Dry skin around your eyes in winter

Dry-feeling under-eyes and a red, itchy eyelid are not the same problem. This guide is about keeping otherwise comfortable skin moisturised during colder weather, not diagnosing a rash. If the area is sore, swollen, cracked or persistently itchy, pause optional skincare and get professional advice rather than covering it with a patch.

Start with what touches the skin

A routine can feel fine in summer and feel too much in winter. Review cleansing first: repeated washing, rubbing with a towel and long hot showers can make dry skin harder to keep comfortable. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends warm rather than hot water, gentle fragrance-free products and moisturiser after washing for dry skin. Near the eyes, also follow each product's instructions about where it may be used.

• Remove makeup gently instead of scrubbing until every trace disappears.
• Pat dry with a clean towel; do not drag it across the eyelid.
• Use a moisturiser suitable for the area rather than adding multiple unfamiliar serums.
• Keep exfoliating products away from the eye area unless their directions specifically allow use there.

A patch is an optional step, not the whole routine

pep patch is a single-use cosmetic eye mask. On mornings you choose to use it, apply to clean, dry under-eye skin, below the eye rather than on the eyelid, and follow the pack's wear time. Remove it sooner if it feels uncomfortable. Afterwards, continue with a suitable moisturiser and daytime sun protection. Do not put a patch over irritated or broken skin in the hope that extra hydration will solve it.

Make one change, then observe

If you switch your cleanser, eye cream and serum at once, you lose the ability to tell which change helped or which product caused discomfort. Keep a short record of what you used and how your skin felt, not a daily score for how young your eyes look. Comfort is a better starting point than chasing a new ingredient.

When this is more than seasonal dryness

Persistent redness, flaking or itching around the eyelids can have causes that a cosmetic routine cannot identify. Ask a clinician about symptoms that do not settle. Eye pain or changes to your vision need prompt medical attention. Avoid self-prescribing steroid creams around the eyes.