Winter is coming. It’s bringing with it holiday cheer, delicious warm foods, and… harsh temperatures and cold winds that suck all the moisture out of your skin! Dry skin = flaky foundation. It happens to me every winter. As my cheeks and the area around my nose get drier, foundation starts to stubbornly clinging to these flaky patches. I look like my skin is falling apart – awful! The solution? Hydration. Foundation needs a smooth canvas to adhere to, so you need to pump the moisture up in your skin. Here are 4 ways your skincare can help handle flaky foundation:
Why Does Foundation Flake More in Winter?
Before we even dive into the solutions, let’s talk about why foundation looks so bad in winter. It’s not just random bad luck. It’s science. Cold air holds less moisture, so the minute you step outside, it’s basically sucking hydration out of your skin. Then inside, the heating’s blasting and making it even worse. Add that to already dry-prone spots like around your nose and cheeks, and your skin barrier is waving the white flag. Foundation just has nothing smooth to cling to. Instead of blending in, it sticks to dry patches, catches on flakes, and ends up making texture 10x worse.
1. Opt for a gentle creamy cleanser
Did you know that sebum is your skin’s natural moisturiser? Stripping the excess is fine, but when you go too far and soak it all away, your skin turns drier than the Sahara. Stay away from harsh or gel cleansers and opt instead for creamy formulas that cleanse and moisturise skin at the same time.
You want something that feels like lotion, not like it’s stripping your face for parts. If your skin feels tight after washing, you’ve already lost. That’s your skin going, “Cool, thanks for absolutely nothing.” Creamy = good. Foamy = why is your face now dry and angry.
Best Picks:
- CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser ($16.99): My fave cleanser for dry skin, it leaves it clean and soft. Available at CeraVe, Dermstore, Look Fantastic, Superdrug and Ulta
- Cosrx low PH Good Morning Gel Cleanser ($14.00): A low-ph (5.5), foaming cleanser for oily skin. Leaves your skin clean without any tightness. Available at Boots, Look Fantastic, Soko Glam, Stylevana, Ulta, and Yes Style
- La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser ($25.99): A no-frills, simple cleanser for sensitive skin. Available at Boots, Dermstore, Look Fantastic, Sephora, Superdrug, and UIta
Related: How To Choose The Right Cleanser For Your Skin Type
2. Switch To A Richer Moisturizer
The lightweight moisturizer you used in the summer will probably not be moisturizing enough to keep your skin in top shape in winter when it’s under attack from the harsh weather outside. Switch to a heavier duty formula that’s rich in natural oils and butters, like shea, marula and Squalane.
They’re rich in fatty acids, the building blocks of your skin’s protective barrier. They repair it when it’s broken down and strengthen it when it’s intact. The result? Hydrated, plumped skin that makes a smoother canvas for makeup.
Best Picks:
- CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($19.99): My most recommended moisturiser, it’s suitable for all skin types. It deeply moisturises without clogging pores. Available at Boots, Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Look Fantastic, Superdrug, and Ulta
- Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream ($60.00): A no-frills, rich cream that deeply moisturises skin. Available at Cult Beauty, Sephora, SpaceNK and Ulta.
- Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer ($35.00): One of the richest moisturisers I know, this baby is loaded with fatty acids to deeply moisturise even the driest of skin types. Available at Cult Beauty, Paula’s Choice, and Sephora
Related: How To Choose The Best Moisturiser For Dry Skin
3. Exfoliate The Flakes Away
Dry skin needs exfoliation, too. The trick is to do it gentle. Scrubs are out. They’re too harsh and tear at the skin. Ouch! Instead opt for a AHAs exfoliant. AHAs, such as Glycolic Acid, dissolve the glue that holds your skin cells together, making those pesky flakes come off sooner. Plus, they also boost collagen production, reduce small wrinkles, and hydrate skin.
The catch? Too much exfoliation has the opposite effect and dries out your skin even more. Don’t go overboard. Two or three nights a week is more than enough! Also, if you’re sensitive, don’t come in hot with glycolic at 10%. Start with lactic acid or mandelic acid. Gentler, less drama, still gets the job done. The goal is to smooth your face, not set it on fire. And for the love of all things glowy, don’t exfoliate in the morning and then step out into icy wind. That’s just asking for pain.
Best Picks:
- Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ($29.00): The cult exfoliant from the brand, it unlclogs pores and treats blackheads and acne. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Paula’s Choice, Sephora, and SpaceNK.
- The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution: A simple, no-frills Glycolic Acid exfoliant that brightens the complexion and fades away dark spots. Available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Sephora, The Ordinary, and Ulta.
- The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% ($8.90): A simple Lactic Acid exfoliant enriched with Hyaluronic Acid to exfoliate and hydrate skin at the same time. Available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, and Ulta.
Related: AHAs VS BHA: Which Exfoliant Is Right For You?
4. Choose A Moisturizing Foundation
Enough with skincare. The type of foundations you use matters too. Powders are drying by definition, so avoid them like the plague. Instead, opt for liquid formulas that hydrate skin while hiding imperfections. If you hardly have any, go with a tinted moisturizer. Enriched with hydrated and moisturizing agents, tinted moisturizers even out the complexion and ensure skin stays soft and smooth for hours.
And please, stop punishing your skin with 24-hour longwear formulas in the dead of winter. It’s not cute. If your base is cracking by lunchtime, that’s your sign. Choose something creamy, maybe even a BB cream if you’re feeling fancy. You can always powder your T-zone, but the rest of your face? It needs kindness. I like Clinique Even Better Refresh Hydrating And Repairing Makeup ($42.00). You can grab it at Sephora, Nordstrom and Ulta
Need help creating the best skincare routine for you dry skin? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Dry Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it includes product recommendations, too!).
How to Touch Up Flaky Foundation During the Day
Your makeup’s already on, and now it’s clinging to dry patches like it hates you. Cool. Here’s what you do: grab a hydrating mist (something with actual ingredients, not just overpriced water) and spray your face like you’re trying to revive it from the dead. Then press it in with a damp sponge. Don’t swipe, don’t rub. Just smush it back to life. Still crusty? Take a cotton bud, flick the worst bits off, tap a bit of moisturiser on top, and mash your base back in. Will it look perfect? No. Will it look better than flaky clown cheeks? Yes.
The Bottom Line
Flaky winter foundation is not a vibe. And it’s not your makeup’s fault. It’s your skin crying out for help. Fix the base, fix the face. Gentle cleanser, thick moisturiser, the right kind of exfoliation, and makeup that isn’t trying to turn your face into the Sahara. That’s the combo. Do less, moisturise more, and stop trying to make matte happen in January.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
