Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the web’s best products. If you purchase through our links, we may receive a commission. Our editorial team is independent and only endorses products we believe in.
With the negative temperatures brought on by this winter’s relentless storms, my skin is officially drier than the Sahara. I’m talking: flaking, tightness, aging, the whole situation – and I haven’t even spent much time outside. I’ve always had dry skin, but after recently moving back to the Midwest following seven years in the Carolinas, my usual moisturizers suddenly feel laughable.
So instead of panic-buying another cream that promises “deep hydration” and delivers nothing, I decided to ask the people who actually know winter: elite athletes who train outside for hours on end, in high winds, at altitude, with snow reflecting UV straight back into their faces.
Enter Team USA athletes Sydney Jo Peterson, a Para cross-country skier, and Jamie Anderson, an Olympic snowboarder; two people whose skin has absolutely been through it. If their routines can protect them during the harshest training months of the year, I have faith they can protect the rest of us just trying to survive winter.
We like
We don't like
Meet The Athletes
Sydney Jo Peterson, Para Cross-Country Skier
Peterson is currently based in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she trains full-time in Nordic skiing while also working toward a PhD in Neuroscience (casual!). Her days often include long endurance sessions followed by lab work, strength training, and whatever mountain adventure Utah offers that weekend.
As Milano Cortina 2026 approached, her mindset was refreshingly grounded. “At the end of the day, these races are the same as any other, just with more people watching,” she says. Her focus? Enjoying training, staying consistent, and letting that translate into strong racing.
Jamie Anderson, Olympic Snowboarder
Anderson is a professional snowboarder, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and mom of two. She has learned that “keeping [her] skincare routine simple, hydrating, and consistent, while also supporting [her] body from the inside out, is what works best.”
The Winter Skin Battles We Face
Winter skin is no joke. Dryness, tightness, flaking, irritation, it all seems to hit at once (once it’s too late). And while most of us aren’t spending hours training outdoors like Olympians, we’re still dealing with cold air, indoor heat, and constant exposure that our skin has to recover from daily.
Over time, these winter stressors can:
- Strip away moisture faster than warm seasons
- Weaken the skin’s natural barrier function
- Increase irritation and sensitivity
- Reduce surface circulation (hello dullness)
- Amplify UV exposure through snow reflection
The Real Experts: The Winter Skin Battles They Face
Training outside all winter long means skin takes a real beating. For Peterson, the biggest problem areas are predictable but intense. “My face takes the most wear just because it’s always exposed, especially on long days in the wind and sun,” she explains. “Hands can also get beat up from cold temps and damp mittens.”
And of course, cracked lips, dryness, and windburn come with the territory. Peterson and Anderson agree the most common and most dangerous mistake people make in winter is forgetting sun protection all together: “Cold temperatures make it easy to forget about sunscreen, but snow reflects light and the exposure adds up fast especially at altitude. I’ve gotten burned plenty of times on days that felt harmless. If you’re outside for hours, protecting your skin is part of the deal, whether it feels sunny or not.”
Their Non-Negotiable Winter Skincare Essentials
When your skin is exposed to wind, cold, sweat, and UV for hours at a time, you learn quickly what actually works. Peterson and Anderson’s routines are intentionally minimal, durable, and easy to replicate.
Peterson: After long days in the snow, Peterson reaches for these at night. “I like that I can use them broadly or just where my skin feels most beat up,” she says, especially when her skin is irritated from cold air and sweat.
We like
We don't like
Anderson: Winter already strips our skin of moisture, we don’t need our face wash to do the same. Anderson sticks with a gentle cleanser to help prevent dryness in winter conditions.
We like
We don't like
Peterson: Reapplying SPF at altitude is a habit Peterson refuses to skip. Snow reflects everything, and hours outside add up fast, even on cloudy days.
We like
We don't like
Anderson: Anderson’s go-to SPF is mineral-based. Snow reflects so much sun, this simple step goes a long way in skin longevity.
We like
We don't like
Peterson: During the day, Peterson sticks with lighter formulas that actually absorb. “Heavy creams tend to feel occlusive, but this gives me enough protection without feeling like it’s sitting on my skin.”
We like
We don't like
Anderson: A thick, all-purpose healing balm is a non-negotiable for Anderson. She uses it on her “lips, hands, and any dry patches to lock in moisture and protect [her] skin barrier throughout the day.”
We like
We don't like
Peterson: For windburn, irritation, or post-training redness, Peterson goes straight to barrier repair. “It feels protective rather than cosmetic,” she says. “Winter training is rough by nature, and this just helps keep it from lingering longer than it needs to.”
