6 skin-care products you shouldn't use in the winter

• Winter weather can dry out your skin and even damage your skin barrier.
• It's best to switch out your normal products for gentler, more hydrating formulas.
• Experts also recommend you avoid harsh ingredients so your skin doesn't suffer.

There are so many great things about the winter: beautiful snow, yummy warm drinks, and cozy nights in. But the colder weather isn’t always great for your skin.

"The decreased humidity, colder temperatures, and frigid breezes all work together to dry out skin and damage the skin barrier," said Papri Sarkar, a dermatologist based in Massachusetts.

"Once the skin barrier is damaged, it's easier for things that are supposed to stay out of the skin to get in and for moisture to get out. The combination of these things makes skin more likely to be dry, irritated, and itchy in the winter," she told INSIDER.

Of course, not everyone's skin acts up during the winter. Sarkar said that if your skin isn't protesting at all, it’s probably fine to keep your skin care regimen the same. "But in general, I like richer moisturizers, gentler cleansers, and less frequent use of actives in the winter," she said. "Once your skin is irritated, it’s harder to correct that than to prevent it in the first place."

So what should you steer clear of? Sarkar told INSIDER about six different beauty products you should avoid during the winter time.

SEE ALSO: 12 of the best skin-care tips from around the world

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You might not need to use soap on your entire body.

Is lathering up your whole body with soap a step in your shower routine? Turns out, it doesn't need to be — and it shouldn't be during the winter since it can dry out your skin.

"Unless you're mud wrestling, you don't need to use soap all over your body," Sarkar said. "Instead, concentrate on the areas that actually need it, like the private areas and underarms."

Alcohol-based toners may dry out your skin.

Toners have been praised as a holy grail product for controlling oil and balancing out your skin. But Sarkar said that many of these toners contain a bunch of alcohol, which is pretty drying.

Her advice? "I like patients to avoid toners that are mostly alcohol to prevent stripping of the skin," she said. If you really love to use toner, there are hydrating ones on the market. Just make sure they don't have alcohol as a main ingredient if you want to use them.

Clay masks should be used sparingly.

As the weather changes, your skin care line-up should, too, especially when it comes to masks.

"In the winter, sometimes people tend to use the same old masks that they have been for a long time," Sarkar said. "If they already have dry skin especially, I ask them to decrease the frequency or use of clay masks because they can be drying."