Are seasonal changes wreaking havoc on your skin? Throughout the year, changes in temperature, sun exposure, and humidity can throw off a routine that was once *chef’s kiss perfection.*
Here’s the good news: a few smart swaps to your skincare regimen can seriously help — and we’ve got just the seasonal skincare tips you need to help your skin look and feel its best.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Seasonal skincare tips for spring, summer, fall, and winter (aka how to assess your routine)
- Why a “three-minute moisturizing window” is important
- One simple trick for reading product labels and their ingredients
- The impact of climate on your skin
And a few glow-boosting habits worth keeping year-round!
Spring skincare: Your soft reset
With the new year comes the countdown to spring — and spring skincare. As the months of snow, slush, and frigid temps make their exit, your skin’s needs change, too. This is your moment to trade out heavy winter favorites for lighter, more breathable options — think gentle toners and aromatic hydrosol sprays.
During this seasonal transition, your skin may change from dry or normal to oily, which can lead to breakouts, excess shine, and congested pores. Rising temperatures trigger increased oil production (that unexpected glow you didn’t ask for). For spring skincare, reach for gel-based or foaming cleansers that can decrease oil production and encourage skin cell turnover, making them a smarter spring choice.
Your skin is also working overtime to repair itself, which means more shedding (totally normal). The best thing to do for your skin is to have an exfoliator on hand to get the dead cells off your skin, or opt for a facial.
Less is more: Choose easy-breezy, light hydration
Spring is your sign to embrace a less-is-more approach and switch out heavier, thicker moisturizers for products that offer light layers of hydration. Because no one wants to feel weighed down when the weather warms up. When the air is dry, moisture escapes from your skin into the environment — hello, dehydrated skin. That’s exactly why lighter serums often work better during this time. They hydrate without overwhelming your skin, keeping things balanced instead of greasy.
However, as humidity rises, your skin can hold onto its moisture more effectively. That means you can stay hydrated (and glowing) with serums (especially with hyaluronic acid), gel moisturizers, and hydrating mists. All the glow and none of the heavy feeling.
So, as tempting as it may be to layer on rich oils, try to keep things light. Instead, exfoliate and moisturize regularly, and focus on maintaining smooth, refreshed skin. For full-body exfoliation, our sugar scrubs are designed to help you relax, unwind, rejuvenate, and reveal glowing skin .
Summer skincare: Focus on damage defenders (aka antioxidants)
Longer days, more sunshine, and extra time outside? Yes please. And naturally, your skin follows suit with a brighter glow. With the warmer months offering more daylight and extra time running around outside, the skin can naturally follow suit with a brighter glow. (We love that for you!) But with all that exposure, giving your skin a little extra care is key. That’s where summer skincare comes in. It’s all about protecting your glow while you’re out living your best life.
Enter: antioxidants. (Think: green tea, zinc, niacinamide, and vitamins C, E, and A.) Free radicals and frequent sun exposure can cause dark spots and uneven skin tone by triggering changes in your skin’s melatonin production. Since antioxidants reduce photodamage, they can help prevent those changes before they start.
They don’t just sound impressive. They deliver. Antioxidants help prevent sun damage by calming your skin’s response to the sun, protecting against long-term damage.In other words, they’re your first line of defense against sun damage and premature aging.
But wait, there’s more — antioxidants also help brighten and even out your skin tone! (Pro tip: keep them in rotation even during cooler weather and winter months. Your glow doesn’t need to be seasonal).
To support your skin, we recommend using a light face oil for gentle hydration and a daily body scrub to rejuvenate skin and unclog pores.
Fall & winter months: Focus on moisture to avoid dryness
Winter skincare and fall skincare can look a little different for everyone, especially depending on where you live. Colder climates can make it challenging for your skin to retain moisture, leading to dryness (especially on hands), tight, uncomfortable skin, and a dull, dehydrated look.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends limiting the use of products with alpha hydroxy acid or beta hydroxy acid during colder seasons. These ingredients can sometimes cause irritation — especially when layered with thicker moisturizers your skin may already be adjusting to.
