When winter (rudely and abruptly!) arrives in London, my skin inevitably protests. The dry heating, cold air and endless grey skies have a way of drawing every last drop of moisture from my face. This year I wanted something uncomplicated but nourishing. A winter skincare routine that supported my skin barrier without feeling like a 10-step puzzle. I decided to centre my regimen around one brand: Trilogy Skincare.

I’d already explored the brand earlier in the year in my Trilogy Skincare Review, and this time I wanted to see how their core products would perform through the harsher, colder months. I used the full routine for six weeks, paying close attention to how my skin felt and behaved.

Step 1: Trilogy Rosehip Cream Cleanser

A cream cleanser always feels like a gentle start the day, and this one delivers exactly that. The formula is built around rosehip seed oil, sweet almond oil, evening primrose oil, jojoba oil and chamomile; all ingredients known for nourishing the skin barrier rather than stripping it.

Each morning and evening, I massaged it in for around thirty seconds, letting the texture cushion my skin before rinsing it away with warm water. Unlike foaming cleansers, it never left that tight, overly clean feeling. Instead, my skin felt soft and clean with no further promises and nothing more one can really ask for.

On heavy makeup days, I followed with a second cleanse, but for everyday use, this single step was enough to remove sunscreen and daily build-up without any irritation.

Step 2: Trilogy Hydrating Mist Toner

Straight after cleansing, I reached for the mist toner. Formulated with aloe vera, rose, geranium and lavender, it delivered an instant veil of hydration before any actives touched my skin. I held the bottle about an arm’s length away and let the mist settle like a soft cloud over my face.

I loved how it added that first drink of moisture without feeling heavy. In winter, I’ve learned that hydrating early in the routine can make everything else work harder. On particularly cold mornings, I noticed that if I layered my serum straight away, my skin stayed dewier for longer. The scent is light and floral, and although it’s present, it never felt cloying. Generally, I would say this step can be skipped, especially if you have dry skin as scented toners are known to have a drying sensation.

Step 3: Hyaluronic Acid+ Ultra Serum

I introduced the Hyaluronic Acid+ Ultra Serum into my routine from the begining to help soak up all the hydrating mist. The formula combines three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid that each work at different depths of the skin, and I could feel the effect almost immediately. The texture is clear, light and fast absorbing, with none of the stickiness that sometimes accompanies hydrating serums.

What makes this serum especially interesting is the addition of Glycoin, a naturally occurring molecule found in the African resurrection plant. It is known for helping the plant spring back from extreme dryness, and on my skin it translated to a noticeable sense of renewed softness and bounce. The vegan peptides from teff and quinoa offer a gentle firming quality, and after a few weeks, I noticed my skin looking smoother and more energised, particularly around the areas that tend to look flat in winter. I used one or two pumps morning and evening, and it layered seamlessly with the rest of my routine, acting as a lightweight hydration anchor without ever feeling heavy.

Step 4: Trilogy Ultra Hydrating Face Cream

This cream is, quite literally, the seal of the routine. It’s packed with evening primrose oil, manuka honey, coconut oil and Trilogy’s Rosapene antioxidant blend. Despite its richness, it absorbs easily and leaves the skin feeling cocooned rather than smothered.

I used it morning and night throughout the six-week trial. In the evenings, it locked in everything beneath it and kept my skin soft and supple until morning. During the day, it created a smooth base under sunscreen.

What I appreciated most was how consistent my skin felt. No midday dryness, no tight patches when stepping into cold air, and no need for constant reapplication. When I looked in the mirror mid-December, my complexion seemed calmer and more even than in previous winters.

Step 5: Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil

Rosehip oil is the product that put Trilogy on the map, and for good reason. It’s rich in essential fatty acids and carotenoids, and over the years it’s become a winter staple in my skincare. I warm two drops between my palms and press it into my skin after serum.

It sealed in hydration, smoothed texture and left my skin with a quiet, healthy glow by morning. I found I didn’t need much at all – more than three drops tipped the balance from dewy to greasy.

My FAULTLess layering ritual

This was my daily routine:

Morning:

1. Rosehip Cream Cleanser
2. Vitamin C+ Super Serum
3. Ultra Hydrating Face Cream
4. SPF

Evening:

1. Rosehip Cream Cleanser (sometimes preceded by a separate oil cleanse for makeup)
2. Hydrating Mist Toner
3. Vitamin C+ Super Serum
4. Rosehip Oil
5. Ultra Hydrating Face Cream

Over the six weeks, the results were amazing. My usual cheek dryness didn’t appear. The overall tone of my skin looked brighter and more balanced. It wasn’t a dramatic transformation, it was a steady, dependable improvement that felt earned.

Winter skincare doesn’t need to be complicated. What mattered most to me was protecting my barrier and staying hydrated without over-doing actives. This Trilogy routine delivered exactly that.

For those searching for the best winter skincare or the best skincare for dry skin, this routine offers an elegant and considered option. It’s not about instant miracles. It’s about building resilience, layer by layer, with products that complement one another rather than compete.

I’ll keep this line-up on rotation well into spring.