The Definitive List of Skincare Products for Winter

The cold can have devastating effects on your skin, especially when accompanied by the snow and dry winds of winter. This time can be rough but all is well—with patience and proper care, you can still have good skin during the season.

We’ve prepared a list of the best products to add to your skincare routine so that you can still have healthy, glowing skin despite the cold season. Read on to see our top picks and find your skin's winter bestie from the bunch.

Toners for Winter

1. I’M FROM Rice Toner

The cold and lack of humidity brought by winter can be harsh on your skin, causing dryness, dull skin, and many more. The I’m From Rice Toner is perfect for the season since it is both hydrating and brightening through gentle exfoliation. It is created with ground Yeoju rice and 77.78% Goami extracts.

2. Benton Guava 70 Skin Toner Face Mask Pad

Calming and hydrating, the Benton Toner pad is the next go-to for your skin’s winter needs. It is formulated with a patented soothing complex using seven botanical ingredients to nourish and calm your skin, especially if it is sensitive. As toner pads, you can also use it for your makeup prep to guarantee a smoother base despite the cold.

3. Ma:nyo Bifida Biome Ampoule Toner

Reinforce your skin barrier so it can weather through the frigid chill of winter. This toner from Ma:nyo contains Bifida Biome™ which protects your skin to keep it healthy. It also deeply hydrates with ten types of hyaluronic acid and provides gentle exfoliation through PHA.

4. SKINFOOD Carrot Carotene Calming Water Pad

Moisture is key against many skin problems. The Skinfood Carrot Carotene Toner Pad is well-loved for soothing and relieving skin through proper moisture and its anti-inflammatory properties. If you have dry patches or problem areas, apply these toner pads and let your skin absorb its essence for a few minutes—wait and you’ll see the difference.

5. Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner

Lightweight, hydrating, easily absorbed—this toner is a perfect fit for our besties with oily skin even during winter. The Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner creates a moisture-protective film and revives dull, tired-looking skin. It has three different molecular sizes of hyaluronic acid to treat your skin to intense and long-lasting hydration. 

6. Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide™ Toner & Moisturizer

You've read it right—Laneige created a two-in-one formula that delivers deep moisture and inside-out hydration with a light, milky texture. It soothes, nourishes, and strengthens your skin barrier through a combination of white tea leaf extract and a ceramide-peptide complex. In addition, it utilises Micro Blending Technology™ so that your skin can absorb the skincare ingredients faster and deeper.

🍑 You can use it as an on-the-go facial mist!

Essences for Winter

1. Dr. Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence

Pick up this essence if you’re looking to have healthy and vibrant skin during winter. The Dr. Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence absorbs quick like a toner while nourishing your skin and strengthening its moisture barrier. It has a milky water-like texture after being shaken, and serves as a toner, essence, and moisturiser all in one. You can apply multiple layers if your skin needs some extra moisture.

2. JUMISO Snail Mucin 95% + Peptide Essence

If you have acne-prone skin, then this essence is what you need to get that winter glow on. This snail mucin and peptide essence improves texture, softens, and moisturises your skin. In addition, it helps your skin heal from sun damage—something often overlooked during the cold seasons. 

🌟 Writer J’s personal favourite! She has combination, acne-prone skin.

3. d’Alba White Truffle First Spray Serum

Rejuvenate and hydrate your skin. The d’Alba spray serum is your bestie for winter since it’s an all-in-one product that functions as a skincare mist, serum, and setting spray. With this, you improve dryness, premature signs of aging, as well as blocked pores while outside and on the go.

4. Mary&May Blackberry Complex Cream Essence

Soak up some well-needed nourishment and refresh your skin with this fruity essence. Both creamy and light, the Mary&May Blackberry Complex Cream Essence helps moisturise your skin, heals damage, and strengthens your skin barrier. Its star ingredient is blackberry—a nutritious antioxidant that is great for improving your skin’s overall health.

🍑 Shake before use!

5. Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence

Milky, refreshing, good for your skin. The Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence a.k.a. makgeolli is the energiser that can give you smooth and plump skin. This essence contains five types of ceramides and lipids to strengthen your skin barrier and replenish its moisture balance—exactly what your skin needs to brave the cold.

Face oils for winter

1. Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Facial Oil

Using a face oil helps your skin a lot during winter, especially if you experience dryness. They nourish your skin and seal in moisture that may be lost to the cold and dry winds. Adding to these benefits, the black rice facial oil by Haruharu Wonder creates a powerful protective barrier to prevent dehydration. It is also easy to absorb and rich in antioxidants to further protect your skin.

