Why Skin Dries in Winter – and How to Treat It Naturally

In winter, Finnish skin faces a challenge unknown in many other countries: the combination of outdoor frost and indoor district heating mercilessly strips the skin of moisture. By understanding the cause, you can choose the right treatment.

Why Does Winter Dry Out Skin Especially in Finland?

Winter skin suffers from two simultaneous stresses:

• Outdoors: Cold air contains little moisture. In freezing temperatures, the relative humidity can drop below 30%. The skin is exposed to a harsh, dry airflow that continuously evaporates moisture from its surface.
• Indoors: Finnish homes are heated with district heating or electric heating, which often dries indoor air to a relative humidity of less than 25–30%. These are almost desert-like conditions.

The skin reacts to the transition from hot to cold and back: the skin's own moisture balance is disturbed, and natural fats are depleted faster than the body can produce them.

How to Recognize Winter Dryness?

Winter dry skin looks and feels different from summer dryness:

• Skin feels tight or "taut" within an hour of washing your face
• Fine flakiness or roughness, especially on the cheeks, forehead edges, and chin area
• Skin tone is even, and its radiance has disappeared
• Redness or small flaky areas on the sides of the nose or forehead

Natural Treatment Strategy for Winter

Winter skincare is based on three principles: cleanse gently, nourish deeply, protect effectively.

1. Change Your Cleansing Method

Foaming cleansers stress already dry skin. For winter, switch to oil cleansing: oil effectively removes impurities by dissolving them on a lipid basis, but it doesn't strip the skin's natural oils. Luonkos's Infinity oil cleansing bar has been developed especially for normal and dry skin.

2. Add a Serum to Your Routine

In winter, the skin benefits more from serum than in summer. Serum works by layering: it penetrates deep and delivers moisture and nourishment where creams cannot reach. Eternity serum contains plant oils that strengthen the skin's lipid barrier long-term.

3. Switch from Light Cream to Richer

A light summer moisturizer is not enough in winter. Increase the product's fat content or layering: serum as a base, then a nourishing cream or Boost cleansing oil with forest microbes as a protective layer.

4. Remember Your Body

The face often gets the most attention, but in winter, the shins, arms, and back also dry out significantly. Use a body oil bar on damp skin after showering – it absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue.

Influencing Home Conditions

In addition to skincare, it's worth paying attention to home conditions. A room humidifier is one of the most effective ways: it raises indoor air humidity to 40–50%, which significantly reduces skin moisture loss during the night.

Winter Skincare Routine with Luonkos

Mornings: Infinity oil cleansing bar → Eternity serum → Bliss Vitamin C serum (optional) → light cream for protection.
Evenings: Oil cleanse → serum → nourishing oil or Boost cleansing oil for the night.
Once a week: Euphoria sugar body scrub for the whole body + extra serum for the face.

You can find all winter skincare products in our facial care selection and oil serums collection.