How to Get a Winter Glow: The Best Picks for Your Skin Type

Sephora
How to Get a Winter Glow: The Best Picks for Your Skin Type

As soon as the heating turns on and the winter coats come out, our skin can lose some of its glow. From the bitter cold outside to the dry air inside, it’s not surprising that your complexion might feel less bright and a bit tired by November.

The good news? Your summer sparkle hasn’t gone anywhere; it just needs a more specific approach for your skin type. From rich moisturisers to hydrating serums, we have a range of products to help keep your skin happy, whether you're dealing with dry, oily, or sensitive skin.

We’ve picked out our favourites for every skin type, so you can keep glowing all winter long.

Why does my skin look dull in winter?

Once the clocks go back, your skin is the first to know. It might start to look dull because it’s dehydrated. The contrast between the cold, harsh air outside and the warm, dry air indoors can pull water from your skin, creating a rougher surface. This rougher surface also reflects less light, so if you’re looking in the mirror and thinking it’s just you, then don’t worry, it’s all of us.

The best way to get your skin glowing in winter? Moisture.

What is the best glow product for dry skin?

Dry skin needs a gentle cleanser, hydration and a rich moisturiser to lock everything in. If it starts to feel tight or dry as soon as the temperature drops, a more nourishing routine can help protect it.

Start with the Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Cleansing Gel; it’s clinically proven to maintain nourishment until your next cleanse. Next, reach for TATCHA The Dewy Cream, which gives your skin three times instant hydration with Hyaluronic Acid for a plump, dewy look.

In the morning, as a primer or mixed with makeup, try the Glow Recipe Dew & Hue Must-Haves Brightening Serums. The trio of mini Watermelon Glow Niacinamide serums includes Dew Drops for a skin glow, plus Hue Drops in Sun Glow and Rosy Glow, which can also go on as your last step for a sun-kissed glow or rosy tint.

For more TLC tips for your skin, take a look at our guide to the best moisturisers for dry skin.

What is the best glow product for oily and combination skin?

For oily and combination skin, you should look for lightweight formulas with oil-balancing ingredients such as Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide. A dewy finish doesn't always mean heavy and thick layers, and oily skin still needs moisture.

The Get Into Balance Mode - Skincare Routine Set for Combination and Oily Skin is an easy three-step routine, designed for combination and oily skin. Between cleansing and moisturising, with a cotton pad dab on the Caudalie Vinopure Supersize Purifying Toner, which uses natural Salicylic Acid to help minimise the look of oily shine.

Once a week, you should switch things up with the Laneige Balance Mode Pore Polishing Peel-off Mask - Mattifying Mask for Oily Skin. It's made for oily skin to leave your complexion looking polished without stripping your skin. And the best part? Peeling it off!

What is the best glow product for sensitive skin?

Sensitive skin glows best on a short, gentle routine, because every extra product is another chance for irritation. Keep it to three steps, lean on hydration rather than actives, and let comfort do the work. Skin that feels calm reflects light far better than skin that is reacting.

Our picks come from AESTURA, the Korean dermocosmetic brand you will only find at Sephora in the UK. It was built specifically for sensitive skin, which is why it suits this routine so well.

AESTURA ATOBARRIER365 Hydro-Essence Best for: the first layer of hydration, morning and evening

A lightweight essence with hydrating amino acids that sinks straight in without any stickiness. Press it into damp skin after cleansing, and you have the base every glow needs: skin that is properly hydrated before anything else goes on top.

AESTURA ATOBARRIER365 Hydro Soothing Cream Best for: sensitive skin that leans oily or combination

A cooling gel-cream that hydrates without sitting heavily on the skin. If richer moisturisers usually leave you shiny rather than dewy, this is the lighter route to the same finish.

AESTURA ATOBARRIER365 Cream Best for: sensitive skin that turns dry and tight in winter

The richer option, with one million Ceramide capsules that melt in as you smooth it on. It is the one to reach for when the heating has been on all day and your skin feels tight by the evening.

