Learn how to hydrate skin overnight with winter skincare tips, ingredient spotlights, and some of my favorite products like the Dime Dewy Recovery Mask, Oliveda Cleansing Balm, Counter Sugarbuff Scrub, and Dime The Glaze for body.
Taking care of my skin has always felt like a mix of self-care and reacting to what my body needs. While in the summer I definitely lean towards dewy and hydrated, 3/4 of the year I lean dry and it feels dull, tight, or just a little off. It’s pretty common to notice your skin feeling dry or lackluster this time of year. Many people feel the effects of weather, stress, hot water, and even well-intentioned skincare products that can strip your skin’s hydration levels. (My aesthetician advised me to skip vitamin C in the winter because it can be drying.)
Of course hydrating from the inside out is a great place to start (I definitely don’t drink as much water this time of year), skincare can improve the look of your skin a lot. While it doesn’t happen instantly, there are ways to hydrate skin overnight so you wake up looking more glowy and alive. Here are some tips, habits, and favorite products that have made the biggest difference for me, including a few standouts that feel as indulgent as the intense hydration masks I get at spa appointments.
How To Hydrate Skin Overnight
What Does Hydrated Skin Look Like?
Hydrated skin looks smooth, plump, and softly radiant. It reflects light naturally without looking oily, and it feels comfortable rather than tight or flaky. When your skin’s moisture barrier is healthy, makeup applies better, skincare products absorb more effectively, and your complexion looks more even overall.
What Causes Dry Skin?
Dry skin can be caused by many everyday factors, especially in winter:
- Cold air and low humidity
- Hot water from showers or face washing
- Harsh or stripping skincare products
- Over-cleansing or over-exfoliating
- Skipping moisturizer (or even waiting too long after cleansing)
- Naturally prone dry skin types (that’s me!)
- Aging or hormonal shifts
All of the above can weaken the skin’s moisture barrier and leave skin feeling irritated or tight.
Why Is Skin Hydration Important?
Hydrating your skin leads to a strong moisture barrier, which helps protect your skin from environmental stressors and moisture loss. Hydration also helps skin look smoother and more youthful by plumping the surface and softening the appearance of fine lines. When your skin is hydrated, skincare products work better, and your skin probably just feels more comfortable throughout the day.
The American Academy of Dermatology emphasizes hydration as a cornerstone of healthy skin care, particularly during colder months when skin tends to lean dry.
What Is The Difference Between Hydrating And Moisturizing Skin?
I didn’t know this myself until I researched it! Hydrating means adding water to the skin, while moisturizing helps seal that water in. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera attract water to the skin, while moisturizers and occlusives prevent moisture from escaping. For effective hydration, both steps matter.
My Favorite Dry Skin Products
Here are some of my favorites that have worked best for me!
Cleansers
In the winter it’s recommended to use gentle, creamy cleansers removes that won’t strip your skin’s hydration levels. This sets the tone for the rest of your skin care routine. And cleansing balms are great for hydrating and cleansing at the same time – I love them for nighttime routine and taking off makeup at the same time. (And although it’s so hard, try not to use hot water! Luke warm!)
Remedy Skin Creamy Cleanser
I got this cleanser as a sample from the brand, and I really love it (especially the cool bottle!) It leaves my skin soft and I notice a difference for the purifying cleanser I used to use in the shower. It’s ideal for dry and/or sensitive skin that reacts easily, especially during winter. It has plant extracts in it too for an added soothing effect.
Oliveda Corrective Cleansing Balm
This is my favorite of the cleansing balms, although I really do love both Counter’s and Colleen Rothschild’s. They all smell so good and calming, but the Oliveda reminds me of a botanical cocoa! This balm melts everything away while locking in moisture. It’s also the thickest of the bunch, and it’s “difficult to wash off” which is great in the winter when you don’t want to strip! It has squalane, bisabolol, and botanical extracts to support skin.
You can use it as a traditional cleanser or apply a slightly thicker layer and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing for extra softness.
After cleansing, applying skincare products on damp skin makes a noticeable difference. Damp skin helps hydration-boosting ingredients work more effectively before moisture evaporates.
If you’re ever unsure how to layer products, I’ve shared a full guide to the best order to apply skin care products here: How To Apply Skincare Products in the Right Order.
