Before I get into it, a quick note on why this routine works for me. I’ve been testing skincare and makeup for over fifteen years for MissLJBeauty, and because I have the fun combination of hormonal skin, tretinoin dryness, outdoor biking, Scottish windburn, coil breakouts and constant product testing, my skin reacts instantly when something is right or wrong. I’ve tried hundreds of routines, and this winter skincare reset is what consistently gets my skin back to a healthy, hydrated place.
My Morning Reset Routine
I always cleanse in the morning because it removes leftover tret and gives makeup a smoother base. I reach for either the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser or the Fenty Skin Total Cleans’r Remove-It-All Cleanser, the cherry one because they're gentle and never strip my irritated skin. Then I apply moisturiser and let it sit for around fifteen minutes before makeup. If it’s a no-makeup day, I stop after moisturiser and SPF. A simple morning routine works far better than overloading my skin when it’s stressed.My Night Reset Routine
During a reset week I use tret every night, but always in the sandwich method: light moisturiser, tret, another light layer of moisturiser. It keeps dryness under control without losing results. In the daytime I use my PDRN serum and Volufiline because they make my skin look less dull and tired. I always remove makeup as soon as I’m home leaving makeup on weakens my skin barrier and always leads to breakouts for me.The Hydration Products That Actually Help My Skin Recover
My skin responds immediately when I focus on hydration rather than exfoliation. Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré is my daily staple. Rhode Glazing Milk gives me that fresh, healthy look on days I feel grey. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ is my emergency barrier repair fix (it’s even recommended on DermNet for irritated skin). When things are really bad, the Byoma oil and Inkey List PDRN serum give instant comfort and take away that tight, over-sensitised feeling. This is the part of my winter skincare routine that makes the biggest difference.Lifestyle Habits That Make My Reset Work Better
I’ve been trying to drink more water, take vitamins, wear less makeup, sleep better and just be more consistent with my routine. Hormones, stress, cold weather and testing too many products absolutely played havoc with my skin barrier in 2025, so the lifestyle part matters more than I wanted to admit.What Didn’t Work for Me This Winter
Anything acid-based was a disaster. SA cleansers, exfoliating body products or anything “brightening” made my dryness, flaking and redness worse. Even acid body washes were too much. Winter is officially my “no acids” season.The Moment I Knew I Needed a Reset
I had a horrible cold and then went out filming in freezing wind, and the wind burn was intense. My nose was destroyed, my lips did their weird dry-but-swollen thing, and my cheeks were red and irritated. Between that and walking the dogs in Scottish winter, my face reached its breaking point.My Low-Effort Makeup During Reset Weeks
If I wear makeup, it's usually the Kylie Cosmetics Skin Tint or No7 HydraLuminous with a touch of contour, brows and Charlotte Tilbury mascara. If I can get away with just SPF, I absolutely do. It always helps my skin settle quicker.A Funny Husband Moment
My husband once asked why I was putting “vitamin C” on my face because “isn’t that something you eat?” He still doesn’t understand why I have so many products, but half of them are for my job so he just rolls with it now.How I Know I'm Overdoing My Routine
My skin always warns me. Breakouts in odd places, tight flaky patches around my nose and chin, or when my lips go puffy-dry from the cold, those are my signs to simplify immediately.
Post-Biking Skin Care
After biking in cold wind or rain I always remove makeup straight away and apply a hydrating mask like Jet Lag. Windburn mixed with tret dryness is not something I’m willing to fight.Who This Reset Routine Is For
If your skin is dry, irritated, hormonal, sensitised from tret, stressed from winter weather or overwhelmed from too many products, this routine should help calm everything down.Quick FAQ
What is a skin reset? A short period where you strip your skincare routine back to barrier-friendly basics.Can you use tretinoin during a skin reset? Yes—if your barrier is intact. I use the sandwich method to avoid extra irritation.
How long does a reset take to work? I usually see improvements within three to five days.
Can you wear makeup during a reset? Light makeup is fine, but minimal makeup helps your skin recover faster.
What I Used Today
Today my skin was tight around the chin and nose, so I used CeraVe, Rhode Glazing Milk, Embryolisse and SPF only. No makeup. My skin always thanks me for these days.What I Want to Improve Most in 2026
I want my clear, balanced skin back. My skin used to feel reliable, and I’m determined to get it back to that healthy, hydrated place again.The One Product Staying in My Routine This Year
Rhode Glazing Milk. It just makes me look alive, even when the rest of my face hasn’t caught up yet.
If your skin is going through dryness, irritation, hormonal chaos or tret sensitivity, I hope this little skin reset routine helps you get back to a calmer place. I’ll keep updating this through 2026 with anything new that genuinely helps.
If you love honest beauty reviews and real-life routines, there will be lots more coming this year. My skin and I are on a mission in 2026, so keep an eye out for the next update.
About the Author
I’m Laura, the face behind MissLJBeauty. I’ve spent over 15 years testing skincare and makeup on my own hormonal, tret-sensitive, Scottish-weather-beaten skin. I’m trained in skincare and facials, and I only share routines that genuinely work for me in real life.
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