Winter, But for Your Face
Two weeks into studying abroad in Vienna, my face staged a full-blown rebellion.
Between the wind, the indoor heating that never seemed to turn off and air that felt like it was pulling moisture out of everything I owned—including me—my skin was suddenly tight, flaky and doing things I hadn’t seen it do since middle school.
That trip taught me that winter travel isn’t just cold. It’s skin-cold. And the routine that gets you through summer in Austin will not necessarily get you through December in Vienna.
Since then, I’ve spent a winter working in Copenhagen, lived through eight NYC winters and picked up snowboarding—which introduced my face to an entirely new combination of cold, wind, altitude and sunlight reflecting off snow. Through a lot of trial and error, I’ve learned what my skin actually needs, what earns space in my toiletry bag, and what I can leave at home.
For context, I have normal-to-combination skin. I’m also not a dermatologist, and this is not a universal skincare routine. It’s what has worked for me after years of traveling and living in cold places. I’ll explain why I reach for each product, but your skin may need something completely different.
I’m also not bringing a twelve-step routine on every winter trip. These are simply the products I trust to keep my face, lips, hands and body from feeling completely dried out by day two.
Most of the product links below are Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through one, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. The Beauty of Joseon link is not an affiliate link. I only recommend products I’ve personally used and would buy again.
What I Actually Change in Winter
Cold weather does not automatically mean you need more products. For me, it means I need to be more intentional about the products I’m already using.
Cold air, wind and low indoor humidity can make it harder for skin to hold onto moisture. That is when mine starts feeling tight, flaky or suddenly irritated by products it normally tolerates. Instead of trying to fix that by piling on ten new steps, I make my routine gentler and more protective.
When I’m actually being disciplined, this is the order I follow:
- 0. Oil cleanser: In a perfect world, I would do this every day. In reality, I mainly use an oil cleanser to remove my makeup before following it with my regular cleanser.
- 1. Gentle cleanser: Nothing overly stripping or aggressive. If my face feels tight immediately after washing it, the cleanser is not helping.
- 2. Hydrating toner, essence or serum: I don’t necessarily use all three. I choose one or two hydration-focused layers and pull back on stronger acids when my skin already feels irritated.
- 3. A richer moisturizer: This is the first product I upgrade for winter because it helps keep the hydration underneath from disappearing.
- 4. A sleeping mask when needed: Not every night—just when my skin feels like it needs extra help.
- 5. Sunscreen in the morning: Yes, even in the winter. Yes, every day! It becomes especially important when I’ll be outside for hours or around reflective snow.
This may be overkill for a normal day, but winter travel is not always a normal day. You’re moving between cold streets, overheated buildings, airplanes and hotel rooms where you have no control over the thermostat. My goal is not to build the longest possible routine. It is to keep my skin comfortable enough that I don’t have to think about it for the rest of the trip.
Face: Moisturizer and Overnight Repair
My Winter Moisturizer: ILLIYOON Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream
The ILLIYOON Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream is my go-to winter moisturizer. It gives me the hydration I need during colder months without feeling overly thick or heavy on my skin, which is surprisingly difficult to find in a richer moisturizer.
Ceramides are one of the components that help make up and support the skin’s outer barrier. In plain English: that barrier helps keep moisture in and everything irritating outside where it belongs. When my skin feels tight or flaky, I want a moisturizer that supports that barrier instead of introducing another strong active.
This is the product I reach for when my lighter everyday moisturizer is no longer doing enough. It feels nourishing without sitting on my face like a layer of paste, and it works well with my normal-to-combination skin.
The Overnight Reset: LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask
For nights when my skin needs an extra boost of hydration, I love the LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask. I apply it after moisturizer and leave it on overnight, especially when the cold air, a long flight or nonstop indoor heating has left my skin feeling more depleted than usual.
I treat it as an occasional extra step, not a replacement for moisturizer or something I have to use every night. The texture feels lightweight on my skin, but by morning my face feels like it received a little more help than moisturizer alone was giving it.
