I Have Excessively Dry And Flaky Skin, But These 13 Skincare Swaps Saved Me This Winter

I have a dry-combination skin type, but lately, the unbalanced frigid weather of the Midwest and the severe lack of humidity in my entire home has left me unacceptably dehydrated. I'm no stranger to dry patches, painfully tight skin, or itchiness, but I took a more serious approach to my skincare routine this season in order to find a solution, and I'm happy to say it worked.

Just as I swapped out my seasonal style staples, I also reworked my skincare routine to build my indispensable toolkit of moisture-rich MVPS that have been the antidote to my thirsty skin. From gentle, replenishing cleansers to ultra-hydrating face masks, these are the 13 formulas that have completely transformed my skin for the better this season.

13 Winter Skincare Swaps to Rescue Dry Skin

• La Roche Posey Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser, $16.99; laroche-posay.us
• Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner, $38; glowrecipe.com
• Byoma Hydrating Recovery Oil, $18.99; ulta.com
• Eight Saints Up the Anti Anti-Aging Cream, $44; eightsaintsskincare.com
• Joah Cooling Gel Mist, $12.99; joahbeauty.com
• Bubble Skincare Water Slide Serum, $17; hellobubble.com
• Grace & Stella Moisturizing Eye Masks, $30; graceandstella.com
• Tula H2Oasis Instant Skin Reviving Mask, $34; tula.com
• Innbeauty Project Face Glaze Highlighting Gel Cream, $25; innbeautyproject.com
• Innisfree Green Tea Caffeine Bright-Eye Serum, $22; us.innisfree.com
• Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash, $36; dermalogica.com
• Hero Cosmetics Glow Balm, $19.99; herocosmetics.us
• Naked Sundays SPF50 Clear Glow Sun Stick, $30; us.nakedsundays.com

La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser

I need my cleanser to multitask by eliminating impurities without completely stripping my skin. The restorative ceramides ensure this cream conditions my skin, making it feel less like a cleanser and more like a purifying treatment. My skin feels refreshed, minus the uncomfortable tightness and irritation that other cleansers have caused.

Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner

Glow Recipe's newest member is just as impressive as its iconic Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, maybe even more so. This formula feels light but quickly melts into my skin, leaving a subtle luminosity behind. I use this emulsion for its hydration benefits, but its brightening effects are a major bonus for the hyperpigmentation that plagues my cheeks.

Byoma Hydrating Recovery Oil

Skincare oils can very quickly get out of hand. Most of the time, they end up sitting on top of my skin, making me look and feel greasy—not this one. I love Byoma's affordable skincare line, and this incredibly lightweight oil is no exception. It's packed with nine antioxidant-rich oils like squalane, jojoba, rosehip, and sunflower oil, giving a wonderful plumping effect.

Eight Saints Up the Anti Anti-Aging Cream

This anti-aging cream is officially a must-have for my nightly routine. I was drawn to it by the hero ingredient, niacinamide, but paired with hyaluronic acid, the rich cream packs a powerful punch on the hydration side that I wasn't expecting. A little goes a long way, and it leaves my skin feeling so soft, I have to constantly stop myself from touching it.

Joah Cooling Gel Mist

Whether I need a dose of moisture during the work day, after I apply my full glam makeup, or before bed, this fine gel spray always does the trick. I swear, I own mists three times as expensive as this one, and their misters aren't as ultra-fine as this one. The aloe, mint, and centella asiatica blend quickly and calms my complexion when it starts to feel itchy.

Bubble Skincare Water Slide Serum

Another new formula straight out of the drugstore isles, Bubble's Water Slide serum couldn't be more aptly named. It's overflowing with skin-first actives like squalane, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, prickly pear extract, and peptides to lock in moisture while soothing your skin. The lotion is deceptively thin and absorbs in a flash, so I'm able to seamlessly layer it with the rest of my skincare routine.

Grace & Stella Moisturizing Eye Masks

My under-eye area needs all the help it can get, especially if I plan on applying concealer. Before applying my makeup, I throw these masks on for at least 20 minutes to help create a smooth base. They help me look like I got a good eight hours of sleep, even if it was only six hours of tossing and turning.

Tula H2Oasis Instant Skin Reviving Mask

You only need 10 minutes to reap the benefits of Tula's new revitalizing face mask. It livens up my tired-looking skin with a potent combination of ceramides, prickly pear, desert lime, hyaluronic acid, rose of Jericho, and Tula's proprietary s6pro complex, which is a highly potent fusion of three prebiotic and three probiotics sourced from root vegetables. It comes in an easy-to-apply tube, so you can simply drag it over your face to slather it on.

Innbeauty Project Face Glaze Highlighting Gel Cream

For those no-makeup days that have me screaming for a soft glow, I turn to this highlighting gel cream. It also works as a luminous base for your complexion products, but the injection of squalane, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides with a radiance-boosting base makes me feel like I don't need a skin tint or foundation.

Innisfree Green Tea Caffeine Bright-Eye Serum

From the caffeine, antioxidants, and green tea to the deliciously cooling metal roller ball applicator, I will find any excuse to use my Innisfree eye serum. It touts five different kinds of hyaluronic acids that depuffs and smoothes my under eyes in just a few swipes.

Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash

Previously, I used cleansing oils, but too much of a good thing tends to make my body break out in blemishes. Once I started using the conditioning body wash, I no longer needed to depend on cleansing oils. This stuff gives my body the moisture boost it's craving while also delivering skin-nourishing ingredients like tea tree and lemon oils.

Hero Cosmetics Glow Balm

Stick serums save the day once again. This convenient push-up balm holds linoleic acid, ceramides, and vitamin E for a gentle yet effective treatment when I suffer from unruly dry spots. I don't always want to use moisturizers or oils all over, so I'll grab this for the ultimate spot treatment, even if I'm on the go.

Naked Sundays SPF50 Clear Glow Sun Stick

Not all SPF is created equal, and sometimes creamy sun protection just isn't enough for my parched face. If you're looking for a glow-giving balm that packs some serious SPF, you'll want to try this dry oil stick from Naked Sundays. The impressive cocktail of ​​vitamin C, lycopene, watermelon extract, and amino acids is enveloped in a clear stick that doesn't leave any residue behind. You can even use it all over your body.