January has brought with it dark days, freezing temperatures and Arctic winds. Combined with drying central heating, your skin and hair may look and feel thoroughly out of sorts.

Adding a few extra steps to your routine to hydrate and repair can help, as could some carefully chosen swaps if your skin is particularly parched or irritated.

Whatever your winter beauty gripe, here are 24 products, tried and loved by me – including many products I rely on daily – or enthusiastically recommended by the Filter team and our beauty columnist, Sali Hughes. Most are affordable; if not, they’re worth their weight in gold to warrant the splurge.

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The best cold-weather beauty products

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Skincare

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Keats moisturising cream, 50ml

£29 at Keats Beauty

Founded by Lucinda Hart, previously a developer at Beauty Pie and Huda Beauty, Keats launched last summer with just two products focused on hydration, housed in chic, genderless packaging. The ceramide and phyto-lipid moisturiser really packs a punch, while being gentle enough for sensitive and reactive skin types. I wiped my first pot clean in record time – I couldn’t get enough of the cream’s rich and silky texture, which feels comforting yet is still easily absorbed.

Alpha-H vitamin B serum with 5% niacinamide, 25ml

£49.99 at Cult Beauty £49.99 at Lookfantastic

This bright blue serum is on the pricier side, but you only need a drop or two in your morning routine to feel the benefits, making it one of my go-to winter serums. With niacinamide and panthenol, it’s hydrating and helps to support barrier function too. I like the light, easily absorbed formula and the smooth texture.

Mimétique Skin Cloud cleansing balm, 100ml

£44 at Space NK

French brand Mimétique has gained a lot of attention for its simple, effective formulas this year. Sali Hughes sings the praises of its cleansing balm for being thorough and fast at removing makeup without leaving any residue. Suitable for sensitive skin types, it has a soothing balm-to-milk formula that’s ideal for winter.

Herbar the Sun Shield SPF30

€42 (about £36) at Herbar

SPF is still a necessity for protecting skin against UVA rays in the winter and it acts as a final layer of defence against the elements. If you don’t want anything that feels too heavy or creamy on top of a winter moisturiser, this Herbar formula is perfect and sits brilliantly under makeup. I’ve been using it since the start of the season and have been impressed by how light it is for a mineral formula. It leaves no white cast – just a lovely glowy finish.

For more, read Sali Hughes’s guide to the best SPF

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5, 40ml

£8.80 at Lookfantastic £11 at Boots

If you have irritated skin or a compromised barrier, you can trust this repairing La Roche-Posay balm formula. Multiple dermatologists have recommended it to me. Mahto says: “It contains 5% panthenol and centella, which soothe irritation and stimulate cell recovery. It acts a bit like a liquid plaster in that it seals the skin to create an optimal environment for healing.” Try using it like a mask overnight for fast results.

CeraVe Advanced Repair ointment, 50ml

£11.50 at Boots £12 at Noli

This is my favourite solution if I have dry, flaky skin around the nose and mouth after a cold, or rough bits on anything from knuckles and elbows to lips. It creates a comforting shield, protecting skin from any aggravation from the elements and locking in moisture. Meanwhile, hyaluronic acid hydrates and is combined with ceramides to lock in moisture and help repair the skin barrier. It’s also perfectly sized for chucking in your handbag.

Weleda Skin Food, 30ml

£7.13 at Lookfantastic £6.72 at Amazon

Weleda’s Skin Food is a beauty editor favourite. This low-cost moisturiser for super dry skin (it was also rated one of the best hand creams in our recent test) is glow-giving and feels cosseting, thanks to the protecting and soothing sunflower seed oil and calendula. It’s another product I keep in my cabinet for when bitter winds and icy temperatures have irritated exposed skin, though I wouldn’t recommend applying it to the face if you’re spot-prone, as the highly occlusive formula may clog pores.

For more, see our guide to the best hand creams for dry and chapped skin

Byoma brightening toner, 150ml

£11.99 at Boots £11.99 at Sephora

If your skin looks lacklustre and dull but you’re wary of toning with actives that could irritate the skin in these climes, Byoma’s formula is a smart choice. Alongside lactic acid to smooth, it contains glycerine and ceramides to comfort. It’s one of Sali Hughes’s repeat recommendations.

The Inkey List Plumping Tripeptide lip balm, 10ml

£8.80 at Lookfantastic £7.60 at Amazon

I hate waxy or sticky textures on my lips in the daytime, so the Inkey List’s smooth, clear formula is my handbag essential – imparting moisture and a plumping effect without irritation. A godsend when the cold, dry weather seems to suck the volume out of your pout.