You don’t need to overhaul everything, just adjust with intention. Keep hydration front and center, use actives thoughtfully, and pay attention to how your skin responds. Because when your skin feels good, it shows.
Sun protection: A must-have, rain or shine
Let’s be clear: sunscreen is so much more than a summertime beach bag essential. If you ask us, it’s the holy grail of any skincare routine — and a non-negotiable if you’re spending time outside. Whether you’re hitting the ski slopes or hiking in the heat of summer, it’s always a good idea to shift into sun protection mode.
Since warmer weather typically means more time outside and a higher UV index, a sunscreen with SPF of 30 or higher is essential for protecting your skin. Don’t forget to reapply every two hours and apply generously (your future self will thank you).
Staying protected shouldn’t feel like a chore. To keep things simple and seamless, add a spray or stick formula to your sunscreen roster. Making SPF part of your year-round daily skincare routine and lifestyle habits can help protect your face and body from sun damage.
Related: Why Sun Care Is Vital for Skincare
3 tips for glowing skin, all year round
Swapping out your moisturizer and adjusting your SPF? Important, yes. But some skincare habits never go out of style. Let’s dive into a few of the best-kept tried-and-true essentials that keep your glow going, no matter the season.
Use the “3-minute moisturizing window” to seal in hydration
The “three-minute moisturizing window” is one of the easiest ways to lock in hydration right when your skin needs it most. After taking a shower or bath, use the next three minutes to apply moisturizer to face and body (whether that’s an oil, lotion, or other specialty treatments).
According to Mayo Clinic, this “allows your body to catch up with its own humidification methods.” To make the most of it, we recommend using a rich body cream intended for daily use. (P.S. Our Waxing the City products can be especially helpful with these seasonal transitions!)
Read ingredients: Learn how to use the one-percent line as a guide
Just like nutrition labels, product ingredients can be telling. When you know what to look for, these offer a helpful guide as to whether or not a product truly has what you’re looking for or just cute packaging. (Though that’s always a bonus!)
This is where learning about the one-percent line comes in handy. On a skincare product label, there’s a point where certain ingredients fall below one percent concentration. After that line, ingredients aren’t required to be listed in order and placement doesn’t reflect how much is actually in the formula.
Before the one-percent line, ingredients are listed in order from highest to lowest concentration. So, if you’re seeking a specific ingredient, like hyaluronic acid, it may be helpful to check the one-percent line on a product to find out whether it has the amount you want.
Keep your water bottle close to hydrate from the inside out
It’s the oldest trick in the book, and arguably, one of the most important: drinking plenty of water. (Science agrees that it can improve not only physical hydration in your body, but also skin hydration.) Your body needs hydration to look and feel its best — and, no matter your skin type, so does your skin. A simple rule of thumb is to aim to drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water every day. So, if you weigh 150 pounds, shoot for 75 ounces of water per day.
Ready to put these seasonal skincare tips into practice?
Your wardrobe isn’t the only thing that deserves a refresh each season — your skincare does, too. Use these tips to transition your skincare routine from season to season without a hitch. (Because who has time for that?)
As the seasons change, keep these key takeaways in mind:
- Seasonal adjustments matter: Change is a good thing! That means updating your skincare routine to match shifts in weather and climate.
- Hydration is essential: Moisture is important year-round. Aim for lightweight products in warmer months, richer in colder ones.
- Sunscreen is a must: Protect your skin with SPF 30+ year-round, rain or shine!
- Stay proactive: Regularly review your routine to meet your skin’s needs, and don’t be shy about seeking advice from a dermatologist to get personalized recommendations.
Give your skin the expert care it craves — learn about services that smooth, calm, detoxify, and brighten your skin, then head to a studio near you!
