I don’t know about you, but it seems a little cruel to me that we should be blessed with warmer weather in the middle of a quarantine when we’re expected to stay inside. Whether we’re ready or not, spring has indeed sprung, and similar to transitioning out of our winter wardrobe, we should also phase out of our winter skincare. The skin likes consistency, so when the weather changes on a dime (a total Memphis move) it’s like a shock to the system. Temperature changes, differences in sun exposure levels, and environmental stressors all have an impact on your skin. Switching up your skincare routine with each season helps you to customize your regimen in order to get any skincare concerns that may arise during that time of year under control.
As we move into warmer weather, humidity is heightened, which can leave us feeling greasy as oil is trapped on the surface of the skin. It’s time to say goodbye to your rich moisturizer and say hello to a lightweight day creme or gel cleanser. Your spring/summer routine should focus on hydration and UV protection. My favorite daytime moisturizer for years has been the Visual Changes Retexture Creme ($54). Even in warmer months, we need to keep our skin hydrated, just not at the same levels as in the fall and winter months. This hero product balances oil production and keeps you from feeling shiny and greasy even in the most humid of conditions. Another great option is the Nolio Salicylic Acid Cleanser ($22), which keeps pores clear of dirt and debris while providing gentle exfoliation to prevent breakouts. A helpful tip: I’ve found that when I apply my moisturizer within 60 seconds of getting out of the shower, I get much less greasy throughout the day. This is because water strips the skin when we shower, so our oil glands produce sebum as an immediate response. So when you moisturize post-shower, you’re not allowing your skin to overproduce unnecessary oil.
Due to increased sun exposure during the next few months, it’s imperative that you incorporate medical-grade sunscreen into your routine. I like to switch mine up. Up until a few weeks ago, I was using the EltaMD UV Replenish SPF 44 ($32) as my daily sunscreen as this formula contains high amounts of hyaluronic acid to keep my skin hydrated. Just within the past week or so though I’ve switched to Elta’s UV Clear SPF 46 ($35) as the weather has gotten considerably warmer and I’ve felt much greasier. This is a great formula for oily or acne-prone skin types and blends seamlessly into the skin so you don’t even feel like you’re wearing anything.
The best bit of advice I can give is to pay attention to what your skin is doing as the seasons change. The weather is uncontrollable but skin health is not!
Until next time,
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