Susie Ma’s Winter Skincare Routine

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On February 18, 2026

humidity and indoor heating can strip away moisture, leaving skin feeling tight, flaky or dull. The key to a great winter skincare routine isn’t adding endless new products, it’s choosing the right, nutrient-rich formulas to support your natural barrier and keep hydration levels high.

At Tropic, our approach to winter skincare is rooted in nourishment, protection, and balance, values championed by our Founder and CEO, Susie Ma. With a background in biochemistry and a lifelong passion for natural ingredients, Susie has always believed that effective skincare should be naturally derived, freshly made to protect the integrity of every ingredient, and independently clinically tested for proven results.

Why Skin Gets Drier In Winter

Winter weather can be particularly harsh on the skin. Cold air contains less moisture, while indoor heating further accelerates dehydration. This combination can compromise the skin’s lipid barrier, resulting in dryness, sensitivity and even breakouts. Supporting your skin through winter means sealing in hydration, replenishing essential oils, and reinforcing its natural defences with enriching cleansers, nourishing moisturisers, and comforting facial oils – the foundations of an effective winter skincare routine for dry and dehydrated skin.

“Skincare isn’t just about looking good, it’s about feeding your skin with the best nature has to offer.” – Susie Ma, Founder & CEO of Tropic Skincare

To meet these seasonal needs, Susie follows a winter skincare routine centered on nourishment, protection, and barrier support. It’s a carefully curated edit of our bestselling vegan skincare essentials, each chosen to keep skin soft, supple, and radiant throughout the colder months.

Susie’s Winter Skincare Routine For Dry, Dehydrated Skin

Step One: Cleanse Gently

In winter, switch out lightweight, gel or foaming cleansers for more nourishing options. Balm- and cream-based cleansers effectively remove makeup and impurities while helping to maintain moisture, leaving skin feeling soft, calm and balanced.

Try: Smoothing Cleanser

A true Tropic icon, Smoothing Cleanser uses a blend of golden jojoba and macadamia oils to gently melt away impurities while keeping skin hydrated and soothed. Lightweight yet comforting, it’s ideal for dry, dehydrated or oily skin – and is dermatologist-approved for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

“Smoothing Cleanser has been part of my daily routine for over a decade and is still one of the products I’m most proud of.” – Susie Ma

Or opt for: Renewing Cleanser

For those needing extra richness and nourishment, Renewing Cleanser is the ultimate winter indulgence. This luxurious balm-to-oil cleanser is packed with a bespoke ceramide complex to help support the skin barrier, leaving skin feeling plump, comforted, and deeply nourished.

It’s particularly well suited to drier perimenopausal and menopausal skin, or anyone who needs an extra boost of barrier support during the colder months.

“For me, Renewing Cleanser is more than cleansing; it’s cocooning your skin in luxury. Take a moment to pause, breathe, massage it in, and enjoy the sensorial ritual.” – Susie Ma

Step Two: Hydrate

For Susie, hydration is the non-negotiable starting point for healthy skin. “Get hydration right first,” she says, “the rest will follow.” Hydration this time of year is all about smart layering. Begin with lightweight, water-binding formulas, then follow with a richer moisturiser to help prevent moisture loss.

Try: Rainforest Dew Hydration Serum – a plumping formula with multi-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid and plant peptides to replenish and revive winter-thirsty skin. The result? Plumper, replenished, and dewy skin.

Follow with Skin Feast Nourishing Moisturiser. Enriched with avocado and sea buckthorn oils to strengthen the skin barrier, it locks in long-lasting moisture and leaves your complexion beautifully soft, smooth and radiant.

“Skin Feast was inspired by my mum, a self-confessed feeder who believes love is best expressed through care and nourishment. This formula feeds skin everything it needs to feel healthy, soft, and radiant. Packed with nourishing butters, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants, it’s a true banquet for your complexion.” – Susie Ma

Step Three: Protect & Soothe

Facial oils are an essential step in a winter skincare routine, creating a protective layer between your skin and the elements. They help reduce moisture loss, restore balance, and support barrier recovery – especially when used as the final step in your evening routine to lock everything in overnight.

Try: Super Greens Nutrient Boost Oil – a powerhouse blend of restorative tamanu, moringa, and kale oils to nourish the skin barrier and seal in hydration for comforting winter protection.

“Bursting with nutrient-rich greens, antioxidants, and repairing oils, Super Greens feeds your skin with everything it needs to stay strong, supple, and radiant. Think of it like a wellness shot for your face.” – Susie Ma

Susie Ma follows a simple winter skincare routine using our Smoothing Cleanser Complexion Purifier, Rainforest Dew Hydration Serum, Skin Feast Nourishing Moisturiser and Super Greens Nutrient Boost Oil to protect the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss.