Just as you adjust your wardrobe between seasons, it’s important to also adapt your skin care routine. The climate, temperature, and your skin’s needs all fluctuate throughout the year. Setting up a skin care regimen catered to each season will keep your skin looking radiant, no matter the weather.
Spring
Spring symbolizes rebirth and renewal. It’s the perfect time to revive your skin care routine and regimen. Here’s how:
- Exfoliate Away Winter Skin: Use an exfoliating cleanser 2-3 times weekly, or try a mask with naturally exfoliating ingredients like apricot kernels. Products from Eminence Organic Skin Care offer high-quality natural exfoliants.
- Hydrate: Incorporate hydrating toners, serums, and oils into your routine. Hyaluronic acid binds moisture to the skin, while plant-based oils (like jojoba or almond) seal it in.
- Depuff: Use cool tea bag compresses, cucumber slices, or depuffing eye creams that contain caffeine or red algae extract. These ingredients constrict blood vessels to reduce swelling and discoloration.
Summer
Guard your glow during the summer by taking these skin precautions:
- Sun Protection: UV exposure is the #1 cause of skin damage and aging (not to mention skin cancer risk). Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen every day, even when it is cloudy. After every two hours in the sun, reapply.
- Antioxidants: Free radicals from UV exposure accelerate skin aging. Flood your skin with antioxidants to neutralize these damaging molecules. Look for antioxidant-rich ingredients like vitamin C and vitamin E.
- Oil Control: Sweating coupled with higher humidity can turn skin shiny and lead to clogged pores. Manage oil production with oil-absorbing clay masks once or twice per week. If pores remain congested, use a salicylic acid cleanser.
Fall
As temperatures cool down heading into fall, give your skin some extra TLC:
- Moisturize: Be diligent with morning and evening moisturizer. Look for rich, emollient ingredients like shea butter, ceramides, glycerin, and nourishing oils. Slather on hydrating masks whenever your skin feels tight or dry.
- Exfoliate Gently: Use scrubs with soft round beads or a washcloth dampened with warm water to lightly buff away dead skin cells. Don’t overdo it to avoid irritation.
- Repair: Using a peel with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) enhances collagen production and helps repair UV exposure effects, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation. Start with a 30% professional peel. Then graduate to 50-70% as the skin acclimates.
Winter
The cold, arid weather of winter can beat up your skin. Give it some relief with these tips:
- Gentleness is Key: Avoid aggressively scrubbing or over-exfoliating, which can worsen problems. Opt for creamy cleansers, gentle chemical exfoliants (like lactic acid), and thick moisturizers.
- Lock in Moisture: After cleansing, apply HA serums and hyaluronic acid mists to maximize moisture capacity. Follow up quickly with a rich moisturizer before the HA evaporates.
- Heal Dryness: Intensely hydrate skin with occlusive ingredients like petrolatum, mineral oil, and silicones that act as moisture magnets. Slather on healing ointments to seal in moisture.
The products and ingredients your skin needs in the dry winter are different from what it calls for in the hot, humid summer. Adjusting your skin care routine to align with seasonal changes will keep your skin in peak condition year-round.