Skiing Skin Care: How to Protect Your Skin on the Slopes This Winter

 

Can Cold Weather Damage Your Skin Barrier?

Heading to the slopes this winter? While safety gear such as a helmet and ski suit are essential, it's also important to protect something far more delicate: your skin barrier.

With the freezing temperatures, harsh winds and beautiful blazing sunshine aka intense UV reflection from the snow, your skin has a lot to contend with while you’re having all the fun in the mountains.

To avoid a dry, tight, chapped and sunburnt complexion —which can lead to premature ageing—  make sure to up the ante on your skincare! The first step to sensational skin on the slopes is understanding how to properly protect it, and elevating your winter skincare routine.

Which Ingredients Help Protect the Skin From Cold Weather?

Choosing the right winter-friendly skincare ingredients is essential for keeping your complexion hydrated, plump and protected on the slopes. The following proven actives, all found in Dr Sebagh formulas, are some of the most effective ingredients for combating dryness, irritation and premature ageing during ski season.

Hyaluronic Acid: Deep Hydration and Barrier Support

Hyaluronic acid is one of the most powerful moisture-binding ingredients for winter skin. Naturally present in the epidermis, it acts like a sponge, attracting and holding many times its own weight in water. This ensure skin stays hydrated, plumped and fresh-looking. 

Find it in: Dr Sebagh Serum Repair

Key benefits

• Delivers intense hydration in cold, dry conditions
• Strengthens the skin barrier
• Plumps and smooths the complexion
• Reduces the appearance of fine lines
• Calsm irritation and sensitivity
• Boosts skin elasticity and firmess through micro molecular collagen peptides
• Lightweight and fast-absorbing, layers comfortably under SPF and makeup during ski days.

Cold, dry air accelerates moisture loss. Antioxidants such as green coffee extract and vitamin E help shield the skin from oxidative stress, environmental aggressors and free-radical damage, while essential fatty acids from nourishing plant oils replenish the skin's lipid barrier. Together, they strengthen the skin's resilience, improve moisture retention and provide superior protection against winter conditions.

Find them in: Dr Sebagh Extreme Maintenance Cream

Key benefits:

• Ultra-rich, deeply nourishing 
• Strengthens the skin barrier
  
• Restores long-lasting hydration 
• Creates a protective shield to defend skin against windburn, cold air and pollution
• Provides immediate comfort and soothing effects
• Improves firmness and elasticity

Why Does my Skin Get So Dry When I Ski?

Skiing exposes your skin to cold temperatures, low humidity and strong winds, all of which pull moisture from the skin barrier. Altitude also reduces the air's water content, making dryness even worse. Hydrating serums and barrier-protecting creams help prevent tight, flaky skin.

For more information on skin barrier science read the Dr Sebagh Skin Secrets 'Skin Barrier Science'.

What's The Best Moisturiser for Skiing?

Look for ultra-rich, nourishing creams with ingredients such as ceramides, peptides, antioxidants and natural oils. Products designed for dry or stressed skin work best because they reinforce the lipid barrier, preventing moisture loss in harsh environments. 

Dr Sebagh reccomends:

Extreme Maintenance Cream - Best winter moisturiser for very dry skin.

High Maintenance Cream - Best winter moisturiser for: combination skin

Supreme Day Cream - Best winter moisturiser for mature skin

For more information on lipids, read our Skin Secrets Blog Post 'Lipids in Skincare'.

What’s The Difference Between Windburn and Sunburn While Skiing?

Windburn and sunburn may look similar, but they're caused by different environmental stressors:

• Windburn occurs when cold wind strips away the skin's natural oils, damaging the barrier and causing redness, tightness and irritation. Think of it as barrier inflammation.
• Sunburn is caused by intense UV radiation. At altitude, UV exposure increases significantly, and snow reflects up to 80% of UV rays. It can occur even on cloudy days.

Why Do My Cheeks Turn Red After Skiing?

Redness can be caused by a combination of cold exposure, windburn, increased blood flow, and UV radiation. A soothing face oil or calming mask helps reduce inflammation, while SPF prevents UV-triggered redness.

