Seasonal Skincare: How To Adjust Your Routine Year-Round
How changing seasons impact your skin:
- Skin changes throughout the year due to shifts in temperature, humidity and sun exposure.
- Seasonal adjustments to hydration, exfoliation and sun protection can help maintain balance.
- Supporting the skin barrier is key during colder or transitional seasons.
- Nutrition, hydration and lifestyle habits also influence overall skin health.
Your skin doesn't stay the same year-round. It responds to the environment around you, from temperature to humidity, sun exposure and wind - there’s a lot to consider! As these conditions shift, you may notice changes in how your skin looks and feels, including subtle variations in seasonal skin tone and moisture levels.
Much like swapping to lighter meals in summer or layering up in winter, your skincare routine can also benefit from some seasonal adjustments¹. So, how exactly do you shift your routine to help support healthy-looking skin throughout the year? Here’s what to keep in mind.
Why seasonal changes impact your skin
Seasonal changes don’t just influence the weather. They can also shift how your skin functions day to day. As environmental conditions change, so too can the balance of moisture, oil production and sensitivity in your skin¹.
In colder, drier conditions, lower humidity levels can impact skin hydration and the skin barrier, often leaving skin feeling dry, tight or more reactive2. In winter, you may find that skin feels drier and even itchy2.
Warmer and more humid environments can increase oil production, which may leave your skin feeling heavier2. Sun exposure is another key factor. UV radiation is still present in cooler conditions, including during winter activities like snow sports3.
Spring and autumn can also be a time of adjustment. The skin barrier can become disrupted as it adapts to changing conditions, which can leave your skin feeling sensitive. For some, this may also overlap with seasonal skin allergies, further influencing how the skin looks and feels.
Should you change your skincare seasonally?
Your skin is pretty good at sending signals when something needs to change. Increased dryness or tightness, shifts in oil production, sensitivity to products you normally tolerate well, or occasional breakouts are all common signs that your skin is adjusting to its environment. Whether it's winter or summer, seasonal shifts can influence underlying skin processes, including hydration levels, barrier function and visible characteristics such as texture or tone4.
The reassuring part is that these shifts are usually your skin adapting. Small, seasonal adjustments are often all it takes to help your skin find its balance again.
Seasonal skincare tips
Adapting your routine doesn't need to mean starting from scratch. Seasonal skincare is really about tuning a few key steps to better suit the conditions around you¹.
Adjust hydration levels
Skin surface hydration needs shift with the seasons, and your moisturiser is often the first seasonal skincare product worth revisiting. In colder or drier conditions, moisture loss from the skin can increase, leaving it feeling tight or looking dehydrated. Richer moisturisers or layering hydrating products can help support moisture retention during these months.
In warmer or more humid weather, lighter textures like lotions, gels or serums can maintain skin surface hydration without feeling heavy on the skin. Ingredients like humectants help draw water into the skin, while barrier-supporting compounds help keep it there⁵.
Support the skin barrier
Your skin barrier is your first line of defence. It acts as a protective layer that retains moisture while shielding skin from environmental stressors like temperature changes, pollution and microbes⁵ ⁶. When it's functioning well, skin tends to feel balanced and resilient. When it's disrupted, dryness, sensitivity and reactivity often follow.
Seasonal transitions can place additional stress on the barrier, making consistent barrier support particularly valuable during these periods. Ceramides and fatty acids help maintain a healthy skin barrier, while antioxidants help for a brighter complexion⁵ ⁶.
Rethink exfoliation during seasonal changes
Exfoliation is one of those steps that benefits most from a seasonal rethink. In colder months, when skin is already contending with dryness, wind and indoor heating, frequent exfoliation can feel too harsh⁷. Pulling back on frequency or choosing a milder formulation during these times can help maintain skin comfort without compromising the barrier.
In warmer months, when oil production increases and congestion is more common, gentle exfoliation can help keep skin looking smoother and clearer. The key across all seasons is balance. Aim for enough to support skin renewal, not so much that it tips into irritation.
Maintain sun protection year-round
This is one step that stays consistent across seasons. UV radiation is present year-round, passing through cloud cover and reflecting off surfaces like water, sand and snow⁸. Because UV levels aren't tied to temperature, it's easy to underestimate exposure on cooler or overcast days.
Daily SPF is one of the most consistent habits you can do for long-term skin health, regardless of the season⁸. Making it a non-negotiable part of your morning routine, no matter the weather, is a simple habit with meaningful impact.
Supporting skin health from within
A good skincare routine matters, but it's only part of the picture. Nutrition, hydration and everyday lifestyle habits all contribute to how your skin looks and feels from the inside out.
Adequate water intake has been associated with supporting normal skin hydration and function⁹. Good sleep, stress management and a varied, balanced diet also play a role in maintaining overall skin health¹. Certain nutrients can also help support your skin from the inside out. Vitamin C is well known for its role in supporting collagen formation and skin structure, antioxidants help reduce free radicals formed in the body, and zinc is involved in supporting skin repair and maintaining skin health.
Supporting your skin from multiple angles gives it the best foundation to adapt comfortably across the seasons.
Seasonal skincare changes that suit your routine
Seasonal shifts in your skin are completely normal. Rather than overhauling everything at once, small and thoughtful adjustments to hydration, barrier support, exfoliation and sun protection can help your skin stay comfortable as conditions change.
Pair those routine tweaks with good everyday habits, and you have a well-rounded approach that supports healthy-looking skin all year round.
Want to keep exploring? Head to the Swisse Wellness Hub for more articles like our guide to ingestible beauty and secrets to summer skincare.
References:
- Bhosale, U., Sapre, P., Nallan, C., & Syed, S. M. (2024). Uncovering the impact of age and season on various types of skin and associated skin issues: a survey analysis. JOJ Dermatol Cosmet, 5(5), 555674.
- Engebretsen KA, Johansen JD, Kezic S, Linneberg A, Thyssen JP. The effect of environmental humidity and temperature on skin barrier function and dermatitis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2016 Feb;30(2):223-49. doi: 10.1111/jdv.13301. Epub 2015 Oct 8. PMID: 26449379.
- Better Health Channel. (2024). Sun protection at the snow. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/sun-protection-at-the-snow
- Uchegbulam, I., Danby, S. G., Lewis, R., Carré, M. J., & Maiti, R. (2022). Effect of seasonal change on the biomechanical and physical properties of the human skin. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 127, 105058.
- Seol, J. E., Cho, G. J., Jang, S. H., Ahn, S. W., Hong, S. M., Park, S. H., & Kim, H. (2024). Effect of Amount of Daily Water Intake and Use of Moisturizer on Skin Barrier Function in Healthy Female Participants. Annals of Dermatology, 36(3), 145–150. https://doi.org/10.5021/ad.23.067
- Rajkumar, J., Chandan, N., Lio, P., & Shi, V. (2023). The skin barrier and moisturization: Function, disruption, and mechanisms of repair. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 36(4), 174–185. https://doi.org/10.1159/000534136
- Park, E. H., Jo, D. J., Jeon, H. W., & Na, S. J. (2023). Effects of winter indoor environment on the skin: Unveiling skin condition changes in Korea. Skin Research and Technology, 29(6), e13397. https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.13397
- Better Health Channel. (2024). Sunburn. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sunburn
- Palma, L., Marques, L. T., Bujan, J., & Rodrigues, L. M. (2015). Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 8, 413–421. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S86822
- Assaf, S., & Kelly, O. (2024). Nutritional dermatology: Optimizing dietary choices for skin health. Nutrients, 17(1), 60. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010060
