To help prevent and treat dry skin in winter, it’s important to follow a simple but effective routine made of small everyday steps that support the skin and protect it throughout the season. During colder months, the skin needs extra care to stay comfortable and healthy-looking. Choosing gentle formulas and skin-friendly natural ingredients can make a real difference in reducing roughness, flaking, and that uncomfortable tight feeling. Using a mild body wash that respects the skin’s balance, pairing it with an exfoliating body scrub, and finishing with a rich nourishing body cream packed with natural active ingredients is an easy routine that helps bring back softness and lasting comfort.
In this article, we’ll cover the following topics:
The importance of using a gentle body wash to protect the skin’s natural balance
Nourishing body cream: how to choose rich yet gentle formulas for dry skin
Intensive care for the driest areas, such as elbows and heels
During the winter months, the skin on our body often becomes drier, more sensitive, and less elastic. This isn’t just a feeling, it’s a real physiological response to low temperatures. To protect itself from the cold, the body activates a defense mechanism that prioritizes blood flow to internal organs, reducing circulation to the skin. As a result, skin cells receive less oxygen and fewer nutrients and produce fewer lipids and collagen, two key elements that help keep the skin firm, supple, and well protected. The skin becomes thinner, loses moisture more easily, and can look dull, irritated, and dry.
On top of this natural process, winter brings a series of external factors that can weaken the skin barrier even further. Intense cold, wind, and constant temperature changes between outdoor air and heated indoor spaces put stress on the hydrolipidic film, the skin’s protective layer that helps lock in moisture. When this barrier is compromised, water evaporates more quickly and the skin loses its natural ability to defend itself against external aggressors.
A key role is also played by the dry air produced by heating systems, which is common in homes, offices, shops, and indoor environments. This type of air draws moisture away from the skin, increasing the feeling of dryness, itching, and tightness. In fact, it’s not unusual to notice that after spending a full day in heated spaces, the skin looks more dehydrated and feels less comfortable, especially on legs, arms, and naturally drier areas like elbows and knees.
Everyday habits also have a big impact on skin health in winter. Hot showers and baths, on one hand, feel incredibly comforting, but on the other they can strip away the skin’s natural lipids, especially when paired with harsh or overly cleansing body washs.
The areas most affected by winter cold are usually the parts of the body that are more exposed, such as the face and hands, constantly in contact with cold air, wind, pollution, and artificial heat. However, body skin, often covered up and given less attention in a daily routine, can also develop widespread dryness, flaking, and a loss of softness. Legs, for example, tend to dry out more easily because they have fewer sebaceous glands, while heels and elbows, which are prone to friction and thickening, can become rougher and more cracked.
Dry skin is a clear sign that your body needs extra care, gentle formulas, and ingredients that support and protect the skin barrier. That’s why understanding what happens to the skin during winter is the first step to taking care of it in a mindful and effective way.
Cleansing is the very first beauty step in any daily routine, and in winter, it becomes even more essential to keep the skin balanced and comfortable. During this time of year, the skin needs to be treated with extra care, using gentle gestures and skin-friendly formulas that cleanse effectively without causing stress or irritation. Choosing a mild body wash turns your shower into a mindful self-care moment, helping support the skin and preserve its natural comfort.
An overly aggressive cleansing routine, or the use of harsh, deeply degreasing products, can disrupt the skin’s hydrolipidic film and leave it more fragile and vulnerable. Gentle cleansing, on the other hand, helps maintain the skin barrier intact and leaves the skin smoother, more even, and ready to fully benefit from the next steps, such as nourishing body creams and replenishing oils.
If your skin is dry, sensitive, or easily reactive, at La Saponaria we recommend choosing washs that combine softness with everyday comfort, such as our Shower Milk for Dry and Sensitive Skin with Organic Oat and Prebiotics. Its creamy texture cleanses delicately while respecting the skin’s balance, leaving it feeling softer already in the shower. The formula is packed with highly skin-compatible ingredients that work together to soothe and hydrate: Organic Oat and Organic Calendula offer a calming, softening effect, helping reduce redness and discomfort. Organic Chamomile completes the ritual with its refreshing, comforting action, leaving the skin visibly smoother and more relaxed.
Anyone looking for a gentle yet deeply comforting and nourishing cleanse can choose the Nourishing Body Wash with Carrot and Vanilla. Created to bring wellness to even the driest skin, this wash combines a synergy of natural active ingredients with soothing and replenishing benefits: Organic Aloe Vera and Organic Mallow help keep the skin soft and silky, while Organic Carrot and Vanilla provide nourishment and wrap the skin in a warm, comforting sweetness. A hint of Ginger adds a toning, revitalizing touch, and upcycled Organic Lemon Balm constitutional water helps hydrate the skin and restore its natural balance.
