
Winter dryness can be brutal and and flakiness often means your skin barrier needs water plus a little seal. When you look at a moisturizer online, scan for words like gel cream, fast absorbing, or non greasy, and check for humectants such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or urea along with barrier helpers such as ceramides and squalane. If you can test it, smooth a pea sized amount on the back of your hand, wait ten minutes, then press a tissue on top; if the tissue is not oily and your skin feels soft rather than tacky, it should feel comfortable on the face. Avoid strong fragrance if your skin is reactive since it can worsen winter irritation.
Tweak the routine to get more out of whatever you pick. Cleanse gently at night, use lukewarm water, and pat dry, then apply moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp. In the morning, try a light layer, wait two minutes, then add a second thin layer only on flaky areas so you get comfort without greasiness; you can also blot your T zone with a tissue after it sets. Add moisture to the air with a humidifier or even a bowl of water near a heat source. If flakes persist, do very gentle exfoliation once or twice a week with a soft washcloth and follow with your moisturizer, and for stubborn dry patches tap a rice grain amount of plain petrolatum on top at night to seal it in.