Winter Skin Woes: Why It Gets Worse and 10 Best Supplements to Keep It Healthy

Aug 18, 2025

There’s something poetic about winter—the crisp air, cosy blankets, and hot cocoa. But there’s nothing poetic about the dry, itchy, flaky skin it brings!

If your skin feels tighter than your jeans post-holiday dinner, you’re not alone. Winter skin problems are real—especially if you already have sensitive, dry skin. Cold air outside and dry indoor heat strip your skin’s natural moisture, and harsh winds with low humidity only make it worse.

That’s exactly why your skincare in winter needs extra support—inside and out.

Why Skin Gets Worse in Winter

Your skin barrier; the stratum corneum is the first to take a hit when the temperature drops. Think of this outermost layer as a “brick-and-mortar” wall. The bricks are your skin cells (corneocytes), and the mortar is a lipid matrix made of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids. In healthy conditions, they hold moisture in and keep irritants out.

But in winter, several factors start breaking this balance, leading to deteriorated skin conditions. These factors include:

• Dry air inside and out: Cold winds and low humidity outdoors, along with indoor heaters strip skin of moisture. The lipid matrix weakens leading to cracked, itchy or flaky skin. Fine lines and rough texture are even more visible.
• Reduced sebum production: Your skin naturally produces less oil in winter. With fewer lipids to lock in hydration, water escapes more quickly from the skin-this is called trans epidermal water loss (TEWL).
• Disrupted skin surface lipids: Even slight shifts in surface lipid composition can lead to barrier dysfunction, leading to worsening of conditions like eczema, psoriasis and acne.
• Lack of UV exposure: Less sunlight means less vitamin D production + slower cell turnover and this delays healing, making the skin appear dull or inflamed for longer periods.
• Hot showers & Artificial heat: Long, steamy showers or sitting near heaters may feel good but they degrade skin lipids further and then if you skip sunscreen (yes, UV rays exist in winters too!), you’ve got another layer of skin damage.

Once you understand why winter skin problems happen and how to support your body from within (you’re getting there, keep reading!), you’re halfway to healthy, resilient skin.

How Supplements Support Skin Health from Within?

When it comes to skincare in winter, what goes into your body is just as important as what goes on your skin. That’s where skincare supplements and dry skin supplements step in—as internal moisturisers.

The right ones can strengthen your skin barrier, reduce inflammation, boost hydration, and support collagen—all essential when the temperature drops.

Some of the best vitamins for healthy skin include vitamins C, D, E, and omega-3s, while minerals like zinc and selenium help repair and protect.

Supplements aren’t magic pills, but when paired with a good topical routine, they offer holistic skin support.

10 Best Supplements for Healthy Skin in Winter

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Melrose Organic Flaxseed Oil

Omega-3 is an essential kind of fat that helps keep your skin’s lipid barrier intact and reduces internal inflammation. If you have eczema or psoriasis flare-ups in winter, you should look for fish oil or algae-based omega-3 supplements. 

Why don’t you try Melrose Organic Flaxseed Oil since it’s a vegan omega-3 powerhouse supplement? This oil contains ALA (Alpha-linolenic acid), a precursor to EPA/DHA that will:

• boost hydration
• reduce inflammation
• repair skin barrier

You can also drizzle it over salads or blitz it in smoothies, and your skin will thank you for keeping it supple.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA): Blackmores Skin Revitaliser with Collagen & Hyaluronic Acid Healthy Skin Capsules

In winter, skin loses moisture faster.  Hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge, holding up to 1000x its weight in water to keep skin hydrated and plump. Cold air + indoor heat = dry, tight skin — HA helps fix that.

You may consider using Blackmores Skin Revitaliser because it combines hyaluronic acid + marine collagen + vitamin C + zinc to nourish your skin from within. Unlike topical HA creams, this supplement hydrates systemically, reaching deeper layers that surface products can’t.

Why it works in winter:

• Targets dryness and boosts internal hydration
• Combats free radical damage from harsh weather
• Great for skin regeneration when skin is slow to heal

• Also supports hair and connective tissue health

Collagen Peptides: Nutra Organics Collagen Hot Chocolate

Collagen is a protein that keeps skin firm, bouncy, and smooth, but cold weather, dry air, and less sunlight speed up its breakdown. Collagen peptides are smaller, absorbable bits of collagen that support the skin from within — like a warm jumper for your skin in winter.

Nutra Organics Collagen Hot Chocolate is a low-sugar, skin-loving winter drink if your skin feels dehydrated. It is infused with:

• 300mg hydrolysed collagen peptides
• Magnesium for sleep & muscle recovery
• Antioxidant-rich cocoa

It supports:

• skin elasticity
• joint health
• deep sleep + mental calm

While not topical, these dry skin supplements work from within—balancing your microbiome and calming winter-triggered flare-ups.