To learn more about oats and their benefits: https://blog.lasaponaria.it/en/insights/oats-the-ancient-secret-for-dry-and-sensitive-skin
When body skin looks dry, dull, and uneven, the issue isn’t always just a lack of nourishment, it’s often caused by a build-up of dead skin cells on the surface. In winter, the natural cell turnover process tends to slow down, making it harder for the skin to shed dead, no-longer-functional cells on its own. As a result, skin can feel rough to the touch, look less radiant, and, most importantly, become less able to absorb the treatments applied afterwards. This is where a body scrub becomes a real game-changer: thanks to its exfoliating action, it helps remove dead skin cells and supports the skin’s natural renewal process.
Regular exfoliation, when done with gentle products formulated with natural ingredients, smooths the skin without stressing it and noticeably improves its texture and appearance. After exfoliating, the skin immediately feels softer, smoother, and more even, but above all, it becomes more receptive to the hydration and nourishment provided by body creams and butters.
That said, when it comes to body scrubs, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution: every skin type has different needs, and choosing the right formula makes all the difference. At La Saponaria, our body scrubs are designed to support the skin’s natural renewal process and bring back radiance, even when it tends to feel dry and depleted. Two great options are the Toning Body Scrub with Organic Ginkgo and Vitamin C and the Revitalizing Body Scrub with Organic Lemongrass and Mint, both made with natural ingredients and nourishing textures, but created to target different skin needs.
The Toning Body Scrub is designed for anyone looking for an effective exfoliation that still feels comfortable on the skin. Its creamy texture pampers the body during application, while natural and organic ingredients help revive the skin’s natural glow. Organic Ginkgo extract, combined with Vitamin C, boosts radiance, while Organic Carrot, Organic Coconut Oil, and Organic Aloe Vera leave the skin feeling soft, supple, and nourished. To make the experience even more enjoyable, it’s finished with a bright, citrusy fragrance, fresh, sunny, and energising, turning exfoliation into a true feel-good ritual for both body and mind.
The Revitalising Body Scrub, on the other hand, delivers a gentler, rebalancing exfoliation, making it ideal for sensitive skin or for anyone who prefers a softer touch. Its oil-based texture allows the exfoliating grains to glide smoothly over the skin without irritation, supporting cell renewal and improving overall skin texture. The fresh, lightweight lemongrass scent adds an instant feeling of freshness, making this scrub perfect for regular, gentle exfoliation that feels naturally harmonious.
After cleansing and exfoliating, the skin needs formulas that can restore lipids and elasticity without feeling heavy or overly occlusive. To truly nourish dry skin, it’s important to choose rich products that are designed to respect the skin’s natural physiology and support the skin barrier over time.
Among the best treatments for very dry skin is our Nourishing Body Cream – Organic Shea Butter Mousse, La Saponaria’s richest body cream. Its soft, whipped texture delivers deep, intense nourishment while still feeling comforting on the skin. Organic Shea Butter is known for its replenishing and protective properties: it helps strengthen the skin barrier and defend the skin from dehydration and dryness. This cream is ideal when the skin feels especially dry, dull, or stressed, because it helps restore softness, elasticity, and comfort from the very first applications. It also works beautifully as an intensive treatment, to apply after showering or in the evening, supporting the skin’s natural regeneration overnight.
For those with dry skin that is also sensitive or easily reactive, it’s important to choose formulas that combine nourishment with extra gentleness. The Body Cream for Dry and Sensitive Skin with Organic Calendula and Prebiotics was created specifically to meet these needs. Organic Calendula, known for its soothing properties, helps calm the skin and reduce redness and discomfort, while prebiotics support the natural balance of the skin microbiome. The result is skin that feels deeply nourished, yet also more protected and stable over time, less prone to irritation and recurring dryness.
Elbows and heels are among the areas of the body that tend to become dry, thickened, and rough more easily, especially during winter. In these spots, the skin is naturally thicker and has fewer sebaceous glands, which means it needs more intensive, targeted care. In these cases, the simplest natural solutions are often the most effective.
La Saponaria’s Pure Shea Butter is a true ally for caring for the driest areas of the body. Rich in skin-friendly lipids, it helps nourish, protect, and strengthen the skin barrier. Its solid texture melts easily with warmth: just rub a small amount between your hands and it turns into a soft, comforting oil, ready to be massaged onto the areas that need extra nourishment.
Used consistently, it helps improve skin elasticity and makes it less prone to cracking. For an even more effective result, shea butter can be applied as an intensive overnight treatment. After cleansing, apply a generous amount to heels and elbows, focusing on the roughest areas. When treating the feet, it’s recommended to wear cotton socks before going to bed, as they help keep the product in place and enhance its nourishing action overnight. By morning, the skin will feel noticeably softer, smoother, and more comfortable.
In this article, we’ve seen how winter can become an opportunity to slow down and take time for yourself by choosing a mindful routine built on a few essential steps. Gentle cleansing that respects the skin’s natural balance, regular exfoliation to support renewal, and targeted nourishment with rich yet skin-friendly formulas are the key pillars to keeping the body skin smoother and more comfortable during the coldest months.
Giving extra attention to the driest areas, such as elbows and heels, with intensive natural treatments can also help prevent cracking and thickening. With consistency, natural ingredients, and a respectful approach, winter skincare becomes a simple yet effective ritual, one that supports long-lasting balance, softness, and wellbeing.