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Dry skin is a common skin concern right now, and the cause of that itchy, scratchy feeling may not be a lack of body lotion. One unexpected way to soothe dry, irritated skin is reaching for the right fabrics.
Winter brings all kinds of dry skin triggers, like artificial heat indoors, low humidity outside, and the urge to take long, hot showers (a big no no, as steamy showers strip your skin of natural oils that keep you moisturized). While rich body butters and powering on a humidifier can help your skin regain moisture, choosing the right clothes can help your skin maintain that hydration without irritating your skin.
What to Look for in The Best Fabrics for Dry Winter Skin
“If you have eczema or other forms of dermatitis, you should opt for soft, breathable fabrics such as cotton or silk,” says Dr. Shereene Idriss, Board-certified Dermatologist, founder of Idriss Dermatology in NYC, and creator of the #PillowtalkDerm series on Instagram. “Natural fibers like wool and linen can be irritating for your skin because they can be scratchy and itchy,” Idriss explains. “Synthetic fibers, such as polyester and nylon are also irritating as they can trap heat and moisture, not allowing your skin to breathe.” If you simply must wear the wool sweater, layer a long-sleeve cotton or silk top underneath to protect your skin from scratching.
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- Cotton: “Cotton is your best option because it’s hypoallergenic, absorbs well, and is a cool, comfortable fabric to wear,” says Idriss. The budget-friendly fabric comes in a range of styles for year-round wear, whether it’s a simple white T-shirt or a chunky sweater.
- Silk: “Silk is also quite gentle on your skin,” Idriss explains. While silk items are more of a splurge, a gorgeous set of silk pajamas will soothe your skin while you sleep, and night time is an important time of the day for skin recovery.
- Loose-fitting: Look for loose-fitting clothes like oversized sweaters, women’s sweatpants, and baggy jeans. Skin-skimming clothes like leggings and tight-fitting tops can cause friction on your skin, which may be irritating to sensitive skin types.
Related: The Best Moisturizers for Dry, Sensitive Skin
Top Clothes For Dry Winter Skin
Madewell Funnel Neck Drop Shoulder Cotton Sweater
Best Cotton Sweater
A good cotton sweater transitions seamlessly from fall to winter to spring. The Madewell Funnel Neck Drop Shoulder Cotton Sweater is made of 100% cotton with a boxy fit, so your skin can breathe. We love the XXS to XXL size range.
Courtesy of Madewell
Naadam Wool-Blend Sweaterdress
Merino wool is a softer, finely spun version of traditional wool, so it’s a safer option to wear when you’re dealing with angry skin. This Naadam midi sweater dress is made of 75% merino wool and 25% silk for major warmth without irritation.
Courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue
Lunya Washable Silk High Rise Pant Set
A set of silk pajamas will help you and your skin get a great night of sleep. The Lunya two-piece set is made of 100% Mulberry silk (the smoothest and strongest silk out there) and it has the added bonus of machine washability without losing its buttery feel.
Courtesy of Lunya
Pangaia 365 Track Pants
Best Cotton Sweatpants
The Pangaia 365 Track Pants will be your go-to on lazy weekend mornings or work from home days. The oversize fit soft lining will keep you cozy no matter if you’re watching Netflix or running to the store. These women’s sweatpants are made entirely of organic cotton so your skin will love them, too.
Courtesy of Pangaia
Alex Mill Nico Cardigan
Best Cotton Cardigan
A good cardigan will serve you all fall and winter. This 100% cotton Alex Mill Nico Cardigan will keep you all buttoned up without irritating your arms. The heavy, chunky ribbed knit is extra warm, and you can shop six earthy colors on the brand’s site.
Courtesy of Alex Mill
Everlane The Pima Micro-Rib Turtleneck
Best Cotton Turtleneck
A good cotton turtleneck will get loads of wear time in your winter routine. This option from Everlane is made with 96% Supima cotton sourced from American farms, plus 4% elastane for a little stretch. Layer it under scratchy wool sweaters to prevent itching or on its own with your favorite leather pants. The staple is available in nine colors to suit any style.
Courtesy of Everlane
La Perla Silk Short Robe
Best Silk Robe
Created with 100% Italian silk, La Perla Silk Short Robe will become your most-reached for robe. It features notched lapel details with side-tie closures and pockets. The silk feels like butter on your skin — you’ll never want to take it off.
