Seasonal Skincare
Your skin is your body’s front-line soldier, constantly reacting to whatever the world throws at you. Just as you wouldn’t go out in the middle of a blizzard wearing flip-flops or in July wearing a parka, your skincare regimen shouldn’t stay the same as the seasons shift. Temperature, humidity, and sunlight influence the way your skin behaves, and maintaining it healthy and glowing involves making smart adjustments throughout the year. Let’s break down each season and figure out how to make your complexion thrive no matter what’s on the agenda.
Winter: Lock in the Moisture
Winter is harsh on your skin. Between the cold winds outside and the dry heat pumping in here, it’s no surprise so many of us are experiencing taut, flaky, or inflamed skin during this time. The objective here is straightforward: moisturize and shield.
Breaking out the thicker, cream moisturizer is a lifesaver. Find ones with hyaluronic acid to draw moisture into your skin or ceramides to help fortify its natural barrier. Cleansing also requires an adjustment—bye-bye, harsh, foamy cleansers for a creamy or oil-based one that won’t drain your little moisture reserves. And don’t think those gray skies mean UV rays are not harming you—keep a broad-spectrum SPF 30 in your arsenal.
One little trick? A humidifier. I began running one in my bedroom a few winters back, and it’s been a game-changer in keeping my skin from drying out like sandpaper by morning.
Spring: Wake Up Your Skin
Spring is like a new beginning, and your skin should get in on the action. Following the dryness of winter, you may still have dullness or patches of roughness to contend with. Now is the moment to brighten up and repair.
A mild exfoliant—such as lactic acid or a small amount of salicylic acid—can shed dead skin and restore that radiance. Replace your rich winter moisturizer with something less heavy, such as a gel-cream or lotion, because spring humidity will have your skin retaining less water. If allergies have you puffy or red, a calming ingredient such as niacinamide can soothe things while fortifying your skin.
The sun’s getting stronger, too, so bump up your sunscreen to SPF 50 if you’re outside more. It’s a small step that pays off big time.
Summer: Keep It Light and Protected
Summer is a mixed bag—gorgeous sunny days, but also sweat, oil, and the ever-present threat of sunburn. Your skin might feel greasier than usual thanks to the heat and humidity, so the focus is on balancing hydration with protection.
Opt for a light, non-comedogenic moisturizer that won’t clog pores. If shine’s a problem, a mattifying gel can keep you looking clean. Double-cleansing at night—first with an oil cleanser, then a gentle foam—cleans off sunscreen, sweat, and oil without overdoing it. And of course, sunscreen is non-negotiable. Slather on a broad-spectrum SPF (I like ones with zinc oxide for sensitive skin) and reapply every two hours if you’re out in the sun. A vitamin C serum in the morning can also fight off damage from UV rays and pollution.
To have a little reprieve, I store aloe vera gel in the refrigerator—it’s pure bliss on sun-heated skin. A weekly clay mask can soak up excess oil, too, just don’t over-exfoliate or you’ll be back to having more oil, not less.
Fall: Nourish and Prep
Fall is the between time when your skin’s trying to figure out what’s going on. The air is drying out, and summer sun may have caused some darker spots or patchy texture. That’s when you begin layering on the TLC.
Swap a lighter moisturizer for something richer—perhaps containing peptides or retinol to even out your skin and attack pigmentation. A tranexamic acid-containing brightening serum has done marvels for me after spending too much time in the sun at the beach. Exfoliation is still A-OK, but go only once a week as your skin gets used to it. Don’t forget the lip balm and hand cream, either—they make a real difference as the cold kicks in.
Sunscreen? Still essential. UVA rays don’t know the leaves are falling.
The All-Year Staples
Certain things remain constant: hydrate (your skin will appreciate it), listen to what it’s saying, and stick to your regimen. If it’s dehydrated, introduce moisture; if it’s breaking out, use less. Try new products before committing—hard lessons learned by me—and that consistency is more important than perfection.
You don’t need a total skincare reboot every season—just a few smart swaps. By staying in tune with your skin and the weather, you’ll have that radiant, healthy look all year long.
