Have you noticed that during certain times in the year your favorite moisturizer seems to not really work for your skin? Well, it’s not just you and it’s likely not your moisturizer that is suddenly the issue.
As the seasons change, your skin will feel the changes in the air too. While summer brings higher temperatures and humid or dry heat (depending on where you are) and winter brings cold temperatures and cold, dry air, you should adjust your skincare routine accordingly.
With the summer, your typical skincare routine may start to feel too heavy on the skin. If you tend to enjoy a thick, cream moisturizer you may feel that it feels too heavy on the skin with the hot temperatures. But, in the winter that thick, cream moisturizer may just be perfect to keep your skin hydrated to combat the cold, dry air.
But, the good news is you don’t have to completely change your routine. You can still continue to use the treatments you enjoy, like your retinol or serums, but adjust where you feel your skin needs it. So, if you find your normally oily skin is feeling a bit dry in the winter, try out a more hydrating moisturizer than your normal lightweight moisturizer.
Summer skincare routine
First off, sunscreen should be a staple in your routine no matter what season. You can change up some of the other essential steps in your skincare routine to help your skin deal with the summer season.
Higher temperatures usually lead to sweaty skin, and lots of unwanted shine. This can be especially annoying to deal with if you already have oily or combo skin.
When it comes to a cleanser, a foaming cleanser is especially helpful in helping remove excess oil on the skin. As it says in the name, foam cleansers foam up to help thoroughly lift dirt, oil, and other pore-clogging debris from the skin. So, you can see how beneficial it can be to switch to a foam cleanser during the hotter months of the year.
As for your moisturizer, opt for a lightweight moisturizer to help keep the skin hydrated without having it feel too heavy on the skin. If you live in areas that tend to get hot and humid during the summer, you probably won’t want a cream moisturizer on the skin as it can tend to feel like it’s sitting on the skin clogging up your pores.
If you have oily skin, you can also add some exfoliating treatments during the summer to better help unclog pores and remove excess sebum from the skin.
Winter skincare routine
Although the sun may not be out as often during the winter months, you do still need to apply sunscreen on the daily during winter. UV rays are still making it to your skin regardless of the cloud cover, so you should continue to apply your regular sunscreen.
But, just like the summer months, you may need to adjust your normal cleanser and moisturizer to help your skin deal with the lower temperatures and cool, dry air.
If your skin tends to get drier during winter, add a gentle, cream cleanser to your routine. Cream cleansers don’t lather up like foam cleansers do so they are much gentler on the skin and won’t strip the skin of its natural oils.
Similarly, in choosing a winter moisturizer, go for a thicker texture and creamy formula to help keep the skin moisturized and protected from the dry air. Plus, it’ll help to seek out moisturizer with skin and moisture barrier-supporting ingredients like Ceramides.
If you already deal with dry skin that gets worse in the winter months, you can also add in some reparative and hydrating treatments to keep the skin protected from dryness and flakiness.
What about spring and fall skincare routines?
A spring skincare routine will likely look pretty similar to your summer routine. With spring, the temperatures won’t be as low as they are in winter so you don’t necessarily need to keep up with the thick, cream moisturizer you use in the winter months.
Instead, you can stick to a cleanser and moisturizer that best suits your skin type while keeping it lightweight, similar to your summer routine staples.
And, for the fall you can adopt a pretty similar routine to your winter skincare routine. With temperatures starting to drop in the fall (although maybe not as cold as winter), your skin may need the extra hydration. So, you can start using your winter staples, including a gentle cleanser and cream moisturizer in the fall.
Final tip…
While you should consider the changes in temperatures during the seasons, you should always still be mindful of your skin type to make sure you’re using skincare products that mesh well with your skin type.
