Transitional Skincare: How The Seasons Affect Your Skincare Routine and Everything You Need To Know

Jessica Lis, Wellness Editor

Jessica Lis is the Wellness Editor for The Wellness Refinery’s online blog. She graduated from Temple University with an English Degree and a concentration in Creative Writing. When she’s not writing for the blog you can find her cozied up next to a book or riding her bike around the city. 

As we transition from winter to spring it’s important to know how to change your skincare routine accordingly. I interviewed skincare experts to see what exactly you should be changing about your routine for the warmer months. These tips and tricks will help guide your routine for a seamless transition as days get longer and the UV index climbs higher (yay sun!). 

Warmer weather = sweat. Does sweating cause clogged pores? No, this is a common myth. Lynn Gallagher of LGHT Wellness explains that “sweat is a naturally detoxifying and purifying process”. It helps balance the pH of our skin therefore clogged pores don’t correlate with sweat. Sweating purges the skin of bacteria, dirt, and impurities so remember to carry facial wipes if you’re on the go. Ursa Major’s facial wipes are perfect for the warmer months because they clean, exfoliate, soothe and hydrate your skin all in one wipe. Facial wipes are especially important if you are wearing a mask because bacteria and dirt can get trapped underneath. When in doubt choose cotton masks. And when it comes to washing your mask make sure you use a gentle, unscented detergent.

Although sweating is not a problem, the colder weather tends to dehydrate the skin and Dasha Danekyants, local licensed esthetician, points out, “hotter days can induce an excess amount of oil production in the skin”. Exfoliating throughout the warmer months should remain consistent if you are prone to oily skin. Dasha recommends “modifying the type of exfoliant and making sure the acid percentage is less than what you use during the winter”. If you are using a chemical exfoliant, Dasha recommends p50 toners from Biologique Recherche and using it consistently. Lynn prefers avoiding chemical peels or chemical exfoliants in the warmer months because we are more vulnerable to irritation and burns from the sun. If your skin is dry or a bit of combination, shy away from chemical exfoliants in the warmer months or use them less often. 

It is important to tune in to your skin and notice the subtle shifts in the skin’s oil production and heat. Lynn recommends balancing this out by cooling your skin internally and externally by consistently hydrating the skin barrier and performing therapies such as ice rolling or cryotherapy. A cryotherapy facial (cryofacial) is when a machine pumps liquid nitrogen directly onto the face. It is a quick treatment that freezes the skin. It is known to enhance exfoliation of dead skin cells on the surface on the face, thus brightening skin, increasing collagen, soothing inflammation and tightening pores. Definitely opt for lighter, water based serums and moisturizers the summer months as opposed to oil based serums and moisturizers.

Wearing sunscreen is imperative year round but as the UV index increases and the weather gets warmer it’s essential to know when to apply and how much to apply. Lynn recommends SPF 30-50 for any and all skin types.

What exactly does SPF 50 mean? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. If the SPF is labeled 50 then your skin can last 50x longer in the sun without burning than it would without sunscreen. Lynn breaks this down for us; “if you typically notice your skin tone changing (or burning) after 5 minutes to fill sun exposure, an spf 50 would only hypothetically allow you 250 minutes (a little over 4 hours) in the sun without harmful damage from UVA/UVB”. There is no evidence that SPF over 50 is any more effective. Sunscreen should always be the grand finale of your skincare routine. Make sure you are covering your face, neck, chest, ears and anywhere else on your body exposed to sun. 

*Quick Tip!: apply enough product to cover the length of your middle and ring finger to ensure you are using enough sunscreen to protect your skin.

Reapplying throughout the day is crucial, Lynn recommends carrying facial powder or SPF mist. Dasha recommends carrying a facial powder if you’re someone who wears a full face of makeup and reapplying throughout the day.

But how often should we be reapplying? According to Dasha,  “at least twice a day if you’re being exposed simply from car or house windows. If you’re spending the day at the beach or pool, reapply at least every hour”. You can use powdered sunscreen to touch up throughout the day on your most sunburn-prone areas. For example, nose, upper forehead, and midface. Powder is great but should not be used as your base for the day. Whether it’s powder, mist, or cream sunscreen we must be consistently using it on our skin, regardless of the season. 

As for a tried and true Spring Time skincare routine, Lynn recommends the following: 

Step 1: Double cleanse: apply a light oil to remove makeup (such as sea buckthorn, rose hip, jojoba, and avocado or aloe)

Step 2: Apply non-foaming liquid or herbal cleanser all over the face for approximately one minute, rinse gently

Step 3: Apply rose water-based toner or herbal hydrosol

Step 4: Apply a safe Vitamin C or hyaluronic acid for reducing photo damage and ensuring hydration

Step 5: Apply a non-nanoparticle physical sunscreen or a moisturizer with a chemical sunscreen (SPF 30) and an SPF lip balm!

Note that double cleansing is crucial year round but is especially important in the warmer months. Dasha recommends using micellar water throughout the day if you are prone to oily skin. She points out using micellar water is  “especially beneficial after working out, wearing a mask for a long period of time or just being in humid environments”. 

Last but not least; spring cleaning! Remember to clean out and swap out your expired products. Check for a number on the bottom of the product. If it says 12M it means your product is good for 12 months after opening. If there isn’t a label look, smell, and feel your product to notice any changes. 

Lynn Gallagher, creator of LGHT Wellness

Dasha Danekyants, local licensed esthetician,