Exfoliate less in winter

You should exfoliate your body less often in winter. Your skin is already fighting dry air and indoor heating—don’t make it worse.

Cold weather means less oil production and slower skin cell turnover. The outer layer gets drier and more fragile. Scrubbing too much strips the little moisture you have left, leaving you flaky, red, and irritated. That “rough texture” you’re trying to fix? Over-exfoliating is probably making it worse.

Dial it back. If you were scrubbing twice a week in summer, drop to once a week—or even every other week. Use a gentler scrub (fine grains, not walnut shells) and avoid physical scrubs on already irritated areas like shins or elbows. Chemical exfoliants like lactic acid body lotions are fine, but keep them low concentration and don’t use them daily.

Moisture is your real winter weapon. Exfoliate lightly, then slap on a thick cream or body butter right after.

Your winter skin will thank you for leaving it alone a little more.