It’s time to face the facts: the moment the temperatures change – from a moderately chilly autumn to a bitterly cold winter – your skin suffers first. As temperatures fall and the air gets drier your summer routine just doesn’t cut it anymore, and the arrival of winter calls for a major skincare upgrade.

During the colder months, many of us are often plagued by seemingly incurable dry, flaky skin, and a feeling of tightness that just won’t quit. Whether it’s the bitterly cold air outside or the ultra-drying heaters indoors, it’s virtually impossible to escape these damaging elements during the colder months. And while your skin works hard to prevent dryness, flakiness, and cracking, sometimes it needs a little extra support. 

So, it pays to have an arsenal of hydrating masks on hand to treat whatever your skin throws at you. Specifically, ones that will dose your skin with a fresh drink of water, infusing hydration along with botanicals, active ingredients, antioxidants, and AHAs. Read on for some of our favourites, below…

Trilogy Very Gentle Hydra Mask

Designed with compromised skin top of mind, Trilogy’s certified natural Very Gentle Hydra Mask hydrates and strengthens irritated skin barriers in need of a serious hydration boost.

Pleasantly cooling and fragrance-free, this super mask is dermatologically tested and aids reactive skins with a non-irritating all-natural formulation. Enriched with antioxidant-rich maqui berry to fight free radical damage, breakthrough botanical complex Syricalm® to calm, and sweet almond to deeply hydrate, it’s suitable for all skin types, particularly very sensitive or reactive skin types. We recommend dipping into a jar of this several times a week when you’re in need, it’s definitely a product that you can’t overuse.

Alder New York Smoothing Mask

We often associate mud-based masks with drying, but this skin rejuvenating mud mask exfoliates and fights free radicals for a smoother, even complexion without stripping your skin of its natural goodness. Super moisture booster, hyaluronic acid, plumps skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines, while Kaolin clay smooths and tightens (in a good way!). The formula also comes with sea kelp to help boost collagen and encourage cell turnover. We love that it is vegan, fragrance-free, silicone-free, paraben-free, and phenoxyethanol-free.

Nuori Supreme Moisture Mask

For an instant or overnight hydration boost, this highly concentrated, yet lightweight moisturising mask from Nuori calls itself “the ultimate treatment” for dehydrated and distressed skin. Grape and Damask rose waters combined with natural hyaluronic acid effectively boost and restore moisture levels, while botanical squalane and betaine strengthen the skin’s barrier function. Anti-inflammatory chamomile extract is in there to reduce irritation and restore suppleness – essential in winter – while Vitamin B3 revives skin tone, improves elasticity, and prevents moisture loss.

Leave this beauty on for 10-15 minutes for an instant hydration boost, or use it overnight for an even more intensified result. Designed for use 2-3 times a week, Nuori’s Supreme Moisture Mask is an everyday luxury you most definitely need in your life over the colder months.

Imbibe’s Miracle Collagen

And… for a little help from the inside out, Imbibe’s Miracle Collagen is scientifically formulated to plump and firm your skin from within. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and with age, collagen production slows, so yes – you need this in your life. Its bio-active formula with 18 amino acids (both essential and non-essential) is scientifically designed to transform and stimulate collagen synthesis and skin elasticity from the inside out, so the perfect addition to your skincare arsenal.