All-Weather/All Seasons Skin Care: The Best Products to Use
All-Weather/All Seasons Skin Care: The Best Products to Use
Here are Dr. Singhal’s top picks for the best skin care products that you can use all year round, regardless of the weather, climate or environment
Summer Or Winter, The Skin Needs Attention
Dermatologists spend summers underneath the same sun as the rest of us, but somehow their skin manages to stay clear and glowing all season long. Sure, it's part of the job description, but even the professionals have to work a bit harder to prevent breakouts and minimize sun damage during the summer months. Warm weather brings a whole slew of skin-care challenges and questions like, do we really have to moisturize even if it's 100 degrees out and our face feels oily? Luckily, the experts know exactly how to face summer in our full capacity.
Things are different, but also challenging during colder months.
Even when the first snow has come and gone, we’ve put off pulling out our real cold-weather gear, and we haven’t dug out the hat and gloves from the depths of our closet. But we've been taking other precautions to brave the cold weather, like whipping out our most moisturizing skin-care products.
This time of year provides us with endless opportunities to feel all warm and fuzzy inside, but it usually has the opposite effect on our skin. Between being repeatedly hammered in the face with arctic wind and spending hours in an 80-degree cell office, our skin pays the price with endless dryness, breakouts, and dullness. But that's nothing a thorough regimen can't fix.
Dr. Singhal suggests trying out Hope & Beautys’ Silkcoat® Balm to soothe, restore and protect dry, mature skin or skin in harsh climates with our heaviest moisturizer including antioxidants, botanical, and hydrolyzed silk.
Cloudy Doesn't Mean Safe
When cold weather approaches, vitamin D levels drop, and whether we spend time in our apartment, at work, or out at a restaurant, we know that everywhere we go people will have that dry heat on blast.
To avoid chapped lips and flaking hands, we all have our rituals. For some of us, it’s a single product, while others swear by combos and custom concoctions to keep the skin soft and moisturized. Cancer patients should remember: cancer patients' sensitive skin needs SPF even if it's cloudy.
An extra layer of sweat on our face does not count as a moisturizer. "Despite the weather being hot and humid, you still need to moisturize," says Dr. Singhal. Even if our skin already feels oily, we should always moisturize. Moisturizers reestablish the stratum corneum, skins outermost layer, which protects from harmful pollutants and chemicals and prevents further irritation or dryness. Try out H&B’s Hydrating Toner Spray to give the skin an extra boost of hydration while giving antioxidant protection. This lightweight toner acts as a setting spray for makeup, making it fitting for daily use on all skin types and situations.
Changing The Products We Use According To The Season
As the season change, so does the climate. And one of the first things we’ll want to consider is our face cleanser. When the seasons change, it’s good to change our skincare products. For example, if we switch from summer to fall and winter, we should also change from an exfoliating cleanser to a non-exfoliating one, which is generally milder.
Take a look at how your skin reacts to colder weather vs. warmer weather and vice versa. If you’re transitioning your skincare routine for fall and winter, you may want to look for face wash formulas in the form of cream instead of gel or foam because those contain more hydrating ingredients. If you’re going from winter to spring and summer, you may want to trade your heavier products for lightweight, more breathable formulas.
Taking Care Of Our Lips
One recent study shows that only 6 percent of Americans are aware that ultraviolet rays can cause lip cancer. The study also revealed that men in North America have a five to 10 times greater incidence of lip cancer than women. During the winter months, men and women alike should apply lip block or lipsticks that contain a high sun protection factor (SPF).
The start of spring is a good time to put our clear summer skin plan into full throttle. A good addition to our regimen maybe a vitamin C serum. The antioxidant protection against free radicals is ideal year-round, but some formulations are potentially more irritating, depending on their pH. If the skin is dry or sensitive, or during the dry winter months we may do better with a gentler formula with a higher pH. Wearing antioxidants at night helps fight sun damage the next day. Our body builds up the storage of antioxidants as you use them, so using vitamin C serum at night will ensure your body has enough ready to go in the morning, says Dr. Singhal.
Different Climate - Different Skin Care
Even minor variances in climate can leave skin with different needs. While switching up our well-loved skincare routine may not sound like fun, it doesn’t have to be difficult. A simple swap or addition to our regimen can make all the difference in our complexion.
As we change our skincare routines from summer to fall, one of the key factors in our fall skincare routine is hydration. But, that’s not the only thing that can benefit our skin during the colder, drier months. Exfoliation can, too. As our skin gets drier into the fall and winter, we may only be able to tolerate retinol three nights a week, says Dr. Singhal. For the days you are not using retinol, add in gentle exfoliation at night, instead. This will help remove that top layer of dead, dry skin and allow better moisturizing as you sleep, she adds. Not to mention: It will make your fall and winter skin as silky and soft as it was in the summer. Dr. Singhal recommends using Hope & Beauty Chemo Companions skincare products, such as Lindi Body Wash a unique daily body wash with moisturizing components that stay on your skin after rinsing. Your skin will feel restored and renewed with this soap alternative after just one use. This soft, non-foaming formula feels luxurious as it refreshes the body and scalp. You can use it as often as needed, with no limitations.
A change in season or climate as patient travels is also a good time to look at skincare treatments. Cancer patients should choose a treatment that addresses their current skincare issues. If they notice more breakouts in the summer, an acne prevention treatment in those months could help. Sensitive skin needs a boost in plumping and firming when the weather is dry, or soothing ingredients to diminish redness or irritation.