For more, read our guide to the best lip balms

Shark CryoGlow LED mask

£299.99 at John Lewis £299.99 at Boots

January is a good time to start a new routine with an LED mask – red light can help combat dry skin and boost radiance. There’s also promising research on red light and near-infrared’s potential ability to boost mood by stimulating serotonin and dopamine production – an upshot on dark days. The right one for you depends on what results you want to see. Shark’s CryoGlow mask comes highly recommended by the Filter’s testing. It has 160 LED bulbs with good facial coverage, and offers three different wavelengths of light: blue, red and infrared.

For more, read our roundup of the best LED face masks

The Inkey List Caffeine eye cream, 15ml

£6.95 at Lookfantastic £9.95 at Sephora

If your sleep routine has been sent awry by cold nights, dark mornings and general malaise, puffy eyes and dark circles have likely followed. Providing a hit of caffeine to the undereye area and keeping it well hydrated, the Inkey List’s light squalane and Matrixyl 3000 formula is my favourite budget eye cream (and was also rated best budget eye cream in the Filter’s tests).

For more, see our guide to the best eye creams

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Makeup

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Nars the Multiple, 14g

£28.05 at Lookfantastic £33 at Space NK

If your skin feels dull, nothing puts a little extra colour in the cheeks (or lips, or eyelids) like the Nars Multiple. Cream blushes are more hydrating than powders, and the recent reformulation of this cult product is fantastic – it’s long-lasting and easy to blend. There are plenty of shades to choose from, though I like Sinful.

Chantecaille Lip Sheer, 2g

£34 at John Lewis £34 at Cult Beauty

If you’re after something with pigment, Chantecaille’s glossy, hydrating balm-lipstick hybrid comes in subtle and flattering shades. It’s not remotely sticky and doesn’t cling or highlight any dryness on cold-weather-addled lips. I’m sad to have worn my latest one down to a stub in the recent cold snap.

Erborian CC Creme, 40ml

£38 at Lookfantastic £38 at Space NK

Another one of my beauty ride or dies, which has added benefits for uneven winter skin tone, is Erborian’s CC Creme. The hydrating original formula is SPF 30, creamy yet light in texture and buildable, so you can pay extra attention to red areas to achieve a luminous, even finish. It’s non-comedogenic and suitable for sensitive or spot-prone skin.

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Bath and body care

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Naturium the Smoother body wash, 500ml

£19 at Boots £18.76 at Amazon

I added this Naturium wash to my shower ritual this winter and have been thoroughly enjoying it. It’s creamy and conditioning while gently exfoliating with AHAs and glycolic acid. So if, like me, you find that KP (keratosis pilaris) bumps can worsen in winter – because the skin gets drier from low humidity and cold air – then using this a few times a week will aid in smoothing skin.

Jones Road body scrub, 118ml

£36 at Jones Road

Bobbi Brown’s Jones Road beauty line is lauded for its smart formulas for mature skin, and I was excited to try her new body-care line. The exfoliator has fast become a new favourite, with such a silky, fine texture for this type of product. It makes my skin feel nourished while gently sloughing away dead skin and prepping it for a heavier winter moisturiser.

Three Warriors exfoliating glove

£11.99 at Face the Future £11.99 at Cosmetify

I use the Jones Road body scrub with the Three Warriors exfoliating glove because I like how it does the job while being gentle on parched winter skin. I also appreciate the black colour, given that white mitts can look grubby very quickly when used with products.

Akt the Everyday Encore body oil, 100ml

£35 at Akt £35 at Amazon

I’m not usually a fan of body oils, but this dry oil by British brand Akt in the orange grove scent has fast become part of my body care rotation; it smells divine thanks to the bergamot and neroli botanicals. It’s easily absorbed and gives skin an instant glow. Perfect for an uplifting home-spa moment before bed.

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Hair care

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Gisou Honey gloss ceramide therapy hair mask, 75ml

£22 at Gisou £22 at Space NK

If your long hair is feeling parched and has lost its softness, Gisou’s rich mask is a great weekly treatment with a skincare-inspired formula of ceramides and hyaluronic acid to provide a major moisture hit to mid-lengths and ends. It doesn’t feel overly heavy upon application, and the nourishing addition of mirsalehi honey gives it a lovely scent without being overpowering.

