Yes, use retinol in winter — but buffer it.

It’s safe to use retinol during winter in very dry climates, but you absolutely should buffer it with a moisturizer to avoid irritation.

The issue isn’t the retinol itself — it’s that dry winter air already strips moisture from your skin. Retinol speeds up cell turnover and can weaken your skin barrier. Combine that with low humidity and you’re asking for redness, peeling, and stinging.

Buffering is simple: apply a lightweight moisturizer first, wait a few minutes, then apply retinol. Or do the “sandwich” method — moisturizer, retinol, moisturizer again. This slows down absorption and reduces irritation without killing the effectiveness. You’re not diluting the retinol; you’re just giving your skin a cushion.

If you’re new to retinol or your skin is already feeling tight, skip every other night until your skin adjusts. And for god’s sake, use a heavy cream in the morning and keep drinking water. Dry climate + retinol = you need to baby your barrier.

Do it right and your skin will look better by spring. Rush it and you’ll spend February hiding from your own bathroom mirror.