2. Cliv Ginseng Berry Signature Facial Oil

Get youthful, glowing skin throughout the blistering cold of winter with the CLIV Ginseng Berry Signature Oil. Pick up this facial oil if you’re looking to nourish your skin with a concentrated dose of ginseng berry and botanical oils that help improve your skin’s elasticity and barrier. 

3. Rovectin Skin Essentials Barrier Repair Face Oil

Treat your skin to hydration and nourishment from deep within. This face oil is packed with vitamin E (an antioxidant), gentle botanical oils, squalene, and neroli oil so your skin can heal and regain its youthful firmness. Like it says in its name, this face oil repairs damage to your skin to reveal a bright and lively complexion.

Moisturisers for Winter

1. Purito Dermide Relief Barrier Moisturizer

If you have dry and sensitive skin all while going through the motions of winter, then you’re going to love this skin-relieving moisturiser. The Purito Dermide Relief Barrier is formulated with five types of ceramides to soothe your skin and reduce redness caused by dryness. It gives comfort all while balancing out the natural oil and water levels of your skin.

2. Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream

Winter skincare calls for a good, nourishing moisturiser that can combat the dryness and harsh elements of the season. The Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream checks all the boxes for your winter moisturiser as it provides immediate, long-term moisture for a radiant complexion. It works deep within your skin to soothe and hydrate where it is needed most.

3. Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream

From the makers of the cult-favourite wrapping mask comes an innovative moisturiser. The Collagen Jelly Cream by Medicube features freeze-dried Hydrolyzed Collagen, which absorbs better and goes deeper within the layers of your skin to boost its effects. This means softer, firmer, and more youthful skin during winter. 

4. Haruharu Wonder Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream

Sometimes less is more, especially with skincare. This cream is an all-in-one wonder with its five Peptide Complex that helps improve the firmness of your skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also strengthens your skin barrier and contains caffeine and squalene for a healthier glow. 

5. SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Moisture Cream

Soothing yet intensely hydrating, perfect for the cool and dry winds of winter. This SKIN1004 cream brings together the powerful hydrating properties of hyaluronic acid and the soothing capabilities of centella. It’s a great fit for those with dry, dull, and irritated skin during this season. 

6. Anua Heartleaf 70% Intense Calming Cream

If you have sensitive skin and need a nourishing cream, Anua has the right one for you. The Heartleaf 70% Intense Calming Cream soothes irritated skin, provides deep moisture, and strengthens your skin barrier. All these are made possible through heartleaf—grown and harvested in Korea—extract along with ceramide and panthenol.

7.  Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cream

This balm-type moisturiser is formulated with triple hyaluronic acid and quintuple (five) types of ceramides to maximise hydration and moisture, strengthening the skin barrier and protecting it from dehydration in the procrss. Hitting all the winter skincare marks—dull, dehydrated, and dry skin—the 1025 Dokdo Cream is definitely a moisturiser to check out this season.

Sleeping Masks for Winter

1. Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask

Moisture, moisture, and more moisture is key during winter and so locking everything in is essential. This viral wrapping mask adheres to the surface of your face to ensure that your skin absorbs all the actives in your skincare, sealing in moisture as you sleep. With this mask, you wake up looking fresh and glowing in the morning. 

2. Sungboon Editor Deep Collagen Power Boosting Mask

This collagen hydrogel mask earned its spot on our list because it is made especially to moisturise dry skin. It provides intensive care, strengthens your skin’s ability to store moisture, and fills in wrinkles. It is also infused with a full 37g bottle of collagen serum to give your skin that soft mochi-like bounce.

3. Iunik Propolis Vitamin Sleeping Mask

Propolis has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties which makes this a great skincare ingredient for those with acne-prone skin. The Iunik Propolis Vitamin Sleeping Mask also contains Sea Buckthorn, Niacinamide, and centella to help you rejuvenate your skin and even out hyperpigmentation.

🍑 Curious about face masks? Read our guide on the types of skincare masks here.

4. Mizon Snail Wrinkle Care Sleeping Pack

Dry skin, especially during winter, can lead to premature signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. Stay on top of these concerns with Mizon’s snail sleeping pack—a nourishing mask that smoothens texture, heals troubled skin, and boosts elasticity.  

5. Purito Dermide Cica Barrier Sleeping Pack

Winter It’s always best to give your skin some tender loving care during winter—and this sleeping mask is exactly what you need if you have sensitive skin. The Purito Dermide Cica Barrier Sleeping Pack contains centella to soothe skin, squalene to lock in moisture, and ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier’s defenses. 

Winter wreaks havoc on our skin because of the dry winds and how harsh the climate can be. Proper hydration, more nourishing moisturisers, and consistent sun protection can help your skin stay healthy during this time. If you want detailed tips, especially why you still need SPF during this season, head on over to our guide on winter skincare here.

Stay happy and glowing! ❄️✨