For more, check out our roundup of the best hair masks

Larry King Clean As a Whistle scalp scrub, 50ml

£14.40 at Cult Beauty £18 at John Lewis

If your hair is looking more oily or dull than usual, a weekly scalp treatment will help to detoxify and remove product and oil buildup. I’ve tried a lot of scrubs, and my favourite is Larry King’s Clean As a Whistle formula with pink Himalayan salt and coconut oil. It feels gentle, lathers nicely and leaves hair shiny, moisturised and squeaky clean.

Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural spray, 200ml

£27 at Lookfantastic £27 at Amazon

Like armour for the hair, Color Wow’s heat protectant is one of my most bought beauty products of all time. Whether the problem is hair tools, constant drizzle or central heating, the treatment spray creates a shield that keeps it looking sleek and helps it stay protected. It’s heat-activated, so use it pre-blow-dry by spritzing generously on sectioned hair, root to tip. It’s a hairdresser favourite for a reason.

Dyson Airwrap id multi-styler

£399 at John Lewis £479.99 at Sephora

If you want to invest in a hair tool, I highly recommend the Dyson Airwrap id. The newest model’s clever app can be programmed according to your hair type and texture to create and set waves, and its six lightweight attachments are all designed to dry the hair while protecting shine, strength and moisture. It uses clever tech to keep the airflow temperature below the damaging threshold of 150C, a bonus in winter when hair can be fragile.

It’s a big money buy but is on offer at John Lewis right now – and if, like me, a bouncy blow-dry makes you feel instantly more put-together, then it’s the most user-friendly tool out there for getting one at home.

For more, see our roundup of the best hot brushes

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Nails & feet

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Manicurist Active Glow polish, 15ml

£16 at Lookfantastic £16 at Amazon

Manicurist’s Active Glow is a brilliant multitasker if your nails are weak or prone to flaking or breaking in cold weather. It moisturises while adding instant strength and a healthy-looking, sheer coat of colour. I like the Blueberry shade and apply it weekly to bare nails.

Dr Glycolic Soft Feet peel socks

£3.90 for members at Beauty Pie

Beauty Pie’s sock-shaped pouches are filled with glycolic and lactic acid as well as nourishing coconut and fruit extracts, so they moisturise as well as remove dead skin. Try not to be alarmed by the snake-like peeling for several days after the 90-minute treatment. Your feet will emerge baby-soft and ready for spring.

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What you need to know

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How to create a winter skincare routine

Look for ingredients that mimic your skin’s protective barrier. Specifically, says consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto, “ceramides are essential – they act as the mortar holding your skin cells together and are often the first thing to be depleted by cold wind”. You can also find them in hair products. “Squalane is also excellent,” Mahto adds. “It’s a biomimetic oil (similar to human sebum) that prevents moisture loss without feeling heavy or clogging pores.”

While vitamin B5 and niacinamide can help calm inflammation and maintain barrier function, there’s a possibility that your barrier may be compromised right now. The signs will be clear: redness, stinging upon application of your usual products, and a tight feeling, even after applying moisturiser. If so, stop using any harsh actives (think retinoids and BHAs), anything containing perfume, and strip back your routine to the basics until your skin is calmer and happier.

It’s worth bearing in mind that while hyaluronic acid is a hugely popular humectant (meaning it works by drawing moisture to itself), in dry, centrally heated rooms, it can draw moisture to the surface and evaporate. So ensure you lock it in with an occlusive layer, such as one containing ceramides, or try an alternative ingredient such as glycerine. “It’s fantastic, often overlooked and tends to be more robust in lower humidity,” notes Mahto. Ectoin is also a much-hyped humectant skincare ingredient to look out for.

How to look after your hair in winter

You’re not alone if your locks look inexplicably greasy at this time of year. Hats are one of the biggest culprits, says Issey Cook, hair stylist at Larry King salons. “They press oil flat against the scalp, which can make hair more greasy as there’s no ventilation. Also, the cold air and dry heating combination can make the scalp dehydrated, which our skin responds to by producing more sebum.” Focus on deep cleaning the scalp and restoring moisture, as well as creating a barrier from the elements when styling.

For more:
• The best hand creams to soften dry and chapped skin
• The best body moisturisers for silky smooth, hydrated skin – tested
• The best lip balms to protect your lips

• Hayley Spencer is a journalist and editor with 15 years of experience in writing on topics spanning style, beauty and wellness