Cold wind outside, dry heat inside. If your skin starts to feel tight, rough or flaky as soon as the temperature drops, you're not imagining it. Winter is hard on your skin's natural barrier, the thin outer layer that keeps moisture in and everyday irritants out.

The good news? A few simple changes to your routine can help your skin stay soft, comfortable and hydrated all season long. Here's what happens to your skin barrier in winter, and how hyaluronic acid (HA) fits in.

What is the skin barrier?

Your skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin, known as the stratum corneum. It's often described as a brick wall: skin cells are the "bricks," and natural fats like ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids are the "mortar" that holds them together.

When that wall is intact, it does two important jobs:

• Holds moisture in, so your skin stays plump and supple
• Keeps irritants out, like wind, pollution and harsh products

Underneath the barrier, hyaluronic acid plays its own part. About half of the HA in your body is found in your skin, where it acts like a natural moisture magnet, holding up to 1,000 times its weight in water.

Why winter is tough on your skin

Winter challenges your skin from two directions at once.

1. Cold, dry air outside

Cold air holds much less moisture than warm air. When the air around you is dry, water evaporates from your skin more quickly, leaving it feeling tight and rough.

2. Heated air inside

Indoor heating warms the air but doesn't add moisture back in. Spending hours in heated rooms, cars and offices can dry your skin out even further.

3. Winter habits

Long, hot showers feel wonderful on a cold day, but hot water can strip away the natural oils your skin barrier depends on. Add in wind, scarves rubbing against your face and less time outdoors, and it's easy to see why skin often looks duller in winter.

Signs your skin may need extra hydration support include:

• Tightness after cleansing
• Rough or flaky patches
• A dull, tired-looking complexion
• Dry, chapped lips
• Skin that feels more sensitive to products you normally use

How hyaluronic acid helps

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, which means it draws water in and holds onto it. Applied to your skin, HA helps attract and retain moisture in the outer layers, supporting a softer, smoother and more hydrated look.

Your body makes its own HA, but production naturally slows with age. By age 50, we may have only about half the HA we had in our 20s. That's one reason dryness can feel more noticeable year after year, especially in winter.

There's one important tip for using HA in dry winter air: always give it water to work with, and seal it in. That's what the routine below is designed to do.

Your 6-step winter skin barrier routine

Step 1: Cleanse gently

Choose a mild, non-stripping cleanser and use lukewarm water rather than hot. If your skin feels squeaky or tight afterward, your cleanser may be too harsh for winter.

Step 2: Apply HA serum to damp skin

Don't towel your face completely dry. Pat it lightly, then apply a few drops of Hyalogic Pure HA Serum while your skin is still slightly damp. HA works best when there's water nearby for it to hold onto.

Step 3: Lock it in with a moisturizer

Follow your serum with a moisturizer or cream within a minute or two. This adds a protective layer on top that helps keep the hydration where you want it, in your skin rather than in the dry air.

Step 4: Add a weekly moisture boost

Once or twice a week, give your skin extra pampering with a hydrating mask. The Hyalogic HA Moisture Mask helps support hydration for a soft, refreshed glow after a long, cold week.

Step 5: Don't forget your lips

Lips have a much thinner barrier than the rest of your face and dry out quickly in winter wind. Keep an HA lip balm in your bag and reapply throughout the day, especially before heading outside.

Step 6: Keep wearing sunscreen

UV rays are still present on cloudy and snowy days, and snow can reflect sunlight. Finish your morning routine with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, even in winter.

Simple habits that make a difference

• Run a humidifier in your bedroom or home office to add moisture back into heated air.
• Keep showers short and lukewarm, and moisturize within a few minutes of drying off.
• Go easy on exfoliating. Scrubs and strong acids can be too much for winter skin. Cut back to once a week or less if your skin feels sensitive.
• Drink water throughout the day. It's easy to forget when you don't feel hot and thirsty.
• Cover up outdoors. A soft scarf and gloves help shield your skin from wind.

Support your skin from the inside out

Topical skincare works on the surface, but hydration starts from within. Oral hyaluronic acid supplements can help support your body's own moisture levels as natural HA production declines with age.*

Hyalogic's Synthovial SEVEN® and Advanced Formula for Skin & Beauty are liquid HA supplements that help maintain skin hydration from the inside out.* Paired with a good topical routine, they're a simple way to give your skin all-round support this winter. If you'd like to learn more about this approach, read Beauty From the Inside Out.

The bottom line

Winter doesn't have to mean dry, uncomfortable skin. Be gentle with your skin barrier, apply HA to damp skin, seal it in with a moisturizer, and support your hydration from within. Small, consistent steps add up to skin that looks and feels its best all season long.

Explore Hyalogic's full range of hyaluronic acid skincare and find the right winter routine for you.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.