Changing weather with the change of seasons: what happens to your skin?
With winter fast approaching in the summer hemisphere and heat and humidity making its first appearances in the southern hemisphere, if you are anything like us you know your skin will not be happy!
I remember days living in Boston where my skin literally hurt the minute I stepped out the door. And now, here in New Zealand, I am noticing the annoying T-Zone becoming more prominent. La Nina weather patterns are going to make this an especially wet and warm summer down here and drier than average air in some regions of North America.
So what to do about this?
As the seasons change, not only is it a good idea to look at all of the skincare products you use and the routines you follow each day, but also it is a good idea to look at all of the OTHER items that come in contact with your skin. Cosmetics, clothing, sunscreen and so on … not to mention the additional washing of hands we are doing these days due to the pandemic.
Let’s talk about winter changes first.
Colder and drier air are tough on your skin. When the harsh winter air is coupled with winds, ouch! And then when you come indoors to get out of the cold, turning up the central heating also wreaks havoc. Oh, and did we mention, the drying effects of that lovely hot shower you want to take? Or jumping in the hot tub? Those heavy duty layers of clothing? All necessary or at least desirable, of course. And yet, all of these factors just layer on the irritation, inflammation and drying of the skin.
And what about changes to the summer months?
When the weather again moves into warmer months, the humidity and temperature will increase again. How does your skin react? It might begin to feel more oily, more heavy and with that dead skin cells may stay trapped on the surface of your skin due to increased sebum production and sweat all of which clog pores. Pigmentation changes too, especially if – like me – you are out in the sun, in or on the water a lot during the summer months.
Swimming in the ocean or pools. Slathering on the sunscreen. Heavy foundations and other cosmetics. These all contribute as well.
So what are some simple changes you can make to help your skin along during these seasonal changes?
Choose products that actually work on all types of skin. It starts – as always – with a good deep cleanser. One that doesn’t irritate. What was important for me in developing Cor’s Silver Soap is ensuring there were ingredients that hydrated like hyaluronic acid, collagen and sericin. That there were ingredients that balanced oil levels like chitosan. And that there were ingredients that soothed like aloe, jojoba, avocado and grapeseed oils. And of course that there were ingredients that have been shown to keep acne-causing bacteria at bay: our proprietary silver and retinol.
Next choose a lightweight and non-clogging moisturizer that gets down to the dermis layer of the skin to provide deep hydration without feeling heavy. That’s how we formulated our Anytime Moisturizer. And, truth be told, when I feel the need for some extra heavy-duty moisturizing, I slather on our Eye Cream not just around my eyes, but also around my lips and neck which always feel more exposed during winter months.
For cosmetics, look for products that are labelled non-comedogenic. And for sunscreen, know the difference between physical and chemical blockers. While we prefer physical blockers, they can sometimes be irritating for those with acne-prone skin due to the fact that they sit on top of the skin. We really like Coola because it is a mineral-based skincare which has different formulations for different types of skin. We also like EK (Earth’s Kitchen) which is a mineral-based suncare line that harnesses some of the unique ingredients native to New Zealand, although I personally find it a little heavy for my skin.
And now I’m off to the beach for a swim!