--- title: "Dry Skin in Winter: Hands, Feet and Lips Routine | Nu&Cru" description: "Dry skin in winter? Short lukewarm showers, moisturizer on damp skin, less soap: a simple routine for hands, feet and lips, and when to see a dermatologist." url: https://nuecru.com.br/en/blog/dry-skin-in-winter-hands-feet-lips --- [Blog](https://nuecru.com.br/en/blog) skin · winter · cosmetics # Dry skin in winter: what to do for your hands, feet and lips A short lukewarm shower, moisturizer on still-damp skin and no loofah: a simple routine with few products for dry skin in cold weather, plus the signs it is time to see a dermatologist. October 29, 2026 · 8 min read · Nu&Cru Skin that feels tight after a shower, hands roughened by washing dishes, cracked heels, a lip split at the corner. In cold weather, almost all of this gets better with three changes: a short lukewarm shower, moisturizer applied right afterward while your skin is still damp, and less soap and scrubbing. The rest is adjusting the routine for each part of the body and knowing when to see a dermatologist, because dry skin that doesn't improve can be a sign of something else. The routine below uses few products on purpose. You don't need a full shelf to care for dry skin. You need to get the timing and the order right. ## Why skin dries out in the cold The [Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD)](https://www.sbd.org.br/cuidados/cuidados-com-a-pele-no-inverno/) points to two causes that add up in winter: the air gets drier and the skin sweats less. On top of that comes a seasonal habit, the long hot shower, which strips the skin's natural oils more aggressively. The outermost layer of the skin works like a brick wall (the cells) with a mortar of fat between them. When that fat is washed away by hot water and soap, the water inside evaporates faster, and the skin turns rough, dull and itchy. Moisturizing, in this sense, means doing two things: giving water back and holding it there with a layer of fat. ## The routine, through the day ### In the shower - **Lukewarm water, short shower.** The SBD advises avoiding hot, very long showers. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests [five to ten minutes in lukewarm water](https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin). - **A little soap, only where needed.** Armpits, groin and feet need soap every day. Arms, legs and back, in cold weather, can often get by with water alone. The SBD advises against "over-soaping." - **No loofah.** The same SBD page advises against loofahs, which disrupt the skin's protective layer. - **Pat, don't rub.** The AAD recommends patting yourself dry with the towel rather than rubbing, and your skin can stay slightly damp for the next step. If you use a traditional bar soap, like [ash soap](https://nuecru.com.br/en/blog/ash-soap-what-it-is-how-its-made-lye), the same rule applies, even more so: all real soap is alkaline and cuts grease well, including the oils on your skin. On dry skin, use a little and only on the areas that need it. ### Right after the shower This is the change that pays off most. The SBD recommends applying moisturizer right after you step out of the shower, while you're still in the bathroom, and the AAD advises applying it immediately, while the skin is still damp. Your skin has just taken in water, and the moisturizer holds that water in place. Texture matters. According to the AAD, ointments and creams moisturize more than lotions. For very dry skin, that means choosing something thicker. Among the short-ingredient-list options is a balm made from beef tallow, known as [tallow balm](https://nuecru.com.br/en/blog/tallow-balm-what-it-is-how-to-use), which is pure fat and works as the layer that seals in moisture. A small amount goes a long way, and it isn't recommended for acne-prone or oily skin, for reasons that article explains. ### During the day - **Reapply where skin dries out**: hands after washing, lips throughout the day. - **Keep up the sunscreen.** Among its winter tips, the SBD includes wearing sunscreen every day. - **Clothing.** The AAD notes that wool and polyester against the skin irritate dry skin and suggests a cotton layer underneath. ### At night This is the time for thicker layers, when nobody needs to pick up a phone with greasy hands. Hands, feet and elbows get a generous layer, and cotton socks or gloves protect the sheets. ## Part by part ### Hands Hands dry out from the combination of cold, water and dish soap. Three habits take care of most of it: - **Gloves for washing dishes**, ideally cotton-lined. The AAD points out that gloves protect against wetness and also against cold, dry air. - **Moisturizer after every hand wash**, once your hands are towel-dried. A small amount, rubbed in until it disappears. - **A thicker night layer**, with cotton gloves if you can. Fingertip cracks that bleed, blisters or intense itching on the hands are not simple dryness. The SBD notes that detergents, soaps and solvents are among the causes of [contact dermatitis](https://www.sbd.org.br/doencas/dermatite-de-contato/), which needs a diagnosis. ### Feet and heels The skin on the heel is thick and carries the body's weight, so what works there is different. For dry, cracked heels, the AAD recommends [creams with 10% to 25% urea, an alpha hydroxy acid or salicylic