What’s the one cardinal rule of skincare? Don’t follow a one-size-fits-all approach. Nailing the proper skincare routine can be a tricky process, especially if you have sensitive or combination skin. And once you have a regular routine in place, you should take care to tweak it seasonally, just as you would with your wardrobe. Drying winters are very different from humid summers, and your routine should reflect these changes in weather. Here is what you should know about changing your regular skincare products…

Cleanser

When the weather goes from scorching hot to freezing cold, one of the first things you should consider changing is your cleanser. Cleansing your face twice a day gives you the opportunity to infuse it with much-need hydration. Winter air is much drier, causing dryness of the skin, too, unlike summer air, which is humid with far more moisture. So while summer cleansers tend to be lightweight and gel-based, winter cleansers should be creamier. This will deeply hydrate and protect your skin.

Serum

Facial serums have a variety of benefits, from boosting hydration to treating acne. While in summer, you may turn to serums that protect against UV light and brighten your complexion, wintertime calls for extra hydration. There are a few serums that do this better than the rest, namely, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C.

Hyaluronic acid is one of the best serums to help your skin lock in moisture. This keeps the skin cells and tissue lubricated and moist, exactly what you need during the drying winters. On the other hand, vitamin C is known to strengthen the skin’s barrier, reducing water loss. You will get a plethora of other benefits from vitamin C serums, including a reduction in dark spots and hyperpigmentation, improvement in skin tone and texture and a brightened complexion.

Moisturizer

Summer skin care routines will have a significantly different moisturiser than winter ones. During summer, your skin is more hydrated and produces more oil, keeping it moist. Winter has the opposite effect, meaning you should use heavier creams than you do in summer. Heavier creams in summer, along with excessive sweating, would only clog pores and lead to acne and breakouts. But in winter, these same creams will deeply hydrate and nourish your skin for much longer than lighter lotions.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a must-have for all seasons regardless of how you change skincare during the year. It’s a common misconception that you don’t need sunscreen in winter, but this is not true. Despite the sun being hidden by clouds and feeling milder, harmful UV rays reach your skin just as much during the cold weather. So whenever you step outdoors, remember to apply a generous amount of sunscreen on your body to protect it from the sun.

The only thing to note here is that a few applications of sunscreen would be necessary through the day in summers since you sweat a lot, while that’s not the case in winter.

Exfoliator

The last winter skincare tip to follow is regular exfoliation. The skin constantly generates new cells and dead cells collect on the skin over time, leading to dry, flaky skin. This problem is exacerbated in winter due to the dry weather, making exfoliation all the more important.

Exfoliating the skin every week will slough off dead cells, giving your skin a chance to renew itself. Doing so will also infuse your skin with much-needed nutrients and hydration too.

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