Winter-Proof Your Skin: Our Winter Skincare Guide

How to Care for Dry Skin

Cut back on cleansing. Face wash is designed to remove debris, but it can take away a bit of moisture in the process. "In winter, limit washes to once a day," says Judith Hellman, M.D., a New York City dermatologist. The best time: "Do it at night, when you need to remove dirt and makeup," Dr. Hellman says.

Soften in two steps. Apply an SPF moisturizer all over; UV rays are drying. Then add a richer formula to cheeks, says Heidi Waldorf, M.D., director of laser and cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. (Use a gel? Try a lotion. Use a lotion? Try a cream.)

Say A-HA! Fine lines and deeper creases are more noticeable in the winter, when skin isn't as hydrated and plump. To minimize their appearance, apply a lotion formulated with alpha hydroxy acids. "AHAs fade wrinkles and act as humectants, drawing water molecules from deep in the skin to the surface," Dr. Bank explains.

Your Skin-Care Soulmates:

• Exuviance Evening Restorative Complex, $35, exuviance.com, is made with the gentlest AHAs
• Clarins HydraQuench Cream SPF 15, $49, clarinsusa.com, is a soothing SPF for dry skin.
• Bioré 4-in-1 Self-Foaming Cleanser, $6.99, drugstores, erases makeup, dirt and oil.