acid](https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dry-heels), applied right after a shower while the skin is still damp, and a layer of petroleum jelly before bed, with socks on. It's worth being honest here: for thick, cracked heels, urea has more research behind it than any fat-based balm. If you prefer an animal fat formula, you can use the balm as your night layer, with cotton socks. The idea is the same, covering the skin with a layer of fat, but petroleum jelly is the most studied occlusive and it's the one the AAD recommends. The AAD also advises avoiding flip-flops and shoes that are open at the back or worn out, which make cracks worse. **If you have diabetes**, don't treat cracked feet on your own. The AAD lists diabetes among the causes of cracked heels, and a crack in the foot of someone with diabetes deserves a medical evaluation. ### Elbows and knees Thick skin that rubs against tables and fabric all day. The shower routine takes care of most of it, with a slightly heavier layer of moisturizer at night. Scrubbing with a loofah, which the SBD advises against, doesn't help. ### Lips Lips are usually the first to crack in the cold. The SBD recommends moisturizers made for the area, and the AAD adds the habit that gets in the way most: [licking your lips](https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/heal-dry-chapped-lips). Saliva evaporates and takes moisture with it. The AAD also lists ingredients that irritate dry lips, such as camphor, eucalyptus, menthol, fragrance and citrus or mint flavors. A simple lip balm, with no menthol and no fragrance, applied several times a day and before bed, is usually enough. The article [tallow lip balm](https://nuecru.com.br/en/blog/tallow-lip-balm-without-petroleum-jelly) explains how to choose and use a lip balm with a short ingredient list and compares it with petrolatum-based ones. In the sun, your lip balm needs sunscreen: the AAD recommends SPF 30 or higher on the lips. ### Face A dry face in the cold calls for the same principle, with less product. Gentle cleansing, moisturizer right afterward and sunscreen during the day. Fat-based balms on the face are only for dry skin that isn't prone to breakouts, in a very thin layer and after a patch test on a small area. ## Your home matters too Dry winter air dries out your skin indoors as well. The AAD suggests a humidifier, especially in the bedroom, and reminds you to clean it often so it doesn't grow mold. ## What to cut out - Long hot showers. - Loofahs and frequent exfoliation. - Soaping your whole body every day. - Licking your lips. - Scented products on already irritated skin. The AAD recommends choosing "fragrance-free" products and warns that "unscented" on the label can hide substances that mask odors. ## When to see a dermatologist With the right routine, ordinary dry skin usually responds. See a dermatologist if: - the dryness continues after a few weeks of a well-followed routine. The AAD notes that persistent dry skin can be a sign of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis or kidney disease; - the itching is constant and disrupts your sleep. For [atopic dermatitis](https://www.sbd.org.br/doencas/dermatite-atopica/), the SBD describes dry skin with constant itching, and treatment needs to be prescribed by a doctor; - redness, swelling or small blisters appear after using a new product; - there are cracks that bleed, sores or signs of infection; - your lips don't improve in two or three weeks, or stay rough and peeling in the same spot. The AAD notes that actinic cheilitis, a precancerous lesion caused by the sun, leaves the lip dry and scaly; - you have diabetes and your feet have cracked. ## A routine to start today Tonight, take a ten-minute lukewarm shower, soap only where needed, pat yourself dry and apply moisturizer while you're still in the bathroom. Keep a menthol-free lip balm in your bag and gloves next to the sink. In a few weeks you'll know whether your skin has responded. For the after-shower layer, the [Nu&Cru Tallow Balm](https://nuecru.com.br/en/tallow-moisturizer) is made only from grass-fed beef tallow, in a pure version or with essential oils. **It's currently sold out:** on the page you can see the ingredients of each version and reserve the next batch through WhatsApp. For your lips, the [tallow and beeswax lip balm](https://nuecru.com.br/en/tallow-lip-balm) is also available for reservation. Sensitive skin or a fragrance allergy calls for the 100% Tallow version, the only one without essential oil. Educational content; it does not replace an individual evaluation by a dermatologist. As informações têm caráter educativo e não substituem avaliação individual de profissional de saúde habilitado. Continue lendo ## Outros artigos October 29, 2026 · from the farm to the table ## How to Buy Beef Directly from the Farmer: Inspection Stamps, Labels and Quarter Cows How to find a farmer, what to ask about pasture and finishing, what Brazil's SIF, SIE and SIM inspection stamps guarantee, and how much meat a quarter cow for the freezer really yields. Ler artigo → → [October 29, 2026 · from the farm to the table](https://nuecru.com.br/en/blog/buy-beef-directly-from-farmer) October 29, 2026 · traditional cooking ## Does Stainless Steel Stick? 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