The New Cold-Weather Body Care Routine for Soft, Glowing Skin

The weather is changing, and if your skin has already started to feel tight, flaky, and a little dull, you are not imagining it. Cooler air pulls moisture right out of your skin, which is exactly why our editors are switching up their cold-weather body care now rather than waiting for the first truly freezing day. The good news? A glowing, hydrated finish is just a few smart steps away, and we have rounded up the exact lineup we are reaching for to keep skin soft from the first exfoliating swipe to the last drop of overnight lotion.

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Step One: Exfoliate Body Before You Even Shower

Cold-weather body care starts with a clean slate, and that means sloughing off the dry, rough buildup that makes everything else sit on top of your skin. The Abi Ame Soft-Touch AHA 30% + BHA 2% Pre-Shower Exfoliating Body Mask ($38) is a pre-shower treatment built for exactly this season, targeting those rough, bumpy, keratosis-pilaris-prone patches on arms and legs. Smooth it onto dry skin before you step in, let it sit for a few minutes so the glycolic and salicylic acids can work, then rinse. It is the step that makes every product after it absorb better.

Step Two: Cleanse and Buff Body in the Shower

Once you are in, keep the smoothing going. The goop Beauty Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser ($29.75, a limited-time deal) is a gentle jelly-to-lather face wash with squalane, Kakadu plum, and vitamin C that cleans and softens without that stripped, tight feeling cold weather already gives you. For the body, the Bsofing Soft Silicone Body Scrubber ($7.99) is a two-pack of hygienic silicone loofahs that lather beautifully and are gentle enough for sensitive, winter-dry skin. Together they leave everything buffed and ready to drink up moisture.

Step Three: Layer On Hydration and Glow

Here is the secret to that lit-from-within look, and it is all about layering serums while skin is still damp. Start with the Saltair Hyaluronic Acid Body Serum ($22.99), a lightweight, fragrance-free gel with red algae and sodium hyaluronate that floods thirsty skin with moisture. Follow with the Saltair Vitamin C Body Serum ($23.00), a glow complex and tone corrector that brightens dull, uneven patches for a radiant finish. Hydration first, glow second, and both sink in fast so you can get dressed without the wait.

Step Four: Let Retinol Do the Work Overnight

Nighttime is when your skin repairs itself, so give it something to work with. The Saltair Retinol Revive Night Lotion ($23.00) is a dual-action retinol body lotion with kelp, allantoin, and glycerin that firms and smooths while you sleep, so you wake up to softer, more even-looking skin. Smooth it on as the last step of your evening routine, and let it quietly do its thing until morning. By the time the real chill sets in, your cold-weather body care routine will already have you glowing.

As always, use everything in moderation, and if your skin feels sensitive, simply switch to using the stronger steps on alternating days.