Anderson: This product is so good, both athletes named it as a holy grail in their skincare routine. Anderson states, “This is my winter essential; it deeply hydrates and protects my skin from cold, wind, and long days in the mountains.”
We like
We don't like
Anderson: An underrated addition to wellness routines, Anderson dry brushes her face and body daily to help exfoliate her skin, boost circulation, and keep her feeling fresh during the winter months.
We like
We don't like
Peterson: Cold air and heavy breathing wreak havoc on lips, while friction from gear can quickly turn into pressure sores. Peterson relies on lip balm and even tape on her hands and feet to address issues before they become distractions.
We like
We don't like
Why Good Skin = Better Performance
For both athletes, skincare isn’t about aesthetics, it’s about performance and mental clarity. “The training is the fun part,” Peterson says, “but recovery is when your body adapts.” Anderson focuses on hydration, clean food, and managing inflammation to optimize how her skin looks and feels.
These wellness habits ensure small issues don’t spiral to bigger ones: “Taking care of small things, the same way you shower or brush your teeth, keeps them from turning into distractions,” says Peterson. “When I know I’ve taken care of the basics, I don’t have to think about them. That mental quiet matters when you’re asking a lot of your body day after day.”
Maintaining a simple, consistent routine helps both athletes stay grounded during the high-pressure buildup to Milano Cortina 2026.
Their Best Winter Skin Advice for Non-Athletes
Peterson’s advice is refreshingly no-nonsense: keep it simple.
- Don’t overcomplicate your routine.
- Prep your skin before exposure.
- Layer products like you layer clothing.
- Consistency matters more than complexity.
“If something feels like a chore or takes more energy than it gives back,” she says, “it’s probably too much.”
Anderson discovered the same philosophy to be true. Her takeaway tidbits include:
- Always protect your skin before even leaving the house; cold air and wind can be brutal.
- Moisturize more than you think you need to. In winter, reapplying throughout the day makes a huge difference.
- Never skip SPF, even in the snow (year-round habit alert!).
- Support your skin from the inside out.
Above all, she tells TQE, “Between training, cold weather conditions, and being a mom, I’ve learned that simple, consistent skincare goes a long way.”
Shop The Athlete-Approved Routine
Shop the exact products Sydney Jo Peterson and Jamie Anderson rely on during the coldest training months.
Anderson: Winter already strips our skin of moisture, we don’t need our face wash to do the same. Anderson sticks with a gentle cleanser to help prevent dryness in winter conditions.
We like
We don't like
Peterson: Reapplying SPF at altitude is a habit Peterson refuses to skip. Snow reflects everything, and hours outside add up fast, even on cloudy days.
We like
We don't like
Peterson: For windburn, irritation, or post-training redness, Peterson goes straight to barrier repair. “It feels protective rather than cosmetic,” she says. “Winter training is rough by nature, and this just helps keep it from lingering longer than it needs to.”
Anderson: This product is so good, both athletes named it as a holy grail in their skincare routine. Anderson states, “This is my winter essential; it deeply hydrates and protects my skin from cold, wind, and long days in the mountains.”
We like
We don't like
Anderson: A thick, all-purpose healing balm is a non-negotiable for Anderson. She uses it on her “lips, hands, and any dry patches to lock in moisture and protect [her] skin barrier throughout the day.”
We like
We don't like
Peterson: Cold air and heavy breathing wreak havoc on lips, while friction from gear can quickly turn into pressure sores. Peterson relies on lip balm and even tape on her hands and feet to address issues before they become distractions.
We like
We don't like
The Takeaway
Whether you’re training for the Olympics or just trying to survive winter without painfully dry skin like me, the lesson is the same: protect your skin so you can keep doing what you love. As Peterson puts it: “The goal is to feel good enough to keep going outside, keep moving, and enjoy what you’re doing.” Honestly? Same.
Why You Should Trust Us
At The Quality Edit, we don’t just write about products, we test, research, and ask the people who rely on them most. Our editorial team is dedicated to helping readers cut through the noise and find products that actually work, whether that’s for everyday routines or extreme conditions.
For this story, we spoke directly with Team USA athletes who train outdoors in some of the harshest winter environments imaginable. Their skincare routines aren’t built around trends or aesthetics, but around performance, protection, and long-term skin health. Every product mentioned here comes recommended through firsthand experience.
Looking for more beauty tips and inspiration? Browse our beauty edit and explore all our favorite products.