The mini size is also perfect for travel. I do not need the full jar taking up space in my toiletries bag, and the smaller version gets through airport security without a fight.
Lips: What I Keep in Constant Rotation
Lip products are easy to underestimate until you’re outside in the wind and suddenly smiling hurts.
The Forever Go-To: Vaseline
Vaseline Original Healing Jelly will always be my go-to. It’s simple, affordable and does exactly what I need it to do.
Vaseline is an occlusive, which means its main job is to create a protective layer that slows down moisture loss. It doesn’t add hydration by itself, so I especially like applying it when my lips are already moisturized to help seal everything in.
It isn’t the most glamorous product in this article, but it has survived every beauty trend for a reason.
When I Want Hydration and a Little Color: EADEM Le Chouchou
When I want something that feels more elevated, I love the EADEM Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balms. They feel comfortable and moisturizing on my lips, and the shades make them feel like part of the look rather than something I’m only wearing because winter is attacking me.
This is the one I reach for when I want lip care that can also pass as makeup.
The Surprise Affordable Favorite: eos 24H Moisture Super Balm
My surprise affordable favorite is the eos 24H Moisture Super Balm—specifically the tube version, not the little ball.
It’s thicker than a basic lip balm, works during the day or as an overnight treatment and is easy to throw into a purse or toiletries bag. For the price, it does far more than I expected it to.
For Hands, Cuticles and Everywhere Else
My face usually gets most of the attention, but winter does not stop there. Between cold air, handwashing and sanitizer, my hands can start feeling dry even when the rest of my routine is under control.
My Winter Hand Cream: Aesop Reverence Aromatique Hand Balm
I prefer a thicker hand cream in winter, and the Aesop Reverence Aromatique Hand Balm is one of my favorites.
It is definitely on the pricier side, so I try to take advantage of sales instead of paying full price whenever possible. This is less of an “everyone needs this exact hand cream” recommendation and more of a “if you want to treat yourself, this is one I genuinely love.”
The Multi-Purpose Option: MALIN+GOETZ All-Purpose Moisture Balm
I also love the MALIN+GOETZ All-Purpose Moisture Balm for the places that need more targeted help.
Because I can use it on my hands, cuticles, elbows and other particularly dry patches, it earns space in my bag without serving only one purpose. That matters when I’m traveling and every product has to justify the room it takes up.
For the Rest of Me: eos Shea Better Body Lotion
For my body, I love the eos Shea Better Body Lotion. It feels moisturizing enough for winter while still being something I’ll realistically apply all over instead of avoiding because it takes forever to absorb.
The richest lotion in the world is not useful if you hate applying it. This one gives me the moisture I want without turning getting dressed into a waiting game.
The UV Rays Are Still Raying
Sunscreen is a must even when you cannot see the sun. The UV rays are, unfortunately, still raying—and snow reflects sunlight, making sun protection especially important during long days on the mountain.
A quick explanation of the labels: SPF primarily tells you about protection from the UV rays associated with sunburn, while the PA rating used on many Asian sunscreens indicates the level of UVA protection. You don’t need to become a sunscreen scientist, but I look for strong UVA and UVB protection in something I will realistically wear every day.
My Everyday Favorite: THANK YOU FARMER Sun Project Water Sun Cream
My number-one everyday sunscreen is the THANK YOU FARMER Sun Project Water Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA+++. I’ve been using it for a couple of years now and still love it.
It feels more like part of my skincare routine than a heavy sunscreen I have to convince myself to wear. That matters because the sunscreen you enjoy applying consistently is more useful than the technically perfect one you keep avoiding.
My Second Choice: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun
The Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ PA++++ is a close second for me. It is another option I trust for everyday wear and regularly keep in my sunscreen rotation.
I also like Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen, particularly when I want something that works well with makeup or is easy to find before a trip.
