5 Skin-Soothing Ingredients For All Types Of Winter Skin Freakouts

Our relationship with winter is complicated – it’s sort of like a love-hate rollercoaster. We’ll admit, there are some positives that come along with the cooler winter months, from the fashion to the comfort food to the fire side Netflix sessions, and let’s not forget the regular hot tub soaks accompanied by an Olivia Pope-style glass of vino. However, there’s one obstacle that always seems to get in the way of our winter glee, and that’s the absolute HAVOC winter air unleashes on our skin. Whether it’s dryness, flakiness, chapping skin, itchiness, and inflammation – tragically, the list goes on and on. If you’re in the same boat, these five ingredients are tried-and-true winter skin antidotes that work overtime to soften and soothe parched and aggravated skin.

For Dryness…

1. Niacinamide

What to shop: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, $34

Source: Glow Recipe

For those who’re unfamiliar with this much-loved skincare ingredient, niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, and you’ll find it in many beauty aisle items such as serums, toners, moisturizers, sheet masks, and sunscreens. Niacinamide delivers tons of skin perks, hence all the fuss around it. From evening-out discolorations to reducing excess sebum, skin sensitivity, and pore appearance, it’s quite the overachiever. Research has also shown that it can speed up ceramide production, which subsequently helps strengthen your skin’s moisture retention and lipid barrier overall.

2. Glycerin

What to shop: WISHFUL Honey Balm Jelly Moisturizer, $43

Glycerin is one hell of a hydrator. Like hyaluronic acid (HA), it’s a humectant that draws water from the air and holds it in the outermost layer of the epidermis. And because of its minute molecular weight, it penetrates the skin far better than HA, allowing it to attract moisture to the dermis as well. So essentially, it’s a dual-tasking hydrator that pulls moisture from outside and within to keep your skin supple and bouncy. FYI: our Honey Balm Jelly Moisturizer contains both niacinamide and glycerin! You’re welcome 😉

For Inflammation and Irritation…

3. Centella Asiatica / Cica

What to shop: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Sleepair Intensive Mask, $42

Source: Dr. Jart+

Centella Asiatica has several names – some of you are probably more acquainted with its other aliases, Cica, Gotu Kola, India Penny Wort, or Tiger Grass. Cica is an age-old medicinal plant used for centuries in ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. And recently, it’s grown popular in the West thanks to the global K-Beauty movement.

Traditionally, it’s renowned for its wound-healing abilities as it enhances collagen formation. From nicks, scrapes, acne, eczema, and psoriasis flare-ups, cica has been proven to accelerate healing, calm inflammation and irritations, and diminish the aggravating effects of environmental stressors due to its supreme antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Cica also increases skin hydration levels, which will aid in further soothing your dry and compromised skin barrier.

4. Licorice Root

What to shop: Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster, $39

Source: Paula’s Choice

Licorice root is another worthwhile skin soother. Glycyrrhizin, an active compound in licorice root (that also gives it its sweet taste), possesses anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antimicrobial effects. Hence, why you’ll often find it in the ingredients list of many acne and hyperpigmentation treatments, as it’s highly effective in relieving atopic dermatitis, acne, eczema, and swelling, too.

5. Hypochlorous Acid

What to shop: Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray, $28

Source: Tower 28

Hypochlorous acid is the latest buzzword on the tip of every skinthusiast’s tongue. Its popularity peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic as a trustworthy disinfectant. But there’s a twist: it’s also naturally produced, in our bodies, by our white blood cells to fight off bacteria, viruses, and fungi. So as a skincare solution, it’s sensitive-skin-friendly and comes highly recommended by derms for treating infections, breakouts, wounds, maskne, and redness induced by skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and cystic acne.

Now that we’ve covered winter skin irritation and dryness, it’s time to tackle radiance! Check out these three vitamin C serums that will keep you glowy all season long.