If you think there is hardly any difference that summer and winter bring to your skin, just think about if you would be wearing that absolutely gorgeous halter top with a mini skirt in December? Did you just say no? You have your answer. Just as you change your wardrobe to meet the needs of the season, your skincare routine too needs to change for your skin to keep looking its best all year round.
Let us see how your skincare regime varies from summer to winter making you better equipped for giving the right care to your skin.

Summer photo by Sean O. on Unsplash, Winter photo by Fabrizio Conti on Unsplash

Summer versus Winter: Why is there a difference in the skincare routine

When the temperatures are warm, more of your skin is exposed to the sun. With increased humidity and temperatures in summer, your body perspires copiously in an attempt to cool it off. Consequentially, your skin oil glands are activated and your skin becomes more susceptible to pimples.

The cold, dry season of winters is harsh on your skin and becomes exceeding dry. Some of its common manifestations are chapped lips and heels. The dramatic difference in the outdoors and indoor temperature is also not healthy for your skin. The dehumidifiers and internal heating do no good to the moisture balance of your skin.

Skincare in summers

Photo by Alexander Stemplewski on Pexels

1. Protect your skin from the sun: Never underestimate the power of sunscreen. The use of sunscreen while stepping out in the cruel brightness of the sun cannot be emphasised enough. The harmful UV rays are extremely dangerous for your skin and continuous exposure to sun accelerates ageing. An SPF of 15 or more would be ideal Sun is the strongest between 10 AM to 2 PM. Try to avoid being outdoors during these times.

2. Hydrate: Your skin loves H2O especially in summers. It loses a lot of moisture in the summertime. Exposure to sun and contentious use of air conditioning makes your skin dry even in summers. Drink plenty of water to replenish the moisture and keep your skin looking soft. You can step up your hydration by adding Omega 3 fatty acids rich food items in your diet.

3. Moisturise your skin: Just because it is summertime doesn’t give you an excuse to ditch your moisturiser. The harsh sun can sap the moisture of your body away leaving your skin dry. Apart from drinking plenty of water, use an oil-free light moisturiser. Prefer gel over cream. Using an overnight mask does wonders for boost up the moisture content in summers.

4. Exfoliate: Exfoliation is a process of dead skin cells removal from your skin. The summer heat ruins your delicate skin and dead skin cells make your skin look dull and clogging its pores. Exfoliating it weekly would unearth fresh new skin cells and help the skincare products to penetrate deeply.

5. Use an antioxidant: Another must-have for your summer skincare routine is vitamin C enriched antioxidant. A strong antioxidant helps protect your skin from environmental stress and pollution.

Skincare in winters

Then comes winter and your skin needs a different skincare routine than in summers. Not a drastic one but a skincare routine with a few modifications.

1. Protect your skin from the sun: You may not feel the sun but it’s very much there like Big Brother and is watching you all the time. Do not give up your sunscreen.

The winter twist: Just upgrade from an SPF 15+ to an SPF 30+ and you are sorted.

2. Moisturise your skin: Moisturiser is your best buddy in the winters. As temperatures drop, the air becomes drier and impacts your skin in damaging ways. It loses moisture content resulting in cracked skin and sometimes inflammation. Moisturising your face and body helps lock in the natural moisture of your body giving back its limpid look.

The winter twist: Use a rich cream based moisturiser to not only retain your natural one but give your skin the much needed extra long-lasting protection.

3. Hydrate: Dehydration does not give winter a miss. It is very much present. The only difference it brings is that we do not feel when it occurs. Apart from moisturisation, keep the water supply to your body going. Invest in a good humidifier. They are brilliant in ensuring that the air of your home/ workplace doesn’t become too dry robbing your skin of its moisture.

The winter twist: Drink water even if you do not feel thirsty. And do not attribute that a headache to having a cold, it is dehydration in disguise. So make friends with H2O.

4. Smoother your lips with lip balm: Since your lips do not have any oil glands, they are the first ones to take the beating. Chapped lips are the most common problem faced in winters. Provide the much-required moisture to your dry lips make them beautiful again by liberally applying lip balm on them.

Photo by Burst on Pexels

5. Exfoliate: To exfoliate or not in winters is the question and a very tricky one at that. If you are fence sitter on this issue jump right in and start exfoliation right now. Dead skin cells end up reducing the absorption levels of your skin in winter and it is here that exfoliation routine steps in as your savior and rejuvenates your delicate skin.

The winter twist: Switch to a gentle exfoliating face cleanser.

In short:

Just like summers are not the same as winter and you change your wardrobe to be better prepared, your skincare routine also needs to be modified to deal with seasonal changes. Summers are hot and humid and winters are cold and dry. The products are by and large same but their seasonal use is with a slight twist. It is important to remember that just because it is winters your sunscreen and hydration routine cannot take a holiday. Liberal use of a chap-stick in winters and your lips would thank you for the rest of the season.

Your precious skin needs tender, loving care in every season just with a slight twist when the season changes. Just like your needs change with the season, so does your skin’s Make these minor seasonal twists and feel your skin glowing no matter what the season is.