Autumn and Winter Face Care: How to Adjust Your A313 Anti-Wrinkle Cream Routine When the Heating Goes On

Every year, somewhere around late October, the same thing happens: the heating goes on, the air outside turns cold and windy, and skin that felt perfectly comfortable in September starts to feel tight by the evening. If you use a vitamin-A cream, this is also the time of year when a routine that suited you well can suddenly feel like a little too much.

That doesn't mean you have to stop. Usually it just means a few small adjustments.

Why your face feels different when the heating goes on

Central heating lowers the humidity of indoor air, often well below the level skin finds comfortable. Outside, cold air holds less moisture too, and wind adds to the effect. Moving between the two all day makes it harder for the skin's outer layer to hold on to water.

What many people notice: a tight feeling after cleansing, rough or flaky patches around the nose and mouth, and skin that stings more easily than usual. Because vitamin A can cause some dryness on its own, especially in the first weeks, the two effects can add up.

Small adjustments that make a real difference

• Look at frequency first. If your skin feels tight or flaky, go back to every other evening, or two to three evenings a week, for a while.
• Switch to a gentler cleanser. Swap foaming or exfoliating cleansers for a mild, creamy one, and use lukewarm rather than hot water.
• Apply to fully dry skin. Vitamin A on damp skin can feel more intense. Wait a few minutes after cleansing before you apply.
• Add moisture where you need it. On evenings off, a plain, fragrance-free moisturiser helps. If your skin is sensitive, you can also buffer: moisturiser first, A313 on top. Our guide on how to buffer A313 with moisturiser explains the options.
• Protect against wind and winter sun. A scarf helps on cold, windy days, and daily broad-spectrum SPF still matters in winter, especially on bright days, in the mountains or near snow.
• Keep other actives in check. Exfoliating acids, scrubs and other retinoids on the same evening make winter dryness more likely. Keep them on separate nights, or pause them while your skin settles.

Signs it's time to step back

A little dryness can be normal. But if your skin feels raw, stings even when you apply a plain moisturiser, or stays red, take a few evenings off and use only a gentle cleanser and moisturiser. Chapped patches, cracked corners of the mouth or windburn are best left alone until they have healed.

How to use the A313 Anti-Wrinkle Cream in autumn and winter

• Use it in the evening, on clean skin that is completely dry.
• One pump is enough for the whole face. Spread a thin layer and keep away from the lash line, lips and corners of the nose, which dry out quickly in winter.
• If you're new to vitamin A, or your skin currently feels dry, start with two to three evenings a week and only build up if it stays comfortable.
• On evenings off, use a plain moisturiser.

When to ask for advice

If you have very sensitive or reactive skin, eczema, rosacea or broken skin, speak to a pharmacist or skincare professional before using a vitamin-A product, particularly in winter, when skin is more easily irritated. The same applies if you are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding, or if you use other prescribed skin treatments, including prescription retinoids. Stop using the product and ask for advice if you notice persistent redness, swelling, burning or a rash.

Colder months don't have to mean giving up your routine. With a gentler pace, a little more moisture and daily sun protection, it's usually possible to keep vitamin A in your evenings all winter, and to return to your usual rhythm when spring comes.