Cold weather is not a reason to assume there is no UV exposure. If you are spending time outdoors in winter, protect exposed skin as part of the day you have planned. A short walk through town, an afternoon outdoors and a day on the ski slopes are different situations, even when all three feel cold.
I try to wear sunscreen throughout the year, including days when the sun is not obvious. I do change the texture: something light and cooling in summer, and a richer, more moisturising feel in winter. With that approach, dryness has not been a particular problem for me. If a summer favourite becomes uncomfortable, changing the texture would be my first choice rather than dropping sunscreen altogether.
Snow and mountains change the picture
The American Academy of Dermatology's cold-weather guidance highlights winter sun exposure, snow reflection and altitude. Warmth is not the measure to use when deciding whether a day outside needs protection.
That matters especially if you are skiing, hiking or spending hours on a bright snowy terrace. The uncovered parts of your face can be exposed while the rest of you is wrapped in several layers. A thick coat does not protect your nose.
Think through the day before leaving. Will you be outside for much of it? Will there be snow? Which parts of the face and neck will remain uncovered? That small check makes more sense than using the same casual plan for every winter activity.
Keep the protection simple
AAD recommends shade, protective clothing and a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of at least SPF 30 for exposed skin. Follow the sunscreen's application directions, including applying before exposure and reapplying during time in the sun and after activities that remove it.
For an outdoor day, pack the sunscreen where you can reach it. A product at the bottom of a hotel suitcase is unlikely to be reapplied on the mountain. Check that your application includes easily missed exposed areas rather than only the centre of the cheeks.
Scarves, hats and suitable eye protection can make the routine more practical. Sunscreen is one part of that arrangement, not a reason to leave everything else behind.
A winter formula can feel different from a summer one
The same finish can become less appealing when the weather changes. A very matte product that felt comfortable in hot weather may feel too dry over winter skincare. Conversely, layering a rich cream under a rich sunscreen may feel heavier than you want.
I would change one part at a time. If the sunscreen is the problem, compare a more comfortable texture before replacing the whole routine. If the skin underneath already feels tight, look at the cleanser and moisturiser too. Sunscreen does not need to carry every skincare job by itself.
Allow each layer to settle and avoid repeatedly rubbing the base back and forth. If the combination pills, try less unnecessary layering or a different pairing rather than mixing sunscreen into moisturiser to change the feel. Use the sunscreen as the finished product it is designed to be.
What about an ordinary day indoors?
An indoor working day is not the same exposure pattern as a day on snow. This guide does not turn every hour inside into a reason to keep adding sunscreen on a timer. It is about not forgetting actual outdoor exposure because the air is cold.
Build a routine around the outdoor parts of your day, your circumstances and the product directions. If you have been given individual medical sun-protection advice, keep following it. For a typical morning, the practical task is to have protection ready for going outside rather than having to rethink the entire routine at the door.
Makeup does not remove the decision
A cushion or foundation with an SPF label can be part of your makeup, but do not assume a light decorative layer recreates the labelled sunscreen application. Keep the sun-protection step understandable on its own, then put makeup over it in the way that works for your base.
For a longer outdoor day, consider whether full makeup makes the necessary top-ups more difficult. A simpler base can be a sensible choice for skiing or hiking. That is a practical adjustment, not a rule that winter sunscreen and makeup cannot be worn together.
The aim is a routine you can carry out: a comfortable sunscreen, sensible coverage from clothing and a plan for the actual day outside. Choose the texture for the weather and plan protection around the time you will actually spend outside.