Winter Skin Mistakes You Might Be Making (And How to Fix Them)

Winter weather creates the perfect storm for skin issues. Cold outdoor temperatures, low humidity, harsh winds, and dry indoor heat all disrupt the skin barrier, making it harder for your skin to retain moisture and protect itself.

At The Piazza Center, we see an increase in patients every winter dealing with dryness, irritation, redness, breakouts, and dull skin—often despite using more products than ever. The reason? A handful of common winter skincare mistakes that quietly sabotage skin health.

Below, we break down the most frequent winter skin mistakes and explain why they’re a problem, plus what your skin actually needs instead.

10 Skincare Mistakes Not to Make This Winter

Mistake #1: Over-Cleansing or Using Harsh Cleansers

Cleansing is essential, but in winter, too much of a good thing can be damaging. Foaming, exfoliating, or highly fragranced cleansers strip the skin of its natural oils, lipids that are critical for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. When these protective lipids are removed, the skin barrier weakens. This increases transepidermal water loss (TEWL), meaning moisture escapes faster than it can be replenished. Over time, this leads to persistent dryness, tightness, flaking, redness, and heightened sensitivity. A compromised barrier also makes skin more reactive to skincare products and environmental stressors, increasing the risk of irritation and inflammation during the winter months.

How to fix it:
Switch to a gentle, hydrating cleanser designed to cleanse without stripping the skin. Limit cleansing to twice daily, and avoid exfoliating cleansers unless recommended by a professional. We recommend:

Mistake #2: Under-Moisturizing Your Skin in The Winter

Many people continue using lightweight summer moisturizers throughout winter, unaware that colder, drier conditions dramatically increase moisture loss. In winter, the skin’s ability to retain water is reduced. Without adequate moisturization, the skin barrier cannot function properly. This leads to increased dryness, rough texture, and exaggerated fine lines. Dehydrated skin also reflects light poorly, resulting in a dull, tired appearance. Over time, chronic under-moisturizing can contribute to premature aging and impaired skin repair.

How to fix it:
Choose a richer, barrier-supporting moisturizer that replenishes lipids and helps seal in hydration. The goal is not heaviness, but barrier reinforcement. Our favorite moisturizers include:

Mistake #3: Overusing Active Ingredients In Cold Weather Months

Active ingredients like retinol, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), and exfoliants can deliver incredible results—but winter skin is more vulnerable. Cold weather already compromises the skin barrier, and overusing actives can exacerbate inflammation and sensitivity. This often leads to redness, stinging, peeling, breakouts, and delayed healing. Instead of improving skin quality, excessive actives in winter can stall progress and worsen overall skin health.

How to fix it:
Temporarily reduce the frequency of active ingredients and prioritize hydration and barrier repair. Once the skin is stable, actives can be reintroduced strategically.

Mistake #4: Skipping a Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Serum

Hyaluronic acid is one of the most effective ingredients for hydration — but formulation matters. Hyaluronic acid works by attracting and holding water, but molecular weight determines how deeply it can penetrate the skin. Larger HA molecules sit on the surface, while smaller molecules reach deeper layers. Without a properly formulated, multi-weight HA serum, hydration remains superficial. In dry winter air, this can actually leave skin feeling tight or dehydrated despite using moisturizer.

How to fix it:
Use a medical-grade HA serum formulated with multiple molecular weights. Apply it to slightly damp skin and follow with a moisturizer to lock hydration in.

These are the BEST Medical-Grade HA serums on the market:

Mistake #5: Skipping Sunscreen in Winter

A common misconception is that sunscreen isn’t necessary during colder months. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is present year-round, even on cloudy winter days. UVA rays penetrate deeply into the skin, contributing to collagen breakdown, pigmentation, and premature aging. Skipping sunscreen allows cumulative sun damage to continue silently, undermining the results of skincare and professional treatments.

How to fix it:
Apply a broad-spectrum SPF every morning, regardless of the season or weather. Shop our favorite Medical-Grade Sunscreens.

Mistake #6: Only Caring for Your Face in The Winter

Facial skincare often gets all the attention, while the neck, hands, and body are overlooked. The skin on the hands, neck, and body is frequently exposed to environmental stress and frequent washing, yet receives minimal protection. In winter, this leads to dryness, irritation, crepey texture, and accelerated visible aging. These areas often reveal age faster than the face when neglected.

How to fix it:
Extend hydration and barrier care beyond the face. Consistent moisturizing and daily SPF on exposed areas are essential for full-body skin health. 

Mistake #7: Missing Lip Care

Lips are one of the most commonly overlooked areas in winter skincare — and one of the most vulnerable. Unlike the rest of the skin, the lips do not contain oil glands, meaning they can’t produce their own moisture or protective barrier. Cold air, wind exposure, and indoor heating quickly pull moisture from the lips, leading to dryness, cracking, irritation, and painful splits. Licking the lips, a common habit when they feel dry, actually worsens dehydration, creating a cycle of irritation that slows healing and increases sensitivity.

How to fix it:
Use a nourishing, occlusive lip balm regularly throughout the day to protect and hydrate the lips. Apply lip care consistently, especially before going outdoors and before bed, to maintain moisture and prevent cracking. We love these:

Mistake #8: Guessing What Your Skin Needs

Many winter skin issues occur beneath the surface and aren’t visible in the mirror. Without objective data, it’s easy to treat the wrong concerns. Guessing can lead to unnecessary products, ineffective treatments, and wasted time and money. It can also result in over-treating skin that actually needs barrier repair and hydration first.

How to fix it:
Start with a professional skin analysis, such as a VISIA TruSkin Age™ scan, to accurately assess dehydration, sun damage, texture, and overall skin health. In Austin? Book your complimentary TruSkin Age Scan here.

Mistake #9: Taking Too Hot Showers in the Winter Months

Long, hot showers may feel comforting during winter, but they can quietly do significant damage to your skin—especially when taken daily. Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils, which are essential for maintaining a strong and healthy skin barrier.

In winter, when the air already lacks humidity, this accelerates moisture loss and increases transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Over time, frequent hot showers can lead to persistent dryness, itching, redness, flaking, and flare-ups for conditions like eczema and sensitive skin. Additionally, hot water causes blood vessels to dilate, which can worsen redness and inflammation—particularly in the face and body. When followed by inadequate moisturization, the skin struggles to recover, making dryness and irritation a recurring issue throughout the winter months.

How to fix it:
Use lukewarm water instead of hot, limit shower time, and apply a hydrating body moisturizer immediately after showering while skin is still slightly damp to help seal in moisture.

Mistake #10: Ignoring Internal Dehydration

Hydration isn’t just topical. Winter habits often lead to dehydration without obvious symptoms. Cold air, indoor heating, increased caffeine consumption, and reduced water intake all contribute to internal dehydration. Dehydrated skin has reduced elasticity, slower cell turnover, and impaired healing. This can make skin appear dull, fatigued, and more prone to irritation -- especially after treatments.

How to fix it:
Increase water intake and support the skin with medical-grade hydration products that help maintain moisture balance.

Why Winter Is the Ideal Time for Skin Repair

Although winter can be challenging, it’s one of the best seasons to repair the skin barrier, address underlying damage, and build a strategic skincare plan for the year ahead. Lower sun exposure and slower schedules make winter ideal for corrective treatments and long-term skin health planning.

Start Your Winter Skin Reset in Austin, TX

Healthy skin starts with hydration, barrier support, and a personalized approach. Visit The Piazza Center or online store to shop medical-grade skincare or schedule a professional skin consultation to create a winter-appropriate treatment and skincare plan tailored to your skin.