Vitamin C & Fatty Acids: Nature’s Shield Organic Rosehip Oil

In winter, our skin heals slower and faces oxidative stress despite lower UV exposure. Vitamin C paired with essential fatty acids supports faster repair, boosts collagen, and combats dullness or scarring — perfect for tired, dry winter skin.

Consider Nature’s Shield Organic Rosehip Oil – a cold-press extracted, vitamin-rich oil that repairs, hydrates, and brightens winter-damaged skin. It helps:

• repair dry and damaged skin.
• smooth wrinkles.

Emollient-Rich Oils for Winter Skin: Melrose Sweet Almond Oil

Sweet almond oil is rich in Vitamin E, which soothes and protects dry or irritated skin.

Using emollient oils like Melrose Sweet Almond Oil helps seal in moisture and support the skin barrier when it’s needed most.

Feeling dry all over? A dab of this oil makes a gentle body moisturiser that’s also rich in vitamin E. It’s a multipurpose emollient for dry winter skin.

Why the Melrose Sweet Almond oil in winter?

• Rich in Vitamin E & fatty acids
• Softens, soothes, and boosts elasticity
• Safe for sensitive skin in winter
• Calms winter-induced dryness & irritation

Papaya Enzymes: Pure Papayacare Papaya Ointment

Papaya enzymes like papain gently exfoliate dry, flaky skin without irritation.

How do they help?

• Remove dead skin buildup
• Soothe cracked lips, cuticles & heels
• Boost healing when skin feels rough or raw

Perfect for treating stubborn winter dryness with zero stings, Pure Papayacare Papaya Ointment is a natural ointment for winter skin problems like cracked lips, dry patches & irritation.

Probiotic Rich Fermented Foods: Carwari Organic Red Miso Paste

Fermented foods like miso and bone broth both support gut health, which is closely linked to skin clarity and hydration.

• In winter, heavy meals and low water intake slow digestion, disrupting the gut-skin axis.

• This can lead to breakouts, inflammation, or dull, dry skin.

So now, whenever you are craving comfort food with a side of wellness, consider Carwari Organic Red Miso Paste. It supports gut health, which plays a big role in reducing inflammation, and breakouts, and improving overall skin texture—especially important in winter when digestion slows and skin becomes dull or reactive.

Daily Greens for Alkalinity & Skin Detox: Synergy Natural Super Greens Powder

Green powders are rich in chlorophyll, antioxidants, and minerals that support your body’s natural detox pathways. In winter, when heavy foods and low activity increase acidity, these powders help balance pH, reduce inflammation, and ease winter skin problems like acne or dullness. Think of them as internal skin care supplements that calm and clarify from within.

Synergy Super Greens Powder is a winter-friendly, detoxifying blend of spirulina, chlorella, barley grass, and wheatgrass—rich in chlorophyll, antioxidants, and fibre.

This supplement:

• helps fight skin dullness & dryness, and oxidative stress

• supports gut balance for clearer skin during heavy winter-eating

Traditional Oils with Antioxidant + Anti-inflammatory: Nature’s Shield Black Seed Oil

Cold weather messes with body temperature and skin regulation—leading to inflammation, breakouts, and hormonal imbalances.

• Traditional oils like black seed oil are rich in thymoquinone, a proven anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound.

• They help soothe itchy, reactive skin and support immunity.

Consider using Nature’s Shield Organic Black Seed Oil as it is traditionally used for healing and hydration. This cold-pressed oil is rich in thymoquinone and fatty acids, known for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

Multivitamin + Antioxidant combo: Vital Organic Greens Powder

A healthy gut microbiome helps calm skin inflammation and maintains hydration. In winter, we are prone to diet dips which can trigger flare-ups leading to acne, eczema and rosacea.

That’s where health supplements like Vital Organic Greens come in! It’s an all-in-one daily green blend with pre & probiotics, fibres and antioxidants, aiming to keep your microbiome thriving.

How does it help?

• Revives gut balance
• Influences skin hydration at the cellular level
• Rich in antioxidants, vitamins C & E, and zinc
• Retains and produces hyaluronic acid

Winter Skin Tips

Follow these simple tips to take care of your skin during wintertime:  

• Use a gentle, non-stripping cleanser
• Apply moisturiser on damp skin to lock in hydration
• Switch to richer creams or oils at night
• Avoid long, hot showers
• Use sunscreen (SPF) even on cloudy days
• Stay hydrated with warm fluids
• Add a humidifier to reduce indoor dryness
• Gently exfoliate once or twice a week
• Wear gloves and scarves to protect exposed skin
• Choose lip balms with occlusive ingredients like lanolin or beeswax

Bottom Line

Winter doesn’t have to mean dull, dry, or irritated skin. With the right dry skin supplements, nourishing foods, and barrier-loving products, you can keep your skin soft, strong, and radiant—even in the coldest months.

Listen to your skin. Layer thoughtfully. Nourish deeply.