Everyday Sunscreen Is Not Automatically Mountain Sunscreen
For snowboarding or another full day outdoors, I look for a water-resistant formula and try to follow the reapplication instructions on the product. Sweat, snow and wiping your face can all interfere with the layer you applied that morning.
I also make sure to cover the easy-to-forget areas: ears, neck, hairline and any exposed skin around my goggles. Your skincare cannot protect you if it is sitting in the hotel room.
What Actually Goes in My Travel-Day Toiletries Bag
I usually pack a small toiletries bag that stays with me during the flight, especially if I’m checking my main suitcase. That way, I still have the basics if I want to freshen up during a layover—or if my checked bag decides to take a separate vacation.
For skincare, I keep it simple:
- Lip balm
- Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
- A mini LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask
- Hand cream
My Travel-Friendly Face Cream
At home, the ILLIYOON cream is still my winter favorite. The problem is that it usually comes in a larger container, and I do not always feel like transferring it into a travel jar before every trip.
Instead, I pack the Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream. The tube is easier to travel with, and the cream gives my skin the extra moisture and protection it needs when I’m dealing with cold weather, cabin air and nonstop indoor heating. It is rich, but it still works well for my normal-to-combination skin when it is feeling especially dry or irritated.
This is not me saying you need two separate winter moisturizers. The Avène is simply the version that earns a place in my carry-on because it is easier to pack.
When I Bring a Face Mask
If my skin is really dry and I have enough space in my row—or I’m sitting in the aisle and can easily get up—I may do a sheet mask during the flight.
Most of the time, though, I save it for an airport lounge during a longer layover. If I have time, I’ll brush my teeth, wash my face and do a little skincare reset there. It is much easier than trying to manage an entire routine from an airplane seat while the person beside me is eating pretzels.
Hydrating sheet masks I actually use (multi-pack)
A face mask is an extra, not a travel requirement. Lip balm, face cream and hand cream are the products I actually want within reach. The rest can stay in my main toiletries bag until I arrive.
What I Leave at Home
Most skincare lists only tell you what to add. Mine also contains a removal section because I am not packing my entire bathroom for a five-day trip.
I usually leave behind:
- Anything I have never tried before. A winter trip is not the time to discover that your skin hates a new active—especially when you are on the wrong continent.
- Strong exfoliants when my skin is already dry or irritated. If the cold and wind are doing enough, I do not need to contribute to the problem.
- Retinol when my skin needs a break. I do not automatically stop using it for the entire winter, but I may skip it around a long flight or when my skin is already feeling sensitive.
- Every nonessential step in my at-home routine. I am not bringing multiple serums and a full ten-step routine to perform at 6 a.m. in a Copenhagen hostel bathroom.
- Products that are annoying to pack. If something is bulky, likely to leak or requires an entire decanting project, I either find a smaller alternative or leave it at home.
My winter travel routine is less about doing everything perfectly and more about keeping my skin comfortable. A few reliable products I will actually use are more helpful than a toiletry bag full of good intentions.
Two weeks into Vienna, I thought my skin had simply decided it hated Europe. It turns out it was reacting to the same things I was: the wind, the cold, the indoor heating, and the general shock of leaving a Texas winter for an actual one.
After Vienna wind, Copenhagen darkness, eight NYC winters and several days on the mountain, my routine is still not elaborate. It is just better prepared.
You do not need every product on this list, and your skin may need something completely different from mine. Start with what you already know works, add hydration where you need it and protect your skin before it reaches the full-blown-rebellion stage.
Apparently, I did not hate winter—and neither did my face. We were both just wildly unprepared for it.
Once your face is sorted, here’s what to actually wear for winter including the coats, layers, boots and thermal tights that finally taught this Texas girl how not to suffer.
Planning a winter trip to Vienna, Copenhagen or somewhere even colder? I can help with that too. As a travel advisor with Fora, I help plan trips around how you actually like to travel—from where to stay to what deserves a place in your itinerary. Book a call below and we’ll figure it out together.
