As seasons change, our skin is required to adapt to all the elements it is exposed to harsh winds, freezing temperatures, dehydration, extreme heat, excessively high humidity, and the list goes on.  

It makes sense then a product designed to combat ultra dry air will not perform for you in the dead of summer. An analogy has been used to think of your skin like a garden. Tending to flowers in summer requires a completely different schedule than that of winter. 

Winter: Dehydration Station 

Think of the extremes your skin is subjected to during the cold months. Outdoors offers harsh winds that strip your skin of its proper moisture barrier, leaving it vulnerable to dryness and the redness that comes when our skin sends out the signal of “Help, I need water!” In response, our immune system, traveling through the blood stream, flows to the surface creating flushing and redness. Indoor living poses more issues with dry air that continues to reap havoc with the moisture barrier.  

This is the time to up the game with moisturizers. Just like we layer clothing to keep our bodies warm, so we should layer our hydrators to ensure the skin can maintain balance. Starting with a cream-based cleanser that won’t strip the skin of its natural oils. Then apply hyaluronic acid to hold the moisture and top with a ceramide cream to lock it in. Run a humidifier in the bedroom.  

Nighttime is repairing time for skin and give it all the support you can. Never forget SPF. Sunlight bouncing off snow is strong. Getting sun from the driver side window little by little degrades and pigments the skin. Of course, sitting in front of screens and under with fluorescent lighting also erodes elasticity in the skin so wearing an SPF is no brainer. 

Spring: Shifting Gears 

As the seasons change and one day is warm the next it is not, simply let your skin direct you. If you need to use heavier hydrators one day and not the other, you will be able to tell how your skin feels. 

Summer: Lighten Up 

With heat and humidity ramping up oil production in the skin, now’s the time to switch to lighter hydration. With more active oils, glands can come congestion. Using enzymes to counteract congestion and keep the surface clean will help tremendously. Foaming and gel-based cleansers take center stage during this season. Of course, the holy grail- sun screen is a must have. Remember the golden rule with SPF- apply twenty minutes prior to sun exposure and every few hours after that. An SPF of 30-50 is advised. Don’t forget the top of ears, back of neck and hands.  

Just as we wear different clothes in different season so should we regulate our skincare routine to reflect accordingly.