Whichever you choose, give your routine a few weeks before you judge it. Sensitive skin rewards consistency far more than it rewards new products, and a settled complexion is a glowing one.

What is the best glow product for dull skin?

Dull skin needs gentle exfoliation paired with plenty of hydration to bring back its brightness. It's the routine for those mornings when your face looks even more tired than you feel. Think: a dark November before a commute to the office.

The Laneige Water Bank Aqua Facial - Hydrating Serum for Glow is inspired by Korean glass skin facials. The serum gently exfoliates while a blend of innovative active ingredients hydrates the skin. Can be used daily, making a great addition to your routine prioritising skin longevity (which we know is a key trend for 2026). Follow this with the multitasking serum YEPODA The Repair Hero, a Probiotic and Niacinamide serum that leaves skin looking smoother and brighter.

After your morning routine, finish with the INNBEAUTY PROJECT Face Glaze Skin Barrier Protect & Glow Moisturizer, a Sephora UK exclusive. Wear the highlighting gel-cream alone, mix with your favourite foundation, as a primer under your makeup or dabbed onto your cheekbones for a pop of glow.

Before you head to bed, you should try the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask. The fragrance-free formula can be used as a nightly mask, daytime moisturiser or in-flight skin saver - and we all know how drying a plane can be!

What is the best glow product for uneven skin?

Uneven skin tone needs brightening ingredients used consistently, rather than a single product used occasionally. Where dull skin is usually about hydration and texture, uneven tone is about pigment, so the fix is slower, and the reward is worth the patience.

Most brightening ingredients take between eight and twelve weeks to show a visible difference. That is not a reason to be put off; it is a reason to pick products you genuinely enjoy using.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum Best for: visible dark spots and patchiness

Built around Viniferine, Caudalie's patented ingredient, this visibly brightens dark spots over time. It is a gentler route than traditional Vitamin C, which makes it a good starting point if strong actives have not agreed with you before.

Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum Best for: overall brightness alongside targeted spots

A Vitamin C serum that works on tone across the whole face rather than spot by spot. Use it in the morning, where its antioxidant benefits are most useful.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Refillable Moisturiser Best for: locking everything in, with niacinamide doing double duty

Hydration and brightness in one step, with Niacinamide supporting a more even-looking tone while the formula keeps skin comfortable. The refillable packaging is a small, satisfying bonus.

One last thing, and it matters more than any serum: wear your SPF every morning. Brightening products work to fade existing pigmentation, while daylight quietly encourages more of it, so skipping sun protection undoes the work you are putting in.

What order should I layer skincare for a glow?

Layer your skincare from the thinnest product to the thickest. That usually means cleanser first, followed by toner, serum and moistruiser, with SPF as your final step in the morning.

What are the quickest ways to get glowing skin in winter?

For a quick winter skin routine, focus on three things: adding moisture back into the air, avoiding very hot water and topping up your hydration during the day.

When the heating is on all day, the air indoors becomes very dry, so a humidifier by your bed or desk can help. Turn your shower down to lukewarm, too, as very hot water can strip the skin's natural oils (we know, that’s not exactly what you want to hear on a freezing morning in December!).

Two or three times a week, try the Glow Recipe Korean Toner Pad Skin Care Kit for Pores, Dark Spots, and Skin Barrier Repair. The ultra-thin pads can be left on like mini sheet masks for five minutes. If tired-looking eyes are giving away how dark those winter mornings really are, reach for the Summer Fridays Jet Lag™ Eye Patches. They only need 10 minutes. And for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up for your skin? Keep a hydrating facial mist in your bag for a quick refresh over makeup. But try to hide it if you’re in the office; otherwise, everyone will want a spray!

By Sephora UK Skincare Editorial Team

Writers and experts

Updated: 22 October 2026