Winter Moisturiser in India: Go by Your Skin, Not Your City
Winter in India does not mean the same weather everywhere. In the December when people in Delhi bring out their shawls, people in Chennai are reaching for umbrellas, and some in Mumbai still find the air muggy. So it makes sense to choose a winter moisturiser by how your skin feels now rather than by the calendar. This note looks at how winter differs from city to city, how lotions, gels and creams differ in texture, and the order of washing and moisturising, based on guidance from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the UK's NHS.
Where you live does not decide your skin type. Some people in Delhi are happy with a light gel cream all winter, and some people in Mumbai feel they need a cream. What follows is general information, not medical advice.
Same winter, different weather
Winter in North India is cold. In January 2026, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) again issued cold wave warnings for Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and nearby states. The AAD says that in winter, cold air outside, hot air inside and dry air everywhere can be hard on the skin. If you spend long hours in a room with the heater on, that may sound familiar.
The south is different. According to the IMD, October to December is the northeast monsoon season, and Tamil Nadu receives about 48% of its annual rainfall in this period. For Chennai, those months are closer to a rainy season than a winter. If you live in a coastal city like Mumbai and the air still feels sticky in December, there is no need to follow winter skincare advice written for cold places to the letter.
How lotions, creams, ointments and gels differ
Guidance from Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in the UK explains that lotions contain the most water and the least oil, which makes them the least effective at moisturising. Creams are a mix of oil and water, less greasy than ointments and easier to spread. Ointments are the greasiest and suit very dry skin and overnight use.
The AAD suggests that people with dry skin start with a cream or an ointment and skip lotions. For oily skin, it suggests skipping moisturiser or choosing a lighter gel, and for combination skin it describes moisturising only the dry areas and skipping oily areas, often the T-zone of forehead, nose and chin.
Choose by how your skin feels, not by the city
If your skin feels tight soon after washing or starts to flake, it may be time to think about a richer texture. Some people keep a light product for the day and switch to a cream only at night. Others apply a light moisturiser and then add a little cream only on dry spots such as the cheeks or around the mouth. If you spend your evenings in Delhi in a room with a heater on, you may find yourself making these adjustments often.
On the other hand, if a cream feels heavy and slow to settle in Chennai or Mumbai, a gel or gel cream may feel more comfortable. Even in a humid city, though, if you work long hours under air conditioning and your skin feels tight by evening, a more moisturising texture may suit that day better. The guide is not the map but how your skin feels a few hours after you apply it.
The order of washing and moisturising
The AAD advises keeping showers and baths to about 5 to 10 minutes and using warm water rather than hot. Use a small amount of a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser, and afterwards pat your skin dry with a clean towel instead of rubbing.
The AAD says to apply moisturiser right away, while your skin is still a little damp, and again whenever your skin feels dry. Guy's and St Thomas' advises smoothing a moisturiser on gently rather than rubbing it in hard.
Indoor air and winter sun
When indoor air is dry, the AAD describes using a humidifier in the bedroom at night and adds that it should be cleaned regularly to prevent mould. It also says to wear sunscreen year-round on areas that clothing does not cover, such as the face, neck, ears and hands, and suggests that people with dry skin consider cream sunscreens rather than lotions or sprays.
If dryness continues despite these steps, the AAD recommends seeing a dermatologist, because dry skin can sometimes be linked to another skin condition.
About HANARI Air-Fit Gel Cream
HANARI's Air-Fit Gel Cream was designed around a light gel-cream texture, with hot, humid days in mind. This texture is a development goal and has not yet been verified. On very dry skin, or where heating has dried the air, this gel cream alone may not be enough, so in winter consider adding a richer moisturiser, going by how your skin feels. Air-Fit Gel Cream is planned to launch in December 2026 together with Clean Start Gel Cleanser and Even Days Serum, and none of them is on sale yet. The full ingredient list (INCI) will be published on this site later.