7 best winter skincare products to beat dry skin in the UAE 2025

As the winter breeze rolls in, it's time to give your skincare routine a cosy upgrade to combat the dry air and fluctuating temperatures. This season, it's all about keeping your skin hydrated, nourished, and protected against the harsh elements. Whether you're braving the outdoors or enjoying the warmth of indoor heating, the key is to lock in moisture and replenish your skin’s natural barrier. From hydrating face creams to rejuvenating serums, we've rounded up the 7 best winter skincare products that promise to keep your skin fresh throughout the season. These products not only provide intense hydration, but also protect your skin from environmental stressors.

So, ready to pamper your skin with the ultimate hydration boost? Let’s dive into these must-have picks to keep you glowing all season long. For our list, we spoke to a few UAE-based residents and dermatology specialist, Tatiana Murdoch.

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1) Best Overall: KIEHL'S Intensive Nourishing Face Cream

Kiehl's Intensive Nourishing Face Cream promises to defend your skin against the chilly air and harsh indoor environments. Going by satisfied reviews, the rich cream deeply nourishes and restores moisture, leaving your skin feeling soft. Whether you're braving the crisp outdoors or spending hours in air-conditioned spaces, Kiehl’s formula locks in hydration and strengthens your skin’s natural barrier. It delivers as it promises: Protecting you from dryness, flakiness, and that tight, uncomfortable feeling. Plus, it’s lightweight enough to wear under makeup, so you can stay nourished and glowing all day long.

2) Best Serum: ALASTIN Skincare Hyaluronic Acid IMMERSE Moisturizing Face Serum

Mithila Adyar, a Dubai-based homemaker vouches for it; as it saves her every winter. "My skin just turns so dry and painful every winter, so I start stocking up on all moisturisers and serums before December itself," she says. Indeed there's some merit behind her words, as this serum uses a powerful combination of hyaluronic acid and peptides to lock in moisture, leaving your skin soft, smooth, and perfectly balanced. It provides a protective shield against the dryness that can come with both the cool desert air and the over-drying effects of air conditioning. The lightweight, fast-absorbing formula usually absorbs quickly without any sticky residue, making it perfect for daily use under makeup. So, even if you're staying inside, this serum ensures your skin stays hydrated, radiant, and moisturised all season long.

3) Best Sunscreen: SkinMedica Total Defense Plus Repair Sunscreen

Don’t underestimate the winter sun—it’s still essential to carry sunscreen with you wherever you go. That’s where this sunscreen steps in. With broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays, it shields your skin from sunburn and helps prevent premature aging caused by exposure. SPF 34 is perfect for daily use, especially in mild sun conditions. Packed with antioxidants like green tea extract, it defends against environmental stressors such as pollution and free radicals, which can accelerate skin damage and aging.

4) Best Moisturiser: Tatcha The Water Cream for Pores and Dryness

Feeling the winter blues? Let Tatcha’s The Water Cream give you the hydration boost you need. This lightweight, oil-free moisturiser is your secret weapon against two major winter skin challenges: dryness and enlarged pores. The desert’s cooler, drier air can leave skin feeling tight and unbalanced, but Tatcha’s formula is here to help. Infused with Japanese wild rose, it not only tightens pores but also regulates oil production, keeping your skin fresh and balanced.

What makes it perfect for winter? The combination of hyaluronic acid and Japanese leopard lily deeply hydrates and strengthens your skin’s natural moisture barrier. This ensures your skin stays plump, dewy, and nourished, no matter how dry or chilly it gets. Plus, with the added benefits of green tea and other botanical extracts, your skin is shielded from environmental stressors, like pollution, while staying beautifully refreshed.

5) Best K-Beauty Solution: Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream | Korean Beauty Product

Known for its calming and restorative properties, the Klairs Midnight Blue Calming cream, is ideal for soothing stressed or irritated skin during the cooler months. The key ingredient, Guaiazulene, derived from chamomile, is packed with powerful anti-inflammatory benefits that reduce redness and calm irritation, making it an excellent option for anyone battling winter dryness or sun-induced sensitivities. The cream also has a mix of centella asiatica and peptides, which work together to strengthen the skin's natural barrier, boosting moisture retention and ensuring that your skin stays soft and hydrated, even in the driest climates. Formulated without harsh ingredients, it’s perfect for sensitive skin, providing instant relief from tightness while leaving your skin feeling nourished and balanced.

6) Best for Sensitive Skin: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid

Sometimes, you need to give your skin the hydration it deserves, and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost, does just that. This lightweight, gel-cream formula is infused with hyaluronic acid, a strong ingredient that attracts moisture to the skin and helps retain it, leaving your face feeling plump, smooth, and refreshed. Perfect for the UAE winters, it provides a much-needed moisture boost without feeling greasy, making it ideal for those with dry or dehydrated skin. The formula is designed to absorb quickly, delivering hydration deep into the skin, while also strengthening the skin’s natural moisture barrier. With its oil-free and non-comedogenic nature, it’s perfect for all skin types, including sensitive skin, giving you that healthy, dewy glow—no matter how dry the air gets.

7) Best for Recovery: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum 30 ml

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum is a solid solution for skin that's struggling with dryness and irritation during the UAE winters. Enriched with panthenol (Vitamin B5), it deeply hydrates and supports the skin’s natural healing process, promoting recovery and reducing redness. The formula also contains madecassoside, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which helps soothe irritated skin and restore its barrier function. Ideal for sensitive skin, it absorbs quickly without being greasy, making it perfect for daily use. This serum provides long-lasting hydration, helping your skin stay soft, smooth, and protected from harsh winter elements.

How to take care of your skin in the winters

No doubt, our skin faces a set of hurdles every winter, that leaves it feeling dry, dull and irritated. Tatiana Murdoch, a UAE-based dermatologist specialist explains why: The cold air, low humidity, and harsh winds strip the skin of its natural moisture, causing it to become more susceptible to dehydration. The temperature changes can weaken the skin's protective barrier, leading to moisture loss and, in some cases, even inflammation or redness.

Murdoch breaks it down further:

Hydrate: Start by using products that provide intense hydration, such as moisturisers with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or ceramides. These ingredients help to retain moisture and restore balance to the skin.

Use a gentle cleanser: Choose a creamy, hydrating cleanser that doesn’t strip the skin of its natural oils. Avoid harsh soaps or cleansers that can cause further dehydration.

Invest in a rich night cream: Overnight is when your skin does most of its repair work. Opt for richer creams or serums that replenish moisture and help the skin barrier recover while you sleep.

Exfoliate gently: Regular exfoliation is key to removing dead skin cells, which can prevent moisturizers from absorbing properly. However, avoid abrasive scrubs, and instead, choose gentle chemical exfoliants with mild acids like lactic or glycolic acid.

Don’t forget sunscreen: Even during winter, UV rays can damage the skin. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect against both UVA and UVB rays

Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated from the inside out. Dehydration can exacerbate the dryness that comes with winter.

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