How Can I Prevent Windburn on the Slopes?

Windburn happens when cold wind strips away your skin's natural oils. Prevent it by:

• A rich protective cream
• A nourishing face oil serum
• A mineral SPF
• Cover exposed areas with a neck gaiter or balaclava for extra protection

How Can I Prevent Breakouts Caused by Wearing a Ski Helmet?

Ski helmets and goggles trap heat, sweat and friction against the skin, which can clog pores and trigger breakouts, especially around the forehead, chin and jawline. To prevent 'helmet acne':

• Cleanse thoroughly after skiing to remove sweat, sunscreen and impurities. Dr Sebagh Foaming Cleanser or Dr Sebagh Rose de Vie Cream Cleanser for drier skins are ideal.
• Avoid heavy, pore-clogging makeup under your helmet.
• Keep skin hydrated but balanced with lightweight serums.
• Use a purifying clay mask, such as the Dr Sebagh Skin Perfecting Mask, 1-2 times during your trip to draw out excess oil and clear congestion and help clear blackheads.
• For an SOS quick fix, use Dr Sebagh Breakout Spot-On, which can be re-applied throughout the day to minimise redness and inflammation of active breakouts and is small enough to keep in your ski suit pocket.

What Nighttime Skincare Should I Use During a Ski Holiday?

Your nighttime routine should focus on soothing, replenishing and rebuilding the skin after exposure to cold wind, sun and altitude. A winter-focused PM ritual should include:

• A gentle, hydrating cleanser such the Dr Sebagh Rose de Vie Cream Cleanser
• A moisture-binding serum such as hyaluronic acid, Dr Sebagh Serum Repair
• A nourishing face oil, such as Dr Sebagh Rose de Vie Serum or rich cream such as Dr Sebagh Extreme Maintenance Cream to restore lipids.
• A calming or hydrating mask a few nights a week to repair the barrier and plump the skin with hydration.

For enhanced overnight recovery, use Dr Sebagh Rose de Vie Hydrating Mask. It's silk antioxidant-rich formula deeply moisturises, calms irritation and replenishes winter-stressed skin, leaving it plump, smooth and radiant by morning.

Do You Really Need Sunscreen When Skiing?

Yes, even more than in the summer. UV rays are stronger at altitude, and snow reflects up to 80% of UV light, increasing your exposure. 

 

What is the best hand cream for extremely dry or cracked hands?

The best hand cream for extremely dry or cracked hands is one that delivers intense hydration, repairs the skin barrier, and protects against harsh winter conditions, especially on the slopes. Dr Sebagh High Maintenance Hand Cream is an idea choice because it is formulated with powerful antioxidant green coffee extract, environmental protection film, and Omega 3 & Omega 6 essential fatty acids.

These ingredients work to:

• Deeply nourish and restore very dry or chapped winter hands
• Stregthen the skin barrier, reducing cracking and irritation
• Protect against wind, cold and environmental stress while skiing
• Improve skin firmness and texture, keeping hands soft and supple
• Absorb quickly with a non-greasy finish, perfect for on-the-go use on the mountain

 

What Is The Best Lip Balm For Skiing?

Choose a lip balm rich in shea butter, natural oils and antioxidants, with no added fragrance that can irritate chapped skin. Look for balms that are thick, long-lasting and protective against wind and cold.

Dr Sebagh Lip Balm

Key benefits:

• Intensely hydrating formula that protects against extreme cold
• Rich in shea butter to deeply nourish and repair
• Blended with 'green chemistry' vegetal oils, providing long-lasting moisture and barrier support in freezing temperatures
• Soothes irritation and dryness
• Thick, protective texture creates a long-wearing shield, ideal for all-day skiing
• Prevents moisture loss
• Helps heal and restore damaged lips, keeping them soft throughout your ski trip
• Non-sticky luxurious finish
• The perfect on-piste essential

Did you know?

Dr Sebagh proudly sponsors Team GB Olympian skier Jack Cunningham.