I took my skin from dry and tight to hydrated and smooth. Here are 4 of the best tricks I learned.

I didn't anticipate how dry my skin would become after moving to the Midwest in October 2021. I was already seeing a dermatologist before moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan, from the Philadelphia area, and intended to continue that care in my new city. Still, I figured out there were things I could do besides using prescription treatments to keep my face happy.

In the months that followed, I learned how to provide my skin with the nourishment and hydration it craved. I love the glow my skin has now that I've learned what works best for it in the winter, and I'll bring my methods with me into spring and beyond.

Sunscreen is one of the best, if not the best, thing you can buy for your skin. Not only does it protect your skin from the sun, but it can also help your skincare ingredients work better. I knew that some of my stronger products, like glycolic acid and tretinoin, could make me more sensitive to the sun, so I made sure to apply sunscreen every morning and again in the afternoon. Even if I was just sitting near a window inside, I knew sunscreen would be necessary.

My favorite sunscreen right now is the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence. It's a light, gel-like formula that always gives my skin an extra glow before sinking in nicely. I'll continue to use a minimum of SPF 30 sunscreen during every season.

Sometimes after finishing my skincare routine and leaving the house, my face would start to feel tight and dry, whether I was wearing makeup or not. My dermatologist recommended I use a simple facial spray like the La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water Face Mist throughout the day to give my skin an instant boost of hydration.

I ended up carrying the bottle around in my bag with me so I could take it anywhere. I loved that it didn't disturb my makeup if I sprayed it on top, but I also liked being able to press it into my skin if I left the house with a bare face.

This will still be a great product to have with me during the spring and summer when my face gets hot, red, or sweaty.

When my skin would break out or flake during the winter, I learned that one face mask wasn't enough to address all the problems it was having. I started to apply different masks to separate parts of my face to make sure I was maximizing my masking experience.

I tried to use a duo of First Aid Beauty masks twice a week. The Arnica Relief & Rescue Mask was for my cheeks, where my skin needed to be soothed and nourished. The Purifying Mask with Red Clay was great for the T-zone around my nose, forehead, and chin, where I had large pores.

I really started to look forward to my biweekly mask dates. Not only were they helping my skin, but they helped me relax and pamper myself. Multi-masking night will definitely be on my calendar year-round.

In my house, there are always several tubes of Aquaphor. I learned this winter to take it with me everywhere and use it wherever my skin was asking for a little TLC.

Aquaphor works as an occlusive, which means it can create a barrier to lock in moisture, Dr. Anar Mikailov told Insider's Andrea Bossi. My favorite trick for getting smooth, plump lips overnight involves Aquaphor: I apply a layer of thick moisturizer, usually Weleda Skin Food, to my lips, let it sink in a bit, and then slather Aquaphor on top. The petrolatum in the Aquaphor traps the hydrating ingredients from the moisturizer, and I always wake up with lips that are well-nourished.

The product is so versatile that I can't imagine being without it every day of the year. I'll dab it onto dry spots on my legs or arms, on top of my eye cream at night, or even on my dry cuticles.

Even with my prescription products and my best tips at work, I still break out around my period, when I'm stressed, or if I eat too much processed food.

Still, I used my first Midwest winter to experiment with what works for me and what doesn't. I know that my skin is changing, but I'm happy I can figure out how to take care of it.