TikToker Katie Fang’s Winter Skin-Care Routine

Photo-Illustration: by The Cut

If there’s one thing I’ve learned after years of experimenting with dozens of skin-care products per month, it’s that your routine shouldn’t stay the same year-round. Just like swapping your wardrobe when the weather
changes, your skin needs different kinds of care depending on the season. In general, my skin tends to be on the drier side, so I’m always looking for products that add hydration without clogging my pores.

We are in the trickiest part of the year: fall. It’s a time when my skin feels dry one week and oily the next. This week, my skin has been struggling a bit with the sudden drop in temperature in New York. The cold, windy weather has made it feel extra dry and even a little flaky, especially around my nose and cheeks.

During these transitional months, I’ll mix textures, like pairing the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel moisturizer with the Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream, which is a richer balm for nighttime. Sometimes, I’ll even just rotate between hydrating serums such as The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid.

A few winter staples I swear by: Rhode Barrier Balm wraps your face in a layer of hydration that actually lasts. I also love the Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream, which gives that rich, cushiony feel without being greasy. It doubles as a good under-makeup moisturizer for when your skin feels tight or dull.

And for nights when I really want to revive my skin, I’ll slather on the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask. I’m a massive fan of this brand, and it’s one of those products that never fails me — creamy, soothing, and ideal for those mornings when I wake up looking like I didn’t sleep enough (a.k.a. most winter mornings).

My best skin-care hack for winter is to layer strategically. Think of it as building a hydrating sandwich: serum first (Hyaluronic Acid), moisturizer second (Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream), and then a balm or mask (Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask) to seal it in.

In the winter, I like to lean into a richer, more hydrating routine. I don’t usually do facials, but Caudalie offers really good ones that are super-gentle and nourishing when my skin feels tight or dull. For my body, I swear by the Caudalie Body Butter — it is thick, buttery, and instantly soothes any itchy or dry patches. My lips get chapped easily, so I’ve been using the Ilia Lip Mask every night, and I always keep a L’Occitane hand cream in my bag to protect my hands from the cold.

Once the weather heats up, I trade my rich creams for lightweight gels that hydrate without feeling heavy. Summer skin tends to get oilier, especially in humid climates, so you want products that absorb quickly but still keep your skin plump and refreshed.

In the summer, I use Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel; it is a forever favorite for a reason, as it’s affordable, refreshing, and delivers that instant hydration my skin craves on hot days. I also love the Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer; it feels silky and cooling, and the hyaluronic acid keeps my skin hydrated without clogging my pores.

If my skin feels a little stressed or overheated (think post-beach or post-flight), I’ll use the Drunk Elephant F-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial overnight. It has that same gel texture but with an extra hit of barrier-repairing electrolytes and niacinamide — perfect for restoring moisture to my skin after sun exposure or long summer days. But here in New York, we have a couple more months before we have to worry about that.