5 Tips to properly go about your seasonal skin care routine
Knowing what your skin type is can make a world of difference when it comes to choosing the right skin care products. However, regardless of your skin type, it’s rather logical to expect your skin to get drier and more sensitive during the colder winter months and more prone to sun damage, irritations and oily T-zone during the warmer summer months. In that respect, it’s clear that you’d need to adjust your skin care routine a bit in order to keep your skin happy, healthy and protected. These changes don’t have to be overwhelming if you know what to focus on.
1. Go from gentler to more potent cleansers and vice versa
You should cleanse your face regularly as a part of a healthy skin care routine. Some people don’t find it necessary to use the cleansers in the morning, but this should be an essential practice in the evening before bed. And even if you may not need to use a cleanser both in the morning and evening during colder months, you should definitely do so when the weather starts to get warmer. Furthermore, late autumn and winter, as well as early spring, should be reserved for gentle cleansers such as foam and cream ones. During the late spring, summer and early autumn, your skin may benefit more from a tad stronger and more refreshing cleansers in the form of gels. Of course, avoid alcohol at all cost and get rid of makeup with a makeup remover before using the actual facewash.
2. Stick with sunscreen throughout the year
If you’ve managed to find a facial sunscreen that you absolutely love, make sure to use it religiously every day you go out regardless of the season. After all, the sun can be damaging even during the colder months. Most importantly, the habit of wearing sunscreen every day will come in handy when the spring and summer make their way. In general, when sunscreens are concerned, it would be best to go for those that contribute to your natural skin care routine and get absorbed quickly. This is especially crucial during the summer heat.
3. Moisturizing: lotions, creams, gels, serums, etc.
Moisturizing products are an absolute must have for a healthy skin care routine for every skin type and every season. Obviously, when the weather is colder, you want to use richer products such as creams and maybe even oils, while the warmer seasons are perfect for lotions, gels and serums. Of course, if you have a serum or skin essence that you like, you can layer it together with creams and oils in the autumn and winter. However, refrain from using too much product on your skin during the spring and summer months to allow your skin to breathe properly.
4. Exfoliation also changes with seasons
As a general rule, you should never go overboard with exfoliation. It’s said that people with drier skin should stick to exfoliating their face once a week while people with oily and combination skin can benefit from exfoliation twice a week. Essentially, this is true for physical exfoliation, especially during the summer, as you’d want to get rid of stubborn dirt from your pores. However, during colder months in autumn and winter when the sun is not as harsh, different skin types can benefit the most from chemical exfoliants, which are basically different acids and retinoids. Of course, these should still be used in the evening hours only a couple of days in the week.
5. Use different toners but use them annually
Many people tend to ignore toners when it comes to their skin care routine. However, toners can make a big difference for the health and radiance of the skin as they balance it out and prepare the skin for other products. That said, keep in mind that the use of toners throughout the year is quite beneficial. But, you can change them up to match the seasons better. For instance, rose-based toners are great for colder months while aloe vera-based toners are perfect for warmer weather. Of course, a good toner shouldn’t contain alcohol!
You don’t have to keep different skin care products on your vanity or in the bathroom for different seasons at all times. After all, skin care products have an expiration date. Buy the products as you need them. And if you use them properly, you’ll probably get to make the most out of each product during the right season.
