Winter weather can leave your skin feeling dry and dull. Most people find that they need to add more hydration into their winter body care routine, especially if your skin feels tight, itchy or uncomfortable.
By making some adjustments to your shower routine in winter, you can keep your skin feeling hydrated, nourished and glowing all season long.
At a glance:
- Weather, heating and your skin care routine can all have an impact on dry skin in winter
- Many soaps and foaming body washes use harsh ingredients that can dry out and irritate your skin
- Best body wash for winter: Moisturising Shower Gel
- Best body lotion for winter: Protein-Boost Hand & Body Lotion
- Layering with a body oil can help to lock in moisture and protect your skin
Read on to find out more about what causes dry skin in winter and the best body wash and body lotion for winter skin.
Why does skin get so dry in winter?
Our skin relies on a balance of natural oils and hydration to stay healthy. In winter, humidity levels plummet (even though it might not feel like it), which means there’s less natural moisture in the air.
The wind and cold temperatures can affect your skin barrier, making your skin more prone to dryness and irritation. Indoor heating also pulls moisture from your skin at a faster rate, which again can lead to dry patches and tight, dull skin.
The products you use can make a huge difference to the balance of your skin too. That’s why, at Green People, we formulate our natural and organic body care products using skin-kind ingredients. We completely avoid drying or irritating ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and ethanol alcohol.
Switching to the best body wash for dry skin in winter and following up with a rich lotion or oil can make all the difference. If you need a facial moisturiser for dry skin in winter, check out our guide to winter facial moisturisers.
The best body wash for winter dry skin
Getting the basics right can stop your skin from drying out in winter. Traditional body washes can be harsh, stripping away natural oils that your skin needs in winter. This can lead to dry, itchy skin, particularly on legs and arms.
Instead of these harsh ingredients, we use a combination of gentle foaming agents and Yucca to create a luxurious cleansing lather without the dryness or irritation.
Boost your skin’s hydration this winter with a comforting, cleansing and moisturising shower gel that’s kind to skin.
Our Moisturising Shower Gel contains soothing Marshmallow Root, which calms redness and protects precious supplies of Hyaluronic Acid for beautifully soft skin. It is also rich in nutrient-rich, organic Aloe Vera and a feel-good blend of Neroli and Mandarin essential oils to lift your mood.
Moisturising Shower Gel 200ml
Supercharge your shower routine with our certified organic moisture-boost body wash
£18.50
The best body lotion for winter dry skin
After a shower or bath, replenishing your skin’s moisture and strengthening your skin barrier is really important. It helps keep your skin hydrated, protected and in balance throughout the rest of the day.
Our Protein-Boost Hand & Body Lotion is the perfect body lotion for winter. Ideal for dry and damaged skin, this rich moisturiser contains protective, moisturising ingredients like Calendula, Perilla Oil and Quinoa to support your natural skin barrier.
It is scented with the uplifting natural aroma of Sweet Orange, Clove and Ginger.
Protein-Boost Hand & Body Lotion 200ml
Lock in hydration as you nourish dry skin with this natural body lotion
£28.00
This lotion is especially helpful if your skin feels rough or tight after showering. For even more tips on hand-specific care, head to our dedicated guide: Very dry hands? 3 things you need to do this winter.
The best body oil for winter
Sometimes, your skin needs more than a lotion. Oils are a great choice for sealing in hydration and delivering intensive nourishment especially during the colder months.
Our Time to Ease Muscle Relax Body Oil is a winter multitasker. It deeply nourishes skin with a blend of natural and organic Peppermint Oil, Black Pepper, Ginger Oil and CB2-Skin™ Biofunctional.
When used as a massage oil, it also helps to relax tired muscles while keeping skin soft and hydrated. The perfect calming and comforting pick-me-up after a long, chilly day.
Alexandra Kay Time to Ease Muscle Relax Body Oil 100ml
Melt away muscle tension with this certified organic body and massage oil
£32.00
Your winter body care routine
Getting into a routine for your skin in winter can really transform how it feels, and how you feel too. There are a few easy steps that you can take to build a winter body care routine that supports your skin in winter.
Here’s a simple body skin care routine to use in winter:
- Use an organic, natural hydrating shower gel to avoid stripping away natural oils
- Apply lotion straight after your shower or bath, while your skin is still slightly damp.
- Layer a natural body oil over your lotion a few times a week - more if your skin needs it - to create a protective barrier that locks in moisture.
This layering technique helps prevent trans-epidermal water loss (also known as TEWL), keeping your skin hydrated for longer.
By using a suitable body wash for winter dry skin and following with a nourishing lotion or oil, you can keep your skin healthy, comfortable and hydrated all winter.
Do you need a hand choosing the best winter body care products for your skin? Our UK customer care team is happy to help. Please call us on 01403 740350 or contact us on social @GreenPeopleUK.
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REVIEWED BY CHARLOTTE, FOUNDER OF GREEN PEOPLE
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry.
A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty.
A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