Serums + Masks
Oliveda Hyaluronic Vegan Serum
Hyaluronic acid draws water into the skin, helping hydrate your skin at multiple levels. Applied to damp skin, this serum helps plump and smooth while supporting hydration overnight. I don’t use this serum year round, but I love it this time of year and layer it with my all-purpose anti-aging serum. It contains multi-weight hyaluronic acid and botanical hydrators.
For deeper treatment, I lean on a mask that feels like a spa treatment at home.
Dime Dewy Recovery Mask
This brand new mask is now one of my favorite winter skincare products! A lot of times I feel like masks lean on the exfoliation side, but this one is deeply hydrating. It’s as lovely and comforting as the intense hydration masks I get during spa appointments. You can use it as a wash-off mask or apply a generous layer and leave it on all night for skin overnight hydration. It leaves my skin feeling calm, soft, and deeply nourished by morning. If you could choose ONE product for intense overnight hydration, this is it.
Get 20% off Dime products with the code katheats and my link.
Moisturizers
Once hydration is in place, sealing it in is key. The richer the moisturizer, the better you can prevent moisture loss overnight. This step protects your skin (like from drool lol) and supports the skin’s moisture barrier while you sleep.
Oliveda Regeneration Night Cream
This is my very favorite night cream! The creamy texture layers beautifully over hydrating serums and helps lock in all that moisture overnight—making it ideal for winter or any season if you have dry or mature skin like me. It is VERY thick -so thick you have to warm it up a bit to get it to spread around. This turns some people off, so if you like a more traditional texture, the Counter Supreme Cream would be second favorite. It’s also a really thick, luxurious night cream.
Oliveda Neroli Face Oil
Adding a face oil at night can make a huge difference in how your skin feels in the morning. Oils help seal in hydration, preventing water loss while you sleep, and like the night cream, they add a protective layer that supports the skin’s moisture barrier. This Neroli Face Oil absorbs into skin without feeling greasy after a few minutes, and its botanically uplifting scent makes nighttime skincare feel extra luxurious. I am obsessed with the scent!!
Lips: Olive Tree Therapy Lip Balm
This is THE most “hydration lock it in” lip balm out there. It is thick and a bit sticky (like Vasoline) so I like it at bedtime only. But boy does it hydrate! It has a botanical taste – kind of herbaly.
Body Care Matters Too
Hydration doesn’t stop at your face. Body skin needs just as much attention in winter. I noticed dryness most on my shoulders and upper back – probably because that’s where I blast the hot water (I just can’t do luke warm in the shower y’all!)
Counter Sugarbuff Body Scrub
For the body, this is hands-down my favorite. The Sugarbuff scrub gently exfoliates while adding moisture, leaving skin smooth, soft, and never stripped. It leaves a layer of oil on your skin – it a really good way! (Birch loves this one too 🙂 ) It’s especially great in winter when dry patches tend to show up on arms and legs. Sadly the switched the lemongrass scent for a sweet neroli, but it’s still delicious!
Dime The Glaze
I love an oil for my body because it spreads so easily over a large surface area. Applied immediately after showering on damp skin, this product helps seal in moisture and keeps skin soft all day. Using it immediately post-shower prevents water loss and helps protect your skin from dryness caused by hot water and cold air. The Glaze has nourishing oils and is unscented.
If you prefer a lightly scented oil, Counter’s Luminous Hydration Oil in Neroli is also great!
Dime Biome Body Butter
If you prefer a balm or butter for your body, this one is great! It’s a rich body butter that is almost balm-like in texture that is mostly unscented and spreads well. It also has probiotics to help balance your skin’s natural barrier along with shea butter, niacinamide, and jojoba seed oil to hydrate and soothe dry skin.
Get 20% off Dime products with the code katheats and my link.
Other Body Moisturizers I Love:
Hydration From The Inside Out
Drinking water consistently and eating foods that hydrate skin can support your skin’s overall moisture balance: Foods That Hydrate Skin.
And you can also add the Oliveda drinkable skincare elixirs to support skin from the inside out.
More Winter Hydration Favorites
In addition to my top picks above, my ShopMy favorites list includes products that shine in winter because of ingredients like:
- Hyaluronic acid for added moisture
- Aloe vera for soothing dry or irritated skin
- Ceramides to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier
- Botanical oils to seal hydration and protect skin overnight
Feeling more hydrated?
The right products truly do change how my skin feels when I wake up in the morning. Gentle cleansing, layering products on damp skin, and using deeply hydrating treatments and balms have made all the difference.