Courtesy of La Perla
Co Patch Pocket V-Neck Silk Cardigan
Best Silk Top
The Co Patch Pocket V-Neck Silk Cardigan is an investment piece that’ll keep you feeling cozy and your skin feeling smooth wherever you are, thanks to it’s 100% silk fabric. You can layer it over just about anything for added warmth without irritating your skin.
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Dannijo Midi Slip Dress
Best Silk Slip Dress
The best slip dresses are wardrobe staples you can wear all year long. The Dannijo Midi Slip Dress is 100% silk to go gentle on the most easily-irritated skin types. The slim fit style accentuates curves without suffocating or irritating your skin. Wear it to work with tall boots and a chunky sweater, or with a leather jacket for date night.
Courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue
Citizens of Humanity Annina Trouser Jeans
Best Women’s Jeans for Dry Winter Skin
These 100% cotton jeans are designed to feel loose on your legs, which helps prevent friction (and therefore irritation) on dry skin. The material is stiff at first but softens up as you wear them for a comfortable, scratch-free feel.
Courtesy of Citizens of Humanity
The Best Body Products for Dry Winter Skin
EltaMD Moisture-Rich Body Crème
Best Lightweight Body Cream
You probably know EltaMD for their award-winning, dermatologist-approved sunscreen formulas, but the brand does more than SPF. Their Moisture-Rich Body Crème gives you the same lightweight feel as their face lotions, but with skin barrier-boosting ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and squalane. The quick dry down lets you shimmy right into clothes right after applying.
Courtesy of EltaMD
Kate McLeod Daily Stone Solid Body Moisturizer
Best Rich Body Cream
Consider Kate McLeod’s body moisturizer as lotion in a bar soap format. The intensely rich solid moisturizer melts on your skin as you glide it onto your limbs, leaving nourishing ingredients like cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, and apricot kernel oil in its wake. The moisturizer makes it a breeze to focus on dry problem areas like your knees and elbows.
Courtesy of Kate McLeod
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Cicaplast Balm B5
Best Balm for Dry Skin
La Roche-Posay products have had loads of TikTok viral moments this year. The French pharmacy brand’s Cicaplast Balm B5 is the latest, with beauty lovers raving about its ability to help clear up breakouts. That’s thanks to the formulas major anti-inflammatory powers from ingredients like centella asiatica derivatives. Panthenol, shea butter, and glycerin make this balm a solve for irritated, dry skin, too. Dab it on any inflamed patches on your hands, lips, or body to soothe your skin in an instant.
Courtesy of La Roche-Posay
Bio-Oil Skincare Oil
Best Body Oil
The Kim Kardashian-approved Bio-Oil Skincare Oil will revive your skin on the coldest days. The rose colored oil contains a blend of ingredients like sunflower oil, chamomile, and vitamins A and E to soften skin while evening out discoloration — we can attest to its ability to help fade scars.
Courtesy of Ulta
Nécessaire The Body Serum
Best Hydrating Body Serum
Incorporating a body serum into your routine is an extra step before you apply body lotion, but it’s a worthy one. Nécessaire’s body serum contains a potent dose of ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides. The liquid seeps into your skin to boost the moisturizing powers of the body lotions and creams you apply on top.
Courtesy of Necessaire
Aquaphor Healing Ointment Body Spray
Best Hydrating Body Mist
With Aquaphor Healing Ointment Body Spray, you can spritz dry patches away. The mist version of the popular petrolatum-based product makes it easy to target problem areas without dealing with greasy hands. The continuous spray mist evenly delivers a thin layer of the occlusive formula that helps lock in hydration.
Courtesy of Amazon
Meet the Expert
Dr. Shereene Idriss is unlike her peers. In a time when top-name dermatologists have signed on as corporate-brand figureheads, joining in on false marketing hype to appear relevant, Dr. Idriss has become a household name for doing just the opposite. She rose to organic fame through her #PillowtalkDerm series on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for candidly speaking about skincare, sharing the science-based truth behind it all. In doing so, she amassed a following of 1 million+ “skin nerds” who called on her to create her very own skincare line minus any of the B.S. With that, PillowtalkDerm was born.
Meet the Author
Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for WWD and Footwear News, where she keeps tabs on all things beauty, wellness, and lifestyle related. As a dry skin sufferer, she knows how to find the softest fabrics and richest moisturizers to stay comfortable all winter long. For this story, she interviewed a dermatologist to learn what the science says about how fabric can improve or worsen irritated skin.