Winter dries skin out in two ways. Heating makes the indoor air even dryer. The air is already dry outside, but heating it up will make it even drier. Your skin barrier is affected by hard water. Calcium and magnesium ions, which leave chalky marks on taps, also react with cleaners. This leaves a residue on your skin. Your skin may be able to handle this in summer. In winter, this film can act as a barrier, causing dryness, flaking on the cheeks and an itch that is difficult to relieve with even good creams.
Your moisturizer will "stop working" if you have hard water in the winter. After every shower, a layer of residue remains on your skin. This layer can reduce absorption. You get less benefit when you use more product. The damaged barrier also loses more water into the air, causing the dryness to worsen throughout the day. It is a vicious cycle that leads to using more heavy creams and oil-based cleaners but still getting no results.
Fix the root cause of the problem and not the symptoms. Installing a conditioner for salt-free water at the tank will weaken hardness ions, so that they won't adhere to your skin. It still contains beneficial minerals but behaves better. It rinses cleaner and leaves less residue. This allows moisturizers to reach the right places. Many people can easily switch from heavy creams and lotions to lighter ones after a few weeks.
While the water upgrade is working, you can improve your routine. Showers should be warm, not hot to avoid damaging your barrier. After towel drying, apply moisturizer within three minutes to damp skin (the "damp-lock" rule). Use low-foam, gentle cleansers that are kind to your skin pH. Consider washing your face with lukewarm water that has been conditioned only at night.
Let the water work for you so that your products work. Skincare becomes easier and more affordable when water isn't an issue. This unexpected benefit is also available for your home. The conditioned water will reduce the amount of hard-water streaks that appear on shower doors and tiles, reducing the time required to deep clean in winter. The geysers will heat up more efficiently and reduce your energy bill when you use them a lot.
Winter with conditioned water can be more comfortable, but it is also more manageable, cheaper, and easier to do.