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Every winter my skin tells me it's time to change things up. Tight after cleansing, a little flaky around the nose, makeup that suddenly sits on top of my skin instead of melting in. Sound familiar?

Mature skin tends to make less oil than it used to, and cold air outside plus dry heat inside pulls even more moisture out. The good news: you don't need a whole new routine. A few simple swaps make a real difference.

1. Cleanse more gently

If your face feels squeaky or tight after washing, your cleanser is too strong for winter. I switch to a creamy, non-foaming cleanser and use lukewarm water, never hot. At night, a cleansing balm or oil is lovely for melting makeup without stripping.

2. Moisturize on damp skin

Apply your moisturizer while your face is still slightly damp — within 60 seconds of patting dry. This traps the water in your skin instead of letting it evaporate. In winter I layer a hydrating serum (hyaluronic acid) underneath a richer cream on top.

The products I use are in my skincare favorites list on Amazon.

If you want a complete step-by-step routine for mature skin, I put it all together in my free Skincare Routine Guide for Women Over 40.