A new season can mean a fresh start. New foods, new clothes and new rituals are part of the shift. But what about skin care? Did you know that switching up your skin routine based on the time of year will help make the transition easier? The progress from one season to the next comes with environmental and weather changes that are likely to wreak havoc on your complexion if not addressed ahead of time. Let’s explore how the skin reacts differently based on what’s happening outside, and the most effective skin care products to use to ease into each new time of year.
Fall To Winter | Winter To Spring | Spring To Summer | Summer To Fall | Seasonal Skin Care Tips | In The Mix Video
How Do Seasonal Changes Affect The Skin?
If you’re noticing that your skin is drier, more irritated or less glowy than normal, the arrival of a new season may be to blame. Depending on where you live, seasonal weather changes may be dramatic. Regardless of severity, you’re likely to notice that your skin has different needs in the cooler months than at warmer times of the year. The effect that seasonal shifts have on our skin is most pronounced when summer fades into fall, and again when winter turns to spring. But this can happen anytime that there is a noticeable change in weather and humidity, and more frequently if you live somewhere with four distinct seasons.
Skin appreciates consistency. Think about a time you discovered a skin care product you truly loved. While you may have enjoyed this product right off the bat, you likely didn’t see the full effects until you’d been using it consistently for a few weeks. Your skin needs time to adjust to products — and the same goes for the environment. Your mid-summer skin is way more accustomed to sun, heat and humidity than your early spring skin. Similarly, in September, your complexion is still adjusting to the seasonal change to fall, but by February, you’re likely deep into a winter skin care routine and you’ve made adjustments to deal with the cold, dry air outside and the hot dry air being pumped into your home and office.
What Are Some Common Changes To The Skin?
Fall To Winter
As winter arrives, the dry skin issues you noticed creeping in may be intensified by even cooler temperatures and more extreme weather. Snow, you’re beautiful but not always great for the complexion. This can be exacerbated by changes in your lifestyle. Many of us turn to artificial sources of heat in our homes or a long, hot shower or bath to help escape the cold. Both central heating and exposure to hot water can further strip skin of its natural oils, and you may find your skin becomes dry, itchy, cracked and flaky.
Winter To Spring
The days are starting to get longer and less frigid and things feel lighter and brighter. Oh, but wait, there are a few hurdles to clear before spring really gets good. Your skin is coming out of a long, dry winter and that means it’s time to recover and rebalance things. That parched skin is ready to be restored. The trees and flowers are starting to bloom, which is gorgeous, but can trigger seasonal allergies. Opting for products that are lightweight with gentle or no fragrance can help keep those extra sensitive types a little more comfortable.
Spring To Summer
Just as the cold of winter can cause skin havoc, a whole new crop of skin issues can be brought on by warmer weather. The level of humidity in the air increases when the sun emerges and the heat hits. You may notice a spike in oil production, acne breakouts or sun damage from too much (any) tanning! Obviously this is the time to amp up your already robust SPF routine. More time outdoors, more sun sneaking through car and office windows, plus more patio cocktail sessions all add up to more potential for sun damage.
Summer To Fall
Whether you’re a die-hard sweater-weather enthusiast or not, there are some challenges you’ll likely have to address to maintain your skin’s health as the hot days of summer shorten up and cool down. Suddenly, come autumn, your skin is coping with dropping temperatures, cool wind and rain for the first time in several months. Fall’s brisk weather comes along with a drop in humidity and your skin could react by becoming tight, dry, dehydrated, flaky or irritated. While your skin may feel drier than normal, it’s unlikely that your actual skin type will change. All skin, including oily and combination, can experience dehydration and irritation brought on by cold weather.
Seasonal Skin Care Tips
Thinking about making changes to your routine to help maintain your skin’s health? To help get you started, you can watch this In The Mix video to see how Eminence Organics Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar suggests changing your skin care routine seasonally.
Read on for our top tips and recommendations for adapting your skin care products accordingly.
Winter Options
When moving into the cooler months, you may notice your skin becoming dry and irritated. We suggest reducing the frequency of your exfoliating. Instead, reach for a mask or facial serum to improve dryness. One option we love for dry skin is the Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that can hold hundreds of times its weight in water. When applied to the face, it draws moisture into your skin, providing long-lasting hydration, which is just what your winter skin is craving.
The Stone Crop Hydrating Mist is a great winter staple for all skin types. Crafted with hydrating stone crop and vitamin C-packed jasmine, this replenishing spray helps create a hydrating base and leaves skin looking clear, fresh and bright.
Moving Into Spring
As mentioned, spring brings with it an array of unique skin issues. With everything in bloom, allergies can kick in to defend your body against pollen, leaving you with itchy skin, a runny nose and watery eyes. Moving into spring, Natalie recommends balancing your skin with the Cornflower Recovery Serum. This light gel formula is gentle during allergy season with chamomile, clary sage, cornflower and seabuckthorn. Chamomile and clary sage balance the look of skin, while cornflower and seabuckthorn leave your skin feeling smooth, firm and youthful-looking.
If you’re experiencing breakouts, it may be a sign that your skin isn’t as happy as you to see the spring season. It’s gotten used to winter and needs a minute to adjust. Again, switching up your cleanser could help. Moving from something that’s super moisturizing to a lighter cleanser could be your ticket back to Glow-town. You can view our range of cleansers that will leave your skin feeling refreshed and balanced.
When Summer Returns
With the warmer months, your skin can become a little oilier. From our Beyond Organic line, the Echinacea Recovery Cream softens and restores normal to oily skin. This creamy leave-on moisturizer is made with Biodynamic® echinacea, yarrow herb and aloe vera to revitalize and reduce the signs of irritation. Another favorite summer hydrator is the Bakuchiol + Niacinamide Moisturizer. It’s a gel-cream, so it’s not too heavy on summer skin and it contains the retinol alternative, bakuchiol, which is gentle on skin and causes no visible irritation.
When the heat outside ramps back up in the summer, you can switch back to lighter skin care products that help target oil levels and problem skin. However, there is one item you shouldn’t drop in the fall and winter. SPF! Though you may think of this as a summer staple, you can still incur sun and UV damage in the cool fall and winter months. To avoid sunburn plus premature aging, it’s vital to include sunscreen in your routine all year round.
Moving Into Fall
For the cooler months, we suggest putting aside your lightweight summer cleanser for one that’s rich and nourishing. Fall can be a stressful time, with back-to-school chaos and post-summer blues. A soft, milky cleanser should help replenish your skin and cleanse away impurities.
The new Tulsi & Snow Mushroom Cleansing Milk is the antidote to your stressed-out skin. Infused with tulsi, reishi, snow mushroom and birch water, it helps minimize the look of blemishes and calm the visible signs of stress. The Stone Crop Gel Wash, ideal for all skin types (including sensitive), balances the skin and removes impurities for a bright, fresh appearance. For normal to dry skin types, our Coconut Milk Cleanser is also an ideal choice. This cleanser nourishes dry skin with hydration as it improves elasticity for a youthful radiance.
Another great fall option, especially if the past few months of sun and salt water have dried out your skin, is the Ashwagandha Ultra-Rich Restorative Cream. This velvety cream contains adaptogenic ingredients to undo the visible signs of damage and add tranquility to your routine while restoring hydration and supporting the skin barrier. Follow that up with a few spritzes of the Shiitake & Ashwagandha Bi-Phase Mist. With two nourishing layers of protective and hydrating ingredients, this mist will help restore stressed-out skin, promote relaxation and shield skin from the tiring effects of screens with blue light protection.
For an evening routine, try the Marine Flower Peptide Night Cream. It protects the skin from environmental stressors that come along with the shifting seasons. This night cream also offers a boost of revitalizing moisture to all skin types — which is the perfect antidote for a parched post-summer complexion.
While shifts in the seasons and weather are beyond our control, how we care for our skin is in our hands. Understanding how the different seasons affect your skin — and how your needs may change — will help you choose which products to include in your seasonal skin care routine. You can also speak to an Eminence Organics Spa Partner near you to get professional guidance on your seasonal skin care needs. Tailoring your ritual to match the seasons can help you get healthy and glowing skin throughout the year.
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