Trio. Composed of the Intensive Serum Hand Mask, a Filler Hand Cream, and silicone gloves, this three-step treatment solution restores plumpness to your palms and fingers while promoting an even complexion. Once a week, apply two pumps of the serum followed by the same amount of hand cream, slip on the gloves, and after 10 minutes you’ll notice that your hands feel softer and look more radiant. For daily use, apply the hand cream as needed. The serum’s blue agave yeast extract is the powerhouse ingredient that will help restore skin fullness while the biomimetic complex secures moisture levels.
The Ultra-Chic Hand Cream
Hand Cream Xtra Milk
Dedcool
Moisturize your hands this winter, but make it cool. With the same amber, bergamot, and white musk notes of its cult-favorite eau de parfum counterpart, this ultra-chic, TSA-friendly product will make you look forward to applying hand cream. It features a buttery yet quick-absorbing formula with a slew of benefits. Niacinamide brightens skin while ceramides and plant-based butters add extreme hydration that will reinvigorate